The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-10

foreseen clearly the present situation,
and. knowing the nature OF imperialism,
they will not be slow in performing i
sacred duty to the country. American
liberty gains new life or perishes this
year. The struggle which commences
here today will be momentous. Let us
hope that its outcome Will be of vast
benefit to the American people. Let us
pray that concealed in its body is a new
and better republic than the world has
ever known, and that the doctrines OF
Jefferson and Lincoln may be re-estab-
lished and made eternal. In the face
of all the dangers to which the country
Is exposed 1t Is the patriotic duty of all
lovers of home and country, all who cher
ish justice and freedom, TO unite I'm one
heroic effort to preserve our institutions
from death There is no room for quar-
reling over minor issues of party names;
the solemn duty of the hour is united,
harmonious and patriotic action. and
while 1 do not seek to anticipate the re-
suits OF this convention, / feel safe in
saying that in Mr.. Bryan we shall find
a standard bearer who will remain in
support of our principles and whose ffdel-
ity can be trusted in any trial that may
arise"
Gov. Lee was given close attention and
was frequently interrupted by applause.
his reference to the splendid heroism of
the South African republics" bringing a
burst Of cheers. His alusion to w. j.
Bryan however the first time his name
had been pronounced, brought the dele
gates to their feet in a hurricane of cheers
and waving of flags. some enthusiastic
delegates climbing on their chairs to
voice their approval.
In n Dakota
Kansas of the new revolution" he said
In conclusion, amid laughter and applause
When the governor sat down a Kansas
delegate proposed three cheers for the
governor OF South Dakota. and they were
given with will. Chairman Butler re-
sponded for the convention.
Senator Buffers Response.
Senator Marion Butler, OF North Caro-
lima, chairman of the national committee.
in calling the convention together, said
1T feel that II is my duty to state few
facts concerning the party's history since
the last national convention 1t Is well
known that more or less dissatisfaction
resulted from the unpleasant but SEEM
ingly unavoidable episode of two vice
presidential candidates in the last cam
paign A few men took advantage Of
this dissatisfaction to appeal to an honest
sentiment. or shall ] say, prejudice, to
create schism in the party. They charged
that there was a conspiracy on foot.
headed by myself, as your national chair
man. to deliver the party bag and bag
gage to the Democratic organization. In
the spring of 1893 they loudly demanded
a meeting Of the national committee ITO
save the party" They said that I, as
your chairman. should call them together
and let the committeeman from each state
outline a policy for the party until the
next national convention. You all remem-
Der that | called a meeting of the ma
tional committee in the summer of 1898
at Omaha / did it to give those self
constituted leaders a chance TO act after
hearing their grievance. You all know
the result. These self-constituted patriots
demanded, at the committee meeting
that a resolution should be passed, declar-
ing that the next national convention of
the Peoples party should be held at least
one month ahead of that of the old party
conventions.
Middle-of-the-Roade Roasted.
"In the interest of harmony. and In
order 10 meet these dissatisfied self-con-
stituted patriots more than halfway, the
committee accepted their resolution and
passed it unanimously. This resolution has
since been known as the Omaha agree
ment. You all know the result. These
self-constituted patriots. only few In
number but very noisy, proceeded TO
bolt the action of the committee meeting
within less than an hour after II had ad-
iourned, and issued a call for a rump
convention that met In Cincinnati in Sep
tember. Despite this treachery and bad
faith the national committee at its meet
ing held In Lincoln. Neb,. few months
ago. stood by that Omaha agreement to
the letter and called this convention to
meet more than thirty days ahead of both
the old party conventions. But what was
-. az.
patriots again bolted the action OF the
committee at Lincoln after getting ev~
erything that they had demanded in the
Omaha resolution They went to Omaha
determined to bolt and try 20 split the
party, and failing TO nnd an excuse. they
bolted anyway. They went again to the
meeting OF the committee &C Lincoln, de-
termincd beforehand to bolt, to try to
find an excuse 10 bolt, and falling to
find an excuse, they oolted again anyway
But one member OF the national conven-
ton committee voted. ana only two or
three who held proxies, and OF these two
or three We're men who had already bolt
ed in fact by supporting the Barker and
Donnelly rump ticket These boilers.
however, are few In number but. Ike
tho Irishman's frog, they make noise
enough for "a million
Forecasts the Platform.
After reoitlng some facts connected with
the management Of the party. Senator
Butler referred briefly 70 the platform to
re adopted by the convention, sayins In
part
Il will not attempt or presume To-
outline the platform that this convention
should adopt but let mo call our AttcH-
ton 10 the three fundamental plaHks ~
the last People, party national convention
ana point out their application to preseu.
conditions
Every political party win 20 into This
campaign denounClng trusts. The English
language viii be exhausted IN searching
for Adiccaves with which To paint the
evils 81 criminal and unlawful c0m0.na-
tons. bat mark how many platforms VIII
have The courage or the honesty to polu;
90 the causes that produce trusts, and 90
offer remedy Tor them. That remedy "a
ALREADY ia every platform ever adopted b.
a Peoples party convention It was Ars;
put forward as the preventive. In short.
Il tho present peopics party platform
adopted had been enacted into law. We
would not TODAY have these great indus
trial combinations called trusts