Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-07-02

Chicago, June 27.-The national con-
vention of the prohibition party met
yesterday in the FIRST Regimental ar
mory. In all 1904 delegates are en-
titled to seats and more than three
fourths were in attendance when
Chairman Oliver w. Stewart, of the
national executive committee, called
the convention to order at 10:30 a. m.
1t is expected by today, when the nom
| nation for president and vice presi-
dent will be made, nearly 1000 repre-
sentatives of the party will be present.
Three avowed candidates for the
presidential Nomination are in the
field-John G.. Woolley of Chicago, edi-
tor of The Voice; Hale Johnson OF
Newton, Ill., and Rev. Silas G. Swal-
low of Harrisburg, Pa. For vice pres
ident Felix F. McWhirter of Indianap-
oils, Henry B. Metcalf of Rhode Island,
w. B. Witherspoon of Alabama, and
w. w. Smith Of New York, are candi-
dates.
Temporary Chairman Samuel
Dickie of Michigan made brief
speech Dickie bitterly assailed the
administration for it's position on the
canteen law and charged it with de
bauching the peoples in the Philip
pines" He also accused the govern
ment with using it's consular service
for gathering informatl On for distil-
1ers and brewers.
At the evening session the resolu-
lions were reported and read by Sec
rotary Hopkins. The platform in part
is as follows:
1--WE declare there is no principle
now advocated by any other party
which could be made fact in govern
ment with such benefcent moral and
material results as prohibition. The
party is agreed upon this policy, and
without any obligation of success to
the saloon vote, and to those democrat
ling political combinations OF men
and money now allied Herewith and
suppliant thereto, could successfully
cope with the other and lesser prob
lens of government. The democratic
and republican parties are alike
insincere in their assumed
policy toward trusts and monopolies.
They dare not attack the most danger
GUS of all-the liquor traffic.
1--WE purpose as first step IN the H.
nancial problems of the nation to save
more than $1,00O,000,000 every year
now expended to support the liquor
traffic and demoralize our people.
When that is accomplished conditions
will have so improved that, with a
clearer atmosphere, the country can ad-
dress itself to questions as to the kind
and quantity Of currency needed.
eve face with sorrow, shame, and
fear the awful fact that he liquor traf-
f1c has a grip on our government, mu-
nicipal, state and national, through the
revenue system and saloon sovereignty,
which no other party dares to dispute;
grip which denominates the party
now in power from caucus to congress,
from policeman to president, from rum
shop to white house; grip which COM
! pels the chief executive to consent that
the law be nullifed on behalf Of the
brewer, that the canteen shall curse
/ our army, and spread intemperance
/ across the seas, and that our flag Shall
wave as a symbol of partnership be
tween the government and men who de-
fly and define it for their own profits.
We urge upon President Mckinley, who
was elected to his high office by appeals
| to Christian sentiment and patriotism
almost unprecedented, and by a combi
nation of moral influences never before
seen in this country, that, by his con-
spicuous example as a wine drinker at
public banquets, and as wine serving
host in the white house, he has done
more to encourage the liquor business,
to demoralize the temperance habits oI
young men, and to bring Christian
practices and requirements into disre-
pute than any other president this re-
public has had. We further charge up
on President Mckinley the RESPONSE
bility of the army canteen, with all it's
dire brood of disease, immortality
sin, and death, in this
country, Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines; and his apparent con-
tempt for the vast number Of petitions
protesting against it, has outraged and
insulted the moral sentiment of the
country in such a manner as calls for
righteous uprising and effective re-
buke. :"
The act of congress March 2, 1899,
forbdding the sale of liquor at military
posts is declared to be as explicit as
the English language can frame, and
the belief expressed that the attorney
general and secretary of war in their
Interpretation and refusal to enforce
the law were and are guilty of treas
able notification thereof, and that
President Mckinley, through his as
Sent, shares his responsibility in their
] guilt.