Evening journal., 1896-08-20
THE FIELD 0f POLITlCS
Prohioition:sts Squabble Over
Woman Suffrage Question.
NEW YORK STATE REPUBLICANS.

Lining Up For Hot Fight at saratosa
over the GubernatoriaI Nomination. 1
Senator Thurston Accepts Mr.. Bryant
Statement and Publishes a Card.
SYRACUSE, Aug. 20-The state conyen-
tion of the Prohibitionists, which IL
now in session in this city, while the at
tendance Is small, is one of the most ex
citing that has been held in many years.
Before the delegates gathered in the con.
vention hall some Of the delegates predict
cd that fight would take place over the
money plank, but in this they were mis-
taken, for the fight was on woman sgf
frage. No plank was inserted in the plat
form providing for this, but a resolution
was adopted IN which the delegates de-
clared themselves in favor Of granting
women the right to vote During the de
bate, which occupied more than three
hours, Mrs. Viola Meyer of this city
created n sensation by starting to the plat
form and saying: Let the mon down the
liquor dealers If they can. If they are un-
able to DO this, let them coma to the wom-
en-. and we will do it"
Tho convention was called to order by
Chairman of the State Committee Cow
ming The Rev. A. IDyt of Schuyler coun-
ty invoked the divine blessing, after which
Francis Il. Baldwin of Elmira was elected
chairman.
On taking the chair Mr.. Baldwin de-
livored a speech in which he spoke OF the
issues of the campaign as viewed from the
standpoint of the Prohibition party.
The committee on resolutions after re-
ferring to the objects Of the party, report
cd as follows:
e tr hot ba
legal and constitutional prohibition of the
manufacture, expectation, Importation
transportation and sale Of Intoxicating
liquors for use as beverages is the greatest
issue before the American people and de-
mands the immediate attention Of every
voter, because its destruction of human
life, its drain upon financial sources and
its entailment of misery, want and de-
spair exceed the effects of war, pestilence
and famine combined.
1.-The suppression of this traffic has be-
come a matter of such urgency it does and
Of right ought to oyershadow every other
question now under consideration and
should control the political action of every
voter until the great object is accomplish
ed.
Condemns the Kaines Law.
1--WE condemn the Raines liquor tax
law passed by the legislature at Albany
last winter. First, because it tends 10
make the liquor traffic respectable, and IN
so doing seeks to undo all that the tenn
perance people have done; second, because
it seeks to protect and perpetuate and not
destroy this traffic, which both church and
state declare TO be inimical to the best In
terests Of the commonwealth; third, be-
cause by its high tax features it appeals to
the cupidity Of the people instead Of to the
sense Of justice and right; fourth because
for the first time in New York 1t legalizes
the sale of liquor on Sunday.
The Rev. E. e. Phillips of Oswego offer.
ed what he said was to have been mi
nority report, but before he had chance
to offer 1t In committee he had been stop
ped by the moving of the previous ques
tion. He therefore offered his resolution
as amendments. They provided for thl
ssining and Issuing of all moneys directl,
by the government, the granting to WON
an the right of suffrage and protection t,
home industries.
A heated debnto followed the presenta
tion OF these amendments. W. T. Ward
we'll Of New York said that the nationa
convention had decided this year TO havl
platform founded on the only live ISSUE
of the day-Prohibition. IL has decided
that the money question or the tarlH o
woman suffrage issues were only second
ary considerations
+. H. Wheeler of Albany voiced the sam'
sentiments, and he was followed by I
number of other delegates, who spok
either for OF against the amendments
The amendments were defeated by al
overwhelming vote, and an amendnen
was offered by Delegate Beebe Of Yonker
that a plank be inserted in the platform
providing for woman suffrage. 1t was her
that Mrs. Meyer made her appearance
This amendment was, like the precedin
one, voted down, and the original motio
was then adopted. A resolution was sui
sequently adopted in favor of woman
suffrage but it is not portion Of tn
platform.