The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-06-04
NATIONAL PROHIBITION CONVENTION.
1t Meets at Pittsburg, and Splits all to
Smash on the Financial Question-Sil-
yer Voted Down.


Smash on the Financial Question-Sil-
yer Voted Down.
The national Prohibition conven-
tiOn met in Pittsburg, Pa, last week.
Like all other conventions, it found
the financial question the biggest
thing before 1T, and it would not down.
A hot contest began with the election
of a chairman.
The two factions OF the convention
were styled "broad gauge" and "nar-
row gauge" The latter hold that the
Prohibition party should be party
of prohibition and nothing else; the
former think the party should declare
in favor of free silver and woman suf-
frage. Chairman Stevens speech was
of the narrow gauge tone. He be.
lieved that all other political issues
have tendency to divide the PrOhi-
bitionists and advised the convention
to "bear in mind that nothing would
so crafty the supporters of the drink
traffic as division in our ranks, or a
| fruitlesS controversy in this cOnven-
tion."
The first five planks of the platform
relating to prohibitory legislation for
the suppression of the liquor traffic
were read and unanimously adopted.
An effort was made to table the sixth
plank calling upon the churches to
support the prohibition ticket at the
polls, but the plank was adopted.
When the wOman's suffrage plank was
reached hot debate arose. Without
dispOsing of it recess was taken.
At the afternoon session considera-
tion of the silver plank introduced>by
the "brOad gauge" people was dis
cussed with warmth on both sides
After three hours debate, the free sill
yer plank was defeated by a vote OF
3S7 ayes to 427 noes.
The convention then adopted the
one-plank (prohibition) platform, not
even giving the woman's suffrage peO.
pie showing, nor allowing Miss Helen
Cougar chance for denouncine
"those cowardly men, as she exi 'ess.
ed some willingness to do
Joshua 2. Lever1ng, of Maryland
was nominated for President. He is 9
prominent coffee merchant of Balti.
more. He is fifty-five years of age
and reputed to be very wealthy. He il
president of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association, and Was formerly 9
Democrat. but has been connected
, will the Prohibition party since 1884
y
Vice President of the State executive
. committee.
: The "brOad gauge" element left tht
convention hall late and organized {
convention in another hall. Elever
State chairmen were among the bolt
,, ers and twenty-four States were rep
resented.
They considered the formation
y of a new party and a motion to adop
a platform to nominate candidates TO
J.. President and Vice-President. MI
Moore, of Nebraska, presided
Among the prominent boilers wer
. Helen M. Cougar, of Indiana; ex-Goy
Jno. p. st. John, r. S. Thompson, O
}. Ohio, editor of the New Era; job
Lloyd Thomas, of New York, and /
- B. Logan, of Ohio.
Hale johnson, of Illinois, was nOmi
r. mated for Vice-President.
NEW PARTY.
). PITTsBURG, Pa, May 2S.-The bolt
ing delegates who withdrew from th
Prohibition convention held a meet
ing and organized "The National Pal
ty," with "HOme Rule" as their mott
A platform was adopted, embodyin
er the minority report favoring free 81
er yer which was submitted by the pr,
hibition Broad-gauge faction, but r
= jected by the convention. G. E. Ben
~ ley, OF Nebraska. was nominated f,
u President, and J. 81. Southgate, of Du
at ham, n. c., for Vice President.
at A national committee, with L.
De Logan, of Ohio, as chairman, was O
n ganiZed.