The herald., 1896-05-27
FREE SILVER AND SUFFRAGE
Threaten the Utter Disruption Of the
Prohibition Party
Woman Sufffaxlsts and rres celnags Advo.
Gates VIII Dictate the Platform Or
Will Leave the Party

q result of tomorrow's convention, lead
ers of both factions freely admit tonight.
The split will come, they say, over the
money plank in the platform. AS yet
scarcely a word has been said regarding
prohibition. The money question has
been the all-absorbing topic Of discus
sion. 1t has become a bitter and acri-
monious discussion. The bitterness of
feeling increases hourly and when the
convention meets it promises to be
little battle Of determination. II gold
standard plank should be adopted in
the platform by the eastern delegates
then those favoring he coinage of silvr
at ratio Of 16 to l will seoede. If, on the
other hand, the so-called free silver
delegates adopt a free coinage plank
then the gold standard crowd will leave,
and should the convention fail to declare
for woman suffrage the feminine portion
of the convention will sever its connec-
tion with the party
1t promises to be a memorable con-
vention for the Prohibitionists, and bids
fair to wreck the party. AS yet no move
has been made by any of the contending
factions for a. compromise. Each fac
ton seems possessed by an undying con-
! fidence in its ability to worst its oppo-
nents and SCOTS at the idea of making
| terms.
There were three caucuses today. One
was held by the women, who decided
| that unless suffrage plank was insert
ed in the platform they would leave the
party Then the free silver wing cau-
cused, and declared their leader should
run upon broad gauge" platform or
none at ALL and finally the single issue
crowd came together and announced
that neither free silver, woman suffrage
nor anything else but prohibition
should be mentioned in the platform.
The broad gauge" or free silver peo-
l. haa v,v,hra {6fpp SQ M
uel Dickie for what they term his "trai-
torous conduct" He is national chair
man and a delegate from Michigan, and
is the only one from Michigan who is
out for gold standard in money affairs.
Governor ST. John and the other
leaders of the broad gauge wing have
openly accused Mr.. Dickie of violating
the instructions of his people. In reply
to these accusations, Mr.. Dickie said
that Ex-Governor st. John and his free
silver clique were guilty of uttering un-
truths. He justified his action in AL
vocating a gold standard by the state
ment that he had informed the Michigan
convention when it instructed him, by
a majority of 100 for free silver, that he
did not intend to abide by such instruc-
tions and asked that another be selected
to take his place.
Dental nomination have made public
declarations as to where they stand on
money matters. Joshua Levering, after
announcing his adherency to a gold
standard, said:
''If the convention sees fit to adopt
broad gauge platform, 1 can assent to
the use Of my name. Neither could I
be candidate in case the party saw
fit to place in charge of the coming cam
paign officials who entertain views op-
posed to my own on these matters at
issue'
~
half way and reiterates his statement,
except that he is diametrically opposite
in tenor. He said:
I've in the West cannot go back to
our people and tell them we want their
votes for Prohibition alone. We have
had hard times in the West. Our people
believe the currency system is at fault
and must have plain spoken declara-
tion from us on that point. We are for
free silver, equal suffrage and prohibi-
tion.''
The free silver faction claims to have
Gov. st. John is of the belief that the
broad gauge candidate will be nomi-
mated on the first ballot.
I'VE have a majority Of 100 now, and
we think 1t will be increased" said he
Samuel Dickie is equally sanguine
that free silver will be defeated. But
whichever way it may result, Mr.. Dickie
is of the belief the outcome will be a
split in the party.
There are thousands of visitors from
all parts of the country who have come
to watch the proceedings 1t IL said
by some of the enthusiastic believers
in prohibition that over 10 1000 people will
attend the convention. 1t was decided
at the caucus of the free silver delegates
to support o. w. Stewart of Illinois for
permanent chairman of the convention.
the Rev. Charles H. Bentley of Nebras-
ka for president and ]. H. Southgate of
South Carolina for vice president Dur
ing the progress of the caucus, the gold
standard faction was severely denounc-
ed and several of the speakers had some
harsh things to say regarding Chairman
Dickie.
OKLAHOMA POLITICS.
OKLAHOMA CITY, o. T., May 90
The Democratic territorial convention
met in this city today and after the
stormiest time ever seen in Oklahoma
endorsed Bland for president. instruct
ing the six delegates of Oklahoma to
vote for him and to favor the free and
unlimited coinage of gold and silver at
the ratio of 16 to 1; and to support no
candidate for president or vice president
who was not pronouncedly in favor of
such free coinage.
The delegates to the NATIONAL conven-
ton are A. j. Beale, M. l.. Mixler J. c.
Brunnvem, H. c. Brunt, W. 8. Denton,
Temnle Houston.