The Democratic advocate., 1908-07-31
PROHIBITION PARTY {
ELEVEN HUNDRED DELEGATES In The
NATIONAL CONVENTION
Platform Adopted and a Fnll Ticket
Nominated
Editor of the Advocate.

1t having been my privilege to be
one of the Maryland delegates to the
great National Prohibition Convention
held at Columbus, Ohio, July 1916
1908, | take the liberty of sending
you brief account of the same, think
| ing it may prove of interest to some
of your readers.
The Maryland delegation, numbering
about Is, travelled by special Pull
man car over the Baltimore and Ohio
arriving at Columbus Tuesday about
9 a. m. The various delegations
were received at the station by a
special reception committee and es-
corted to the centre of the city, led
by a splendid military band and the
water wagon" The water wagon
was a great sprinkler properly deco
rated and drawn by four white horses,
each being labeled with the names OF
two dry states. The water wagon was
followed by Missouri mule bearing
a banner upon which was marked the
words Missouri two-thirds dry"
There being no session of the con-
vention until Wednesday morning we
had an opportunity to see the beautl-
full city of Columbus, with it's broad
streets and handsome buildings, It's
seven street car fares for quarter,
and it's hospitable people.
Wednesday morning at the sound
of the gavel in the hands of National
Chairman Charles r. Jones, over HOO
delegates assembled in the great Mem
oriaI Hall on Broad Street, a most de-
lightful and adequate building for the
purpose, and then began the greatest
in tho history OF
the Prohibition party, and one that
was unique in the history of this coun-
try.
Hon. Robert L. Patton, of Illinois,
was made temporary chairman, and
made a magnificent address, which
moved his hearers to the widest ap-
plause.
At the evening session Hon. Eugene
w. Chain, who was subsequently NOM
mated as the candidate for the Presi-
dency, delivered one of the strongest
and most powerful addresses that it
has ever been my privilege to hear,
arousing the convention to that de-
gree of enthusiasm that made his
subsequent nomination certainty.
The Maryland delegates were as
signed to committee positions as fol-
lows: F'indley G. Hendrickson, of
Cumberland, to committee on plat
form; Rev. Charles M. Elderdice, of
fredericksburg, to committee on Gre
dentials, and Charles R. Woods, OF
Baltimore, to committee on perma-
nent organization.
Charles Scanlon was made perma-
nent chairman, and welded the gavel
with grace and efficiency.
The platform which was adopted is
a model of brevity and good sense, land
is as follows:
l. The submission by Congress to
the several states " an amendment
to the Federal Constitution prohibit
ing the manufacture, sale, importation,
or transportation of alco-
holic liquors for beverage purposes.
2. The immediate prohibition of the
liquor traffic for beverage purposes in
the District of Columbia, in the ter
ritories and all places over which the
national government has jurisdiction;
the repeal of the internal revenue tax
On alcoholic liquors and the prohibi-
lion of the interstate traffic therein.
8. The election of United States |
Senator's by direct vote of the people.
4. Equitable graduated income and
Inheritance taxes.
5. The establishment of postal saw
ngs banks, and the guarantee of de-
)osits in banks.
6. The regulation of all corpora
ions doing an interstate commerce
business.
Z. The creation of permanent
ariff commission.
8. The strict enforcement in law
instead of the official tolerance and
practical license of the social evil
which prevails in many of our cities,
With it's unspeakable traffic in girls.
9. Uniform marriage and divorce
avs.
10. An equitable and constitutional
employers liability act.
II. Court review of postoffice de-
)artment decisions.
12. Prohibition of child labor in
mines, workshops and factories.
13. Legislation basing suffrage only
upon intelligence and ability to read
and write the English language.
IA. The preservation of the mineral
and forest resources of the country |
and the improvement of the highways
and waterways.
Believing in the righteousness of
Believing in the righteousness of
our principles, and convinced of the
of the Republican and
Democratic parties to deal with these
issues, we invite to full party fellow
ship all citizens who are with us
agreed"
And when it came to balloting for
the nomination of candidate for
the Presidency, so many magnificent
men were placed in nomination by
their admiring friends that it was
difficult to choose between them.
Among those for whom nominating
speeches were made were Joseph r.
Tracey, of Michigan; Alfred Manierre,
of New York; Daniel Sheen, OF Illl-
nois; Eugene w. Chain, of Illinois;
Fred R. Wheeler, of California; Rev.
A. B. Palmore, of Missouri, and others.
The delegates had not, however, for
gotten the wonderful speech made by
Mr.. Chain, the evening before, and
had inquired about him and learned
of his greatness and ability as law
yer, and his splendid work for the
Prohibition party, and upon the third
ballot he was nominated by a large
majority, which was subsequently
made unanimous. Professor Aaron
Watkins, of Ohio, was nominated for
the Presidency. Both are strong
men and both are eminertly qualified
by education and experience to fill the
positions for which they have been
] nominated.