The record-union., 1896-05-28
The Seventh National Convention Called
to Order at PittSburs.
Likely to be a Bolt of the Free Silver
Coinage Men.
Trouble Occurs When the Announce
ment of the National Committees
Choice for Temporary Chairman
is rlade, a Squad of Police Being
Called in to Restore Order.

Called in to Restore Order.
PITTSBURG, May 27.-The seventh
National Convention of the Prohibi-
ton party was called to order in this
city this morning in Exposition Hall.
H. G. Castle, Chairman Of the Commit
tee on Reception, welcomed the conven-
tion as "the representatives of an army
of 300, 900 Of the most loyal and single
hearted patriots, and of 100000 Of as
devoted and consecrated women as
ever gathered under any banner and
made warfare against any enemy
Samuel Dickie Of Michigan, Chair
man of the National Committee, re-
sponded to the address of welcome.
Then right at the opening of the for
NAL proceedings, when Mr.. Dickie pre-
sented the name of A. A. Stevens of
Tyrone, Pa, as temporary Chairman,
the rebellion of the free silver minority
broke out. Half a dozen delegates
shouted points Of order at Mr.. Dickie,
who refused to hear them.
Mr.. Woodby, colored delegate from
Nebraska, accentuated his rebellion by
standing on his chair and shouting
at the top of his voice.
The band was called upon to drown
the uproar and give the Chairman time
to recover his wind and composure.
Meanwhile half the convention was
walking the floor, and a squad of po-
licemen were ushered into the hall to
keep order.
Mr. Wheeler of New York, the gem
as temporary Chairman, for the sake
of harmony withdrew his nano, al
though protesting against what he
called an arbitrary and unjust rule.
At last temporary Chairman Stevens
was permitted to deliver his address.
He began by reciting the history Of the
Prohibition party, then coming to ma
tional issues he said: 'If my prognos-
tications of the politics Of our country
during this year be correct, each party
will have it's own issue to maintain
without entering into antagonisms that
have existed in the past political con-
tests. 1t is therefore important that we
should make no mistakes, and avoid
extremes in contending for questions
that the Prohibition party was never
born to settle so long as the drink traf-
fic remains legalized by the country. Our
opinions on other political questions,
such as tariff, free trade, free silver
sound money, etc, are by no means a
unit. Such issues are to us as a party
divisive ones, and we should avoid
anything that will divide our ranks OF
divert our minds from the great pur-
pose for which we are organized, and
cause a halt in the advance we have
been making for political power and
control.
Let us, then, in this convention bear
in mind that nothing would so crafty
the supporters of the drink traffic as a
division in our ranks or fruitless con-
troversy in this convention Let us
stand back to back with our face to
the foe, remembering that thus united
we stand or divided we fall"
Complete order was maintained dur
ing Chairman Stevens address.
A. Wilson of Chicago, who had been
selected as Temporary Secretary,
called the roll Of States, and the Gre
dentials Committee was named.
A recess was then taken, and the va
rious committees proceeded to organize.
DIR. ]. B. Cranfield of Texas has been
elected Chairman of the Committee on
Platform, which is a victory for the
narrow-gauge element of the party.
Mrs. Helen NJ. Cougar has been elected
Chairman of the Committee on Perma-
nent Organization.
George c. Christian of Arkansas pre-
sided over a caucus of 300 narrow
gagged" which was held after the re-
cess of the convention. The caucus
adopted resolution declining to sup
port any issue which could not COM
mand a three-fourths' vote of the con-
vention.
At a caucus of the 'broad-gaugers'
a call of the roll of delegates present
showed their strength to be but 335
votes, about one-third of the total vote
OF the convention. This practically in
sures a bolt of the broad-gauge, or free
silver men.
When the convention reassembled a
resolution was passed expressing regret
for the sudden death of Hon J. C.
Brock, one Of the delegates from Mas
sachusettts.
The Committee on Credentials re-
ported $40 delegates present
A resolution pledging the convention
not to abate it's relentless war on the
liquor power was ordered telegraphed
to various religious bodies now in con-
ference; also to Congress and to Miss
Frances Willard and Lady Somerset
in England.
Mrs. Helen Gouger, Chairman of the
Committee on Permanent Organization
reported the name of Oliver W. Stewart
of Illinois Zone of the road-gauge) as
Permanent Chairman.
Mrs. Ferguson of New York presented
minority report on behalf of the mar
row-gauge faction, recommending the
continuance of A. A. Stevens in the
chair as the Permanent Chairman.
A tangle over point of order threw
the convention into a scene of confu-
sion, which lasted for more than an
hour. Much ill-feeling developed, and
Chairman Stevens himself was for a
long time refused hearing, but when
at last he gained the attention of the
disturbing elements he said that al
though he believed that he had been
put forward as a representative of the
element in the convention which be-
lieved in prohibition and non- n-divisiye
issues, and though he believed that in a
call of the States he would be sustained
he would desire to withdraw his name.
This announcement was received with
cheers, and the majority report Of the
committee was then adopted, and Mr.
Stewart was escorted to the chair, Mr.