The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-09-08
Another Minority Report.

Anderson. of Pierce, submitted the fol-
lowing minority report and moved Its
adoption as an amendment TO the original
report:
The undersigned. members Of the COM
mittee on resolutions and platform. re-
specially submit the following report:
we believe that a colonial policy is dam
gerots TO republican institutions and we
declare that the Monroe doctrine "a framed
by our fathers md handed down 10 US
through successive gent "a tons Is against
the acquisition by the United States OF ter
ritory located in the Eastern hemisphere,
excepting such as may he necessary for
coaiing stations for use OF our navy.
JAMES J. ANDERSON,
John SCHICk,
THOMAS II. VANCE"
Fentoa then moved the adoption OF his
minority report as an amendment TO the
amendment After a Tong debate. in which
the chief speakers were Fenton. OF Spo-
kane; Anderson. Of Pierce: Robinson. Of
Spokane: Ronald. Of King; whiteeot King
Gilman, Of King. and Hazard. OF Pierce.
both amendments were voted down. From
test votes the sentiment is Overwhelmingly
Ia favor OF the retention OF the Philippines.
On motion OF Hart. Of King. the words ITO
Spain in the original report relating to
the surrender OF the islands were stricken
out
Then came the fgh, on direct legislation.
1t was upon the following amendment:
I'VE. the undersigned members OF the
committee on platform and resolutions. do
most respectfully present this our minor
ity report against the adoption OF that pro-
vision OF the platform which declares In
favor of direct legislation. and We recon-
mend that such provision be stricken from
the platform
Submitted by James Z. Fenton. G. A.
c Rochester. Ii. c. Mlllison and J. T..
Wills"
Before the final vote was taken OF the
majority report the convention adjourned.
Several heated speeches followed. Allen
OF King at first advocated the amendment.
but afterwara retracted bis position.
White OF King suggested that even X 4.
had been advisable to leave out all refer
ence 20 direct legislation. get. now tina,
the issue had been precipitate. II would
never do to strike out the proposed plank
favorluS eirec. legislation, because the
Popuiis,s would think the Democrats were
deliberately regulating direct legislation
Wills Of Lewis thought the entire
scheme OF direct legislation out OF har'
raony with true Democracy. and said il
would subvers the legislature. do away
with supreme courts ard submit: conSti;u-
siouaI Interpretation 10 tire prejudice OF
the people
This threw wide open the gates % dis
sans!on. and for the arst time the Demo
cratic convention grew wildly discordaut
Fentou Of Spokane. answering Whites ar
xuraent. said the convention had assem-
hlei 70 formulate a Democratic. rot q
Popullst. platform. II The declarations 81
the omissions ~ thai platform should
prove offensive 10 ne PopglIsts, Ia might
res-etatt. but IL could not De avoided
Hes-ner % Thu.ston. answering Wills
claimed tnat direct legislation was in ac-
cord with Democracy. Powell Of kina
quoted history 20 show that from .as
tine O. the earliest New England towr
meeting Greet legislation has been prac'
tice9; TIA, II was advocated tY Tho.na: