The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-29
TEETOTALERS IN A TANGLE.
THEIR CONVENTION SPLITS on THE
PLATFORM.

by ~ 10 3Ss-Ihe Woman sunra-
sists and Free sIIverItcs Finally
Boit-Joshua Levering Nominated
for President.
Pitsburg. May 2S.-One OF the first acts
OF the prohibition convention. when &c re-
assembled in Exposition hail. this morn
ing, was 20 send telegram Of sympathy
90 the mayor OF ST. Louis.
The women were first given a hearing
in favor Of woman suffrage and other re-
forms advocated by the Womans Christ
tian Temperance Union. A committee OF
five ladies was appointed to consider
these requests and report on them.
Dr. ]. X. Funk Of New York. chairman
OF the committee ON platform, then re-
ported the platform as agreed upon by
the majority OF the committee. The first
six planks denunciatory Of the liquor
traffic and proposing straighout proh1bl-
tlon. he said. had been unanimously
adopted. The seventh plank. which de-
clared that no citizen should be denied
the right to vote on account OF sex, he
said had been adopted by only small
majority. The other plsnks upon which
there was some division In the committee
We're:
Clause s. That all citizens should be
protected in their right to one days rest
a week.
9. Non-sectarian schools to be taught
In the English language.
10. Election Of President. Vice Presi-
dent and senator's directly by the people.
II. Liberal pensions
y. Exclusion of pauper and criminal
Is. lfhe naturaIlzed citizens not to vote
til a year after naturalization.
"a. Favoring arbitration.
Is. Inviting the cooperation of all per-
sons taV0ring these views.
When Gov. ST. John rose 10 present the
minority report, he was received with
loud applause from the broad-gauge fac
tion, which Increased as he read the NIL
nority money plank as follows: "Resolv-
ed, That all money be issued by the gov
ernment only. and without the inter-
Vention Of any private citizen, corporation
or banking institution. II should be based
upon the wealth, stability ana integrity
of the nation and be a full legal tender
for All debts. public and private, ana
should be of sufficient volume to meet the
demands of the legitimate business IN
terests of this country and for the pur-
pose of honestly liquldaung all our out
standing obligations payable IN coin. we
demand the free and unlimited coinage
OF silver and gold at a ratio Of l6 TO !,
without consulting any other nation.
The other points on which the minority
asked action were as follows:
u. Preserving public lands from monop~
is Government control Of railroads and
telegraphs.
49, Favoring an income tax, and inn
posing only such import duties as are
necessary to secure commercial relations
with other nations.
And. lastly, clause 20. favoring the adop-
tiOn Of the Initiative and referendum as a
means Of obtaining free expression OF the
popular will.
On the motion to make these recommen-
dations part Of the majority report the
fight began. Indiana delegates demanded
that the vote be taken by call OF states,
and New York and PennsylVanla dele
gates to a sufficient number seconded this
motion.
The vote was then taken on motion to
table Gov. st. Johns proposition ana re-
suited as follows: Yeas, 80; nays, 452i
so the convention refused TO table the mo-
tion to make the minority report part
of the majority report.
and Gov. ST. John was recognized TO close
the debate, amid a scene Of much excite
ment. He explained that making the MI
nority report part OF the majority report
did not make the recommendations OF that
committee part OF the platforms each
plank could be voted upon separately. The
first five planks relating TO prohibltory leg
islatiOn for the suppression OF the llquor
traffic were read and unanimously ADOPTED.
An Intellectual effort was made TO table
the sixth plank calling upon the churcnes
to support the prohibition ticket at the
polls.
reached a hot debate arose. Without dis
posing Of It, a recess was taken at l2:O
until 2:30 o'clock.
At the afternoon session the convention
proceeded to the immediate considerd-
tion of tho free silver plank proposed by
the broad-gauge faction, which was dis
cussed with great warmth on each SIDE.
After three hours hot debate, the free
silver plank was defeated by a vote OF 3Si
ayes to All noes Two Of the Iowa dele
CATION announced that they voted Tor the
plank under instruction and against their
apnNfeft0u Five of the M1gnlKHn dele
gates under the leadership Of Prof Dlckie,
ex-chairman of the national committee,
disobeyed Instructions Of the convention
and voted NO" The chair declared the
free silver resolution lost, and, after the
cheering and excitement which this an
uouncement had created Quieted down, the
convention proceeded to the consideration
of other parts Of the platform, against
which there was no strong opposition.
But before much progress rad been made
Mr. Patton of Illinois upset the whole
course of the proceedings and precipi-
tated a lively debate by opposing the nom
sectarian school resolution, as being the
work of the American Protective Associ-
alton and he appealed to the convention
not to adopt anything which would pres
vent their enlistng all good citizens to as
sist them In fighting against the rum
mower He proposed a substitute plas-
form, which omitted mention Of every
subject (woman suffrage included), except
prohibition.
Gov. st. John. his voice showing great
emotion, rose and said as the single plank
men had been successful and had induced
the convention to dodge the greatest ques-
ton of the day, the silver question, he
was in favor Of turning over the whole or
ganzatlon to them, and II they must have
a single plank platform, he was inclined
to think prohibition was as good one as
could be had.
Meantime, Mrs. Helen Cougar and other
prominent woman suffragists, manifestlng
great excitement, demanded recognition to
denOunce those cOWardly men"
Chairman Stewart, addressing Mrs
Cougar, warmly reminded her that there
were 500 other delegates in the convention
besides herself.
In a scene of intense confusion, the pre-
vious question was ordered by rising
vote and Mr.. Patton's substitute was de-
clared adopted and thus became the sole
platform Of the party. It's fun text was as
follows: THE prohibition party, in ma
tional convention assembled, declares It's
firm conviction that the manufacture. ex-
portation, importation and sale of alco-
hoIic beverages, has produced such social
commercial, industrial and political
wrongs and Is now so threatening the per-
petulty of all our social and political insti-
tutions, that the suppression of the same
by a national party, organized therefor. Is
the greatest object to be accomplished bv
the voters of our country; and rs of such
importance that it, of right, ought 10 con-
troll the principal action Of our patriotic
citizens, until such suppression Is accom-