The San Francisco call., 1896-05-05
They Got Mixed Up at the Pro-
hibition County Convention
Last Night.
THE DELEGATES TO STOCKTON.
The Party at Sea on the Proposed
Union of Reform Forces With
the Populists.

fourteen delegates to the State Convention
of the Prohibition party, which will con-
vene in Stockton on Wednesday of next
week, the 18th inst.
What the Prohibition party does and is
likely to do is, of course, of especial inter-
est to Prohibitionists and liquor men, but
the party's operations have more gen.
era practical interest this year because
there is vaguely pending a movement to
get the party over into the Populist fold,
or rather into "union of reform forces
in which the Populist party would cut the
main figure, the other elements including
also the single takers, socialists, etc.
The County Convention, which met last
night, was little thing, but typical one.
1t was typical OF the Prohibition party
and, among other things, typical of how
the party stands, intensely uncertain, on
this proposition of slipping like pearly
dewdrop into the shining sea of reform.
There were no contesting delegations
last night. and Judge Thompson did not
win the craftsmanship through any COM
binations on jobs.
Fifteen loyal people who have been skir-
mishing that way tor years came to order
at $3.50 P. NJ. Twelve of them were men
and three were ladies. The Prohibition
party is all right on the woman question,
and last night the ladies had as much to
say as the men, in proportion to numbers,
if not more so, and they provided the big
gest part of the vigor and progressiveness
shown in the discussions.
The appointment of delegates was the
only business transacted, but there were
resolutions. clashes of political ideas and
slightly fierce opposition to sending an
instructed delegation. Several types of
Prohibitionists were represented, includ-
ing the men who valiantly stand by their
one central principle as the single great
political issue, those who are interested in
ali sorts of other reforms and who are will
ing to get prohibition by bettering the
world up to it, and those who are not GER
tain about this mixing of things.
Delegates were selected by unanimously
approving the first fourteen nominated,
and these we're:
At large-Mrs. Rose NJ. French, C. B. Will
liams; regular delegates-Mrs. c. b. Williams.
Rev. J. Rowell, L. Hanson, S. Fear, Mrs g. Fear
\. 5. Hughes, Il; H. Luse, Mrs; d. J. Spencer,
Judge Robert thompson. Charles Van Eaton,
c. Sandhurst, T. S. Harrison.
The selection of alternates involved
thinking up people not present, but when
the nominations reached fourteen they
were approved as follows:
Rev. F. S. Bovard, Miss S. MN. Cummings. F.
Head, Mrs II: Fl. Luse. II. Chester, Barclay J.
Smith, g. A. Maydwell, J. Richards, ~ Nor
ID. X
Adams, F. H. Jackson, Mrs. II. E. Brown
L. Hanson brought the reform union
question to the front by introducing the
following resolution:
Resolved, That the Prohibitionists of San
Francisco in convention assembled declare for
broad and comprehensive platform that
shall make g firm and definite declaration on
settlement at the ballot box. We invite ail
true and earnest reformers to join us in the
work OF saving and perpe tuating our glorious
Nation.
Mr.. Hanson was one of those present
ready to widen out and this element and
the other one stood face to face at last.
Hanson, in speaking to his resolution, ac-
knowledged that some would call him an
extremist.
Secretary Frank Head said vigorously
that be didn't believe the County Conven-
ton ought to handle that question. He
had not made up his mind on the issue.
but the State Convent ton was the place for
it and he didn't believe in lettering the
delegates by anything in the nature Of in
strucLions.
II would like to know" said Mrs. Rose
French, who is strong for the union,
whether this county com mittee favors a
broad or a narrow-gauge platform. | will
probably vote as I please at Stockton, but
I would like to know the sentiment of the
committee"
n. Morcom moved to lay the resolution
on the table and it went there by vote of
s to 4.
Then the railroad question was tackled.
l.. Hanson introduced a resolution, de-
nouncing as unjust and iniuuitous any
scheme of G. P. Huntington and his allies
to accomplish the refunding of the Central
Pacific debt.
Two-thirds of the convention heartily
was with this resolution, and motion to
table it was lost bv a vote of to 8.
The chairman at once got the resolution
amended.
.I would be ashamed to have that reso.
luton go forth from this body as il stands. -
he declared. "I suggest that we at least
leave out the name. Leave out the Hunt
ington.'"
"Now, I suggest that ubiquitous be
stricken cut" said Judge Thompson, but
several said mo" so vigorously that s'in-
iquitous" stayed in.
Mrs. Gray objected to considering the
railroad question, ''if we are not going to
take any ground on woman suffrage. the
financial question and other refOrms.n but
the resolution was adopted by ayes and
no negative votes.
'.I suggest that we pass a resolution
calling on President Cleveland to recog-
nize the belligerency OF Cuba" said Rev.
j. Rowell sarcastically.
''Send it up; that just suits me-" cried
Mrs. French.
A season of remarks followed. the
chairman leading in speech expressive
of his certainty of ultimate victory of the
cause.
Mrs Gray brought up the reform union
again, wanting to find out how the Prohi.
bitionists of San Francisco stand on the
union of reform forces.
~ believe" she said, that il is time
that we unite with other people or parties
who are seeking good government alone
with the suppression OF the liquor traffic.
If we gain our cause it must be at the bal
lot-box. 1t cannot be said that prohibit
ton is the paramount issue when only
$50 00O OF Il, ,0000 600 voters vote in favor of
it."
81 am prohibitionist from principle. f"
said Mr.. Head, land will vote with anv