The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-29
Prohibitionists Refuse to Adopt
Free Coinage Platform.
IN NATIONAL CONVENTION
A Long and Bitter Fight Over
the Money Question.
GOLD MEN WERE VICTORIOUS
Joshua p. Levering, a Prominent Mer-
chant of Baltimore, Nominated
for President by AccIa-
nation.


Pittsburg, Pa, May 28.-Tn the Pro
hibition convention to-day after the
consideration of some routine matter.
the report on the platform was called
for.
Chairman Funk stated that the mar
row. and "broad-gauge" factions were
unable to agree, and that two re-
ports would be presented. "The mar
rOw-gauge" was the minority report.
The majority report declares it's a
greement with the United States Su-
preme court that statistics of every
State shows more crime and misery
result from the use of ardent spirits
than any other source; that liquor
dealers corrupt legislation and
make good government impossi-
BILE; that the party is un-
alterably opposed to the drink
traffic, and declares for its total sup
preston for beverage purposes, re-
iecting all compromise measures.
The minority report which was pre-
sented by the broad-gaugers had de-
claration on the money question, de-
manding the free and unlimited coin
age of both silver and gold, at ratio
of 16 to /, without consulting any 9th
err nation. Other planks in the plat
form declare against the manufac-
ture or sale of Intoxicating
liquor for beverage purposes.
The use of liquors for med
ical and other legitimate purposes
should be controlled by the State.
Equal rights of suffrage for both sexes
are favored, alien acquisition of land
opposed, government control of rail-
roads; only English should be taught
i'm the public schools and no public
funds for sectarian institutions; cleo
ton of President and Vice-President
by popular vote, liberal pensions; a
mended immigration laws, none but
citizens to vote, and naturalized cltl-
zens to vote only after being natural
lied a year, are other rec0mmenda-
tions.
The final declarations of the plat
form are: "There should be proper
tionate representation in State and
Nation and the initiative and referen-
DUN should be adopted. so as to secure
free expression of the popular will.
We favor the imperative mandate as a
guarantee against the misrepresenta-
tion of the people by men chosen by
their representatives"
Ex-Governor ST. John read the min
ority report and almost every sentence
was applauded. When he came to the
free silver plank the broad-gaugers
broke loose with cheers and prolonged
applause.
After finishing its reading Mr.. st.
John moved that the report be incor-
porated as a part of the majority re-
port. A motion to lay on the table
was then made. but it was defeated,
the vote standing $40 ayes to 492 noes,
a big victory for the broad-gaugers.
4 great commotion was created when
the vote was announced. Mr.. st. John
then spoke in advocacy of the report.
The motion to make the minority re-
port "A part of the majority report was
carried. The motion to take up the
report section by section, was like
wise carried with a cheer and the
''broads" were confident of carrying
everything, including free silver with
them.
The first seven planks including the
one favoring woman's suffrage were
then taken up, and as they did not diff
fer materially in either report were
adopted.
The convention at 1920 p. m, took a
recess for dinner.
The entire afternoon session was
given to the discussion of the money
plank. The arguments were spirited,
but by rule of the convention, speakers
were limited to ten minutes each. 1t
developed that the fight was not so
much of gold against silver as it was
the narrow-guage faction against the
free silver advocates. Several speakers
who opposed the plank expressed
as personally favorable to
free coinage.
DIR. Louis Banks, of New York, open
ed the debate with a speech against
the plank, declaring that if it was
adopted he would take no part in the
Ex-Governor st. John spoke
for the plank, declaring that he would
vote for free silver, not only because
he considered it right, but because his
instructed him to.
The debate continued until nearly
S o'clock, when vote was finally
reached, which resulted-3S7 for and
427 against the plank.
The victory of the narrow-gauge fac
ton and the defeat of free silver were |
greeted with wild applause, a1sl it |
was some time before the convention |
was able to proceed with the considera- |
ton of the platform.
The convention proceeded to the con- |
of the planks in the major |
ity report referring to Sabbath obser-
vance, and against appropria-
lions for sectarian schools. These |
were adopted when the conven-
ton was thrown into confusion by |
the action of r. II. Patton, of Illinois, |
who presented substitute for the en-