The midland journal., 1896-06-05
The Silver Wedge.

L (OANCAllOh IL "Ohib appeal "
be in order for the Voice or some other
prohibition party organ to publish a
Silver Wedge.
The prohibition party, which held its
national convention at Pittsburg last
week, split wide open, as was anticipated
by those to kept in sight of its move
ments. The gold ring, eastern end of the
party outnumbered by few votes the
western delegates, who wanted to stick to
the old party platforms, woman suffrage,
free coinage and other planks as well,
rather than simply, solitary and alone,
that of prohibition.
The votes and contests in the conven-
ton were all over gold and silver. In
reading the reports as published in the
daily press, there is little else than the
money question under consideration.
The goldbug element had absorbed the
organization and when the committee on
platform reported, the following insig
nifcant resolution was reported by the
majority as the platform for the party:
PesolOed, That we favor the legal pro-
hibition by State and national legislation
of the manufacture, expectation, inter-
state transportation and sale of alcoholic
beverages That we declare our purpose
to organize and unite all the friends of
prohibition into one party, and in order
to accomplish this end we deem it but
right to leave every Prohibitionist the
freedom of his own convictions, and trust
our representatives to take such legisla-
tive action upon other political questions
as the changes occasioned by prohibition
and the welfare of the people shall
demand"
When this platform had been adopted
the women and silverites in the conven-
ton Immediately revolted. After the
evening adjournment the boilers, headed
by Mrs. Helen M. Cougar and John P.
St. John, met. Over 900 boiling dele
gates were present. 1t was decided to
hold another caucus after adjournment
the next day and form new party. Del
egates from twenty-four States were pres
ent at the split off party convention,
which adopted the following platform
The platform demands
I. Prohibition of the liquor traffic in
every form except for use in the arts and
medicines, in which cases it is to be con-
trolled by the State.
2. Female suffrage.
8. The free coinage of gold and silver
at ratio of Is to 1.
a. The reclamation by the Government
of land held by corporations and others
and its grant to those only who will use
it continually.
S. Government ownership of railroads,
telegraphs and other natural monopolies
6. An income tax and such impost
duties as will secure equitable commercial
relations with other nations. This is
explained to mean tariff based on reci-
procity entirely.
7. Abolition of convict labor system. -
s. Protection of citizens to rest one dav
in seven.
to sectarian institutions.
10. Election of the President, Vice
President and National Senators bv a
direct vote.
II. Adequate pensions for ex-Union
soldiers and sailors.
IL. The adoption of the initiative and
referendum.
The seceders have named their new
party National Party, and nominated
Charles E. Bently, of Nebraska, for
President.
The goldbug tender end of the conven-
ton nominated Joshua Leverifg, of Bal
timore, who is thoroughgoing goldbug.
This is the final breakup of the prohi-
bition party, which had, like all old
parties, outlived its usefulness and been
captured by the money power, and was to
be used as an ally to that plutocratic
power.
The eastern or gold end of the party
will not poll 100, 900 votes, and probably
not half that number, the most of the
party going to the republican party to
help it with the gold standard business.
The west or new party split-off has adopt
ed the important planks of the Peoples
party, and realizing the hopeless task of
founding new party whose principles
are already incorporated in we'll organ
lied, strong party, will mostly go to the
Peoples party.
The silver wedge is bursting old parties
wide open. The republican leaders who
are principally national bankers and mil
lionaire corporation officers, have had a
desperate tussle to keep the party quiet
and control the refractory silver element,
and appear to have bulldozed it into at
least keeping quiet, but tens of thousands
of the party whose votes have been cast
solidly for the party will quietly vote the
Peoples party ticket next fall.
The democratic party threatens to break
in two parts at their national convention,
and either put up two presidential can
didates, or the gold seceders, if the silver
element is in the majority, split off and
join the republicans. Anyhow the major
ity of them will vote the goldbug repub.
lican ticket.
There is but one party which stands
out clean cut and untrammeled before the
country, proclaiming its principles and its
purpose from the house tops. That is the
Peoples party. 1t is of the people, by
the people and for the people The lines
are rapidly forming which are so broad
and clear that the humbugging process
used by old party managers 50 long will
fail to fool the DeOn1e The oold r;po ~