The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-06-05

burst by the overwhelming defeat Of
the silver forces.
Joshua p. lowering is prominent
coffee merchant of Baltimore. He is
55 years of age, reputed to be very
wealthy, and is president of the Young
Mems Christian Association. He was
formerly Democrat but has been con-
nected with the Prohibition party since
1854, and has for some years past act
ed as vice chairman of the state execu-
tive committee. He ran on the Prohibi-
ton ticket last fall for governor, re-
ceiving the highest vote ever cast in
the state for the party. Mr. lowering
was pronounced in his views on the
questions at issue, and previous to the
convention stated positively that he
would not accept the nomination upon
"a free silver or broad-gauge platform.
Hale Johnson is 40 years of age. He
was born in Indiana, and served
through the war. He is past COM
mander of the &. A. r. and a colonel
in the Veteran Legion. In 1884 lie was
Il delegate to the national Republican
convention, but shortly after became
Prolibitionist, and has been prominent
in it's councils ever since.
The Days Proceedings.
When the convention opened two re-
ports were made On the Platform.
Both We're for prohibition and woman
suffrage. but the silver men had added
"a plank declaring for free coinage.
:Bx-Goy. st. John read the minority
report. Almost every sentence was ap-
plauded. When lie came to the free
silver plank the brnal-gaugers broke
loose with cheers and prolonged ap-
plause. After finishing it's reading Mr..
st. John moved that the report be in
corpornted as a part of the majority
report. A motion was then made to
lay OH the table. hut it was defeated,
the vote standing 80 yeas to 400 nays,
Il big victory for the broad-gaugers. \
great colnmotion was created when the
vote was announced. Mr.. st. John
then spoke in favor of the report The
motion to make the minority report a
part Of the majority report was car
rlef The motion to take up the report
section by section was carried with a
cheer. and the broad-gaugers were con-
ildent OF carrying everything, including
free silver. with them. The first seven
p!anis. including the one favorins wo-
mans suffrage. We're then taken up.
and as they did not differ materially in
either report, We're adopted.
The entire afternoon session was
given to the discussion of the money
plank. When a vote was finally had
1t resulted in 3S7 for and 427 against
tho plank. The victory OF tue narrow
gauge faction and the defeat of the
free silver men We're greeted with wild
applause. and IL was some time before
the ccnvntion WAS able to proceed with
the consideration of the platform.
Entire New Platform.
The convention proceeded TO the con-
sideration of the plaDks in the major
ity report referring to Sabbath obsery-
altce and against appropriations for
sectarian schools. These were adopted
when the convention was thrown into
confusion by the action of r. H. Pat
ton of Illinois. who presented Il substi-
tute for the entire platform as far as
adopted. The new Platform included
everything but prohibition. even wom-
AIN suffrage. and. was the narrowest
kind of narrow-gauge declaration.
The vote on the silver plank had
shown the strength OF the :.narrows."
but the broad-gauge people made a
strong fight against the substitute.
After sharp debate. in which Mrs.
Helen NJ. Cougar vainly attempted to
save the woman suffrage plank. the
substitute was adopted 10y a standing
vote, and the afternoon session closed
In the widest confusion.
The broad-gauge people Immediately
held caucus, and there We're threats
of bolt heard on every hand. A. l..
Moore of Michigan presided. and hot
speeches were made severely denounc-
ing the action Of the opposing faction.
"A motion was made to adjourn the
caucus to meet at the hour for the con-
vention to meet hut upon further con-
:sfderati0 this radical action was aban-
doned and it was decided to 20 into
the convention and await results.
Nearly every br0ad-gluge delegate
was present Mt the caucus, and there
was talk of n bolt and forming sepa-
rate party. However. when the session
opened the broad-gaugers were in their
seats.
When the convention reassembled
Mr.. lowering was nominated by accla-
nation for president. and Mr.. johnson
for vice president on the first ballot.
The convention then adjourned sine
die.
A New Party.
Later the brOad-gauge element left
tho convention hall and organized a
rllnp convention in another hall. Elev-
en- state clairnen were among tlle
boilers and twcnty-four states were
represented. They considered the for
nation of a new party and q motion to
adopt platform and nominate candi-
'datcs for president and vice president.
Among the prominent boilers were