Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-04-09
-BROADGAUGEWON
N The Platform Fight Of the I'LL.
aois P:ohibitionists.
fOPUL1sTIO IDEAS NOT ACCEPTED,

But Free Silver, Woman Suffrage, Popular
Eisssssa Of United States Senators. Etc,
Go Into the Declaration Of Principles
Mckinley Picks Up . Few More Dole
gates in Bradley's Bailiwick and Else
liberalization Doomed.
SPRINGFIELD, April AT 1o:3) a III.
yesterday George W. Gore called the
Prohibition state convention to order. and
introduced Rev. c. S. Medbury. pastor Of
the Christian church at Ell Paso, who
opened the. convention with prayer. Gere
ngeeed upon the following as tho
temporary officers Of the convention:
Chairman, Oliver w. Stewart. Of Mack
inaw: secretary, Alonzo w. Wilson, OF
Chicago; assistant secretaries-George
Gobart, Of Ashmore; f. G. Jackson, of
Aurora; J. ". TIncser, of XenIa, and
A. l. Matthews, of Bogota; sergeant-at-
arms. John f. -Nertrces, Of Pittsfield.
Stewart assumed the chair, and an
nounced that as the convention had as
sembled for business he would not con-
sumo time but proceed at once to the con-
sideration Of such matters as should come
up. The committees agreed upon by the
several congressional delegations were an
nounccd on permanent organization,
credentials, rules, finance and resolu-
tions.
Finance Committee to Select Delegates.
The committee on permanent organiza-
ton soon reported, recommending that.
tine temporary organization be made per-
Inanent, and the report was adopted with
out dissent. The finance committee was
| instructed to select thirty delegates and
thirty alternates from the state at large
TO the national convention. and two can.
d:dates for presidential electors for the
state mt large. The finance committee
was instructed to fill any vacancies that
might occur in district delegates to the
| national convention. The struggle of the
convention was over the adoption Of the
| platform. tho old issue of broad" or
narrow" guage coming up, especially on
the financial plank. But OH this the free
silver men won by vote of 2l2 to lta).
| The attempt to indorse the Peoples party
platform WAS abortive and voted down by
| n large majority.
Summary of the Platform.
The convention adopted 4 platform de.
claring for the prohibition Of the liquor
trafli > giving the right TO vote to women
| and men; extension Of the civil service
| system to all gratles Of the public service;
| free schools to children; observance Of the
Sabbath" day: a tariff commission rep
resenting all political parties; election Of
United States senators by direct vote of
| the people and free coinage of silver.
DR.. Evans. of Hedding college, was Sc.
| lected to take charge OF the campaign
fund, and $20oO was subscribed by tho
| delegates present as II starter. A state
| ticket will be nominated today.
Two Reports on Finances.
The report of the majority of the reso-
| buttons committee was in favor Of issu-
| ing. gold. silver and paper by the govern
ment only, in sufficient quantity to meet
! the demands of business and give full op-
| pcrtunity for ths employment of labor,
and to be full legal tender for all debts,
public and private" The minority re-
port add Il to the above the words:
| "rhat the government should not dis.
eliminate in favor of gold us against sill
| YER and that its minis should be open
upon equal terms to both at the ratio now
established by law" After heated dis
cussion in which about 100 delegates par
ticipated the minority report was finally
adopted by q vote of 2l2 to 1863.