The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-14

e YORK. September 1.-THE first
two sessions of the IndependenCe.
Lague, headed by William Randolph
Hearst, was held in this city today.
the first being called 10 order In Car
negie Hall at one o'clock in the after
noon, the second at 9 o'clock tonight.
Temporary and permanent organiza-'
ton was perfected, and amid mucn en-
thusiasm tonight a lengthy platform,
setting forth principles of the league.
| was adopted.
The convention declared positively
tonight in favor of the nomination OF
a full state ticket. and Instructed the.
committee on resolutions to draft al
suitable reply to w. J.. Connors ond
other delegates to the democratic state.
convention at Buffalo. September 18th
They had presented a memorial asking
the Independence League 10 defer nom,
mating a state ticket until a conference
could be had with the democrats.
The convention also directed the
committee on resolutions to consider
and report TO the convention on the
qualifications of candidates.
A feature Of the night session was
a demonstration following the mention
of Mr.. .Hearst's name, which lasted
half an hour. Mr.. Hearst did 1sot at
tend today's sessions.
There was much disorder in the.
| convention tonight when a motion to
| adjourn until tomorrow night was
{ made after the routine business had
been concluded. Many of the delegates
did not want t adjourn, and protested,
half a hundred or more clamOring for
, recognition while just as many crieG.
for adjournment. The motion was final
ly gotten before the convention, and at
II o'clock was carried with a cheer.
At the evening session of the Hears
convention, the committee on resolu
tons and platform reported through
Clarence J. Shearn. it's chairman. NJ
|! Shearn was cheered as Our Next Att
| torney General. Mr.. Shearn declared
! that the 4bmmittee had adopted the
| platform without a dissenting voice.
The platform sets forth the funda-I
mental idea Of the league as independ-
ent of boss rule, or corporation control!
of any party subject to these. 1t de-,
clareS for "A free vote n an honest
count and demands a revision of the
present dishonest and complex election
law, a simplifed ballot and a law pro-
vidinc for a recOunt in cases Of fraud
or mistake.
Governor Higgins is denounced for
failure to r~eorganiZe the state insur-
ance department and q new election
of the insurance companies is favored
in case the present officials in the COM
ing elections maintain control through
cOnnivance of the insurance depart
ment in underhand and illegal cam
paigning.
The platform declares that a search
ing investigation of every executive
department is due the public
District Attorney Jerome is at
tackled.
On the subject of public ownership
the platform says:
The independence league b~elleFes
in the public ownerships Of public utl-
tiles tina are natural monopolies, mold
ing that no person or corporation IS
privileged to confscate what rlgntfullE
belongs to another, il stands Tor IRE
co%nciliable hostility 10 appropriations
by CORPORATIONS Of franchise values
created by the community and belong
ing to the community. Respect for
local rights and home rules should au-
thorize the enactment Of a statute en-
towering all cities 10 acquire ana op-
crate public necessities
=. ls 800
The closing session was all out pan
deuonium. dozens Of the delegates be
ing on their feet at a time. all shout
ing for recognition. but without action
resulting One delegate got the stage
and pleaded in the name OF the eight
hour law that he had been - hours
practically without food or sleep. ms
caught the spirit of the convention and
the chair got order enough TO put the
motion TO adjourn till S p m tomoT-
row. This was carried amid great con-
fusion AT II O'Clock.