The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-07-16
SCORES OLD PARTIES
Taft and Bryan Denounced in
Prohibition Convention.
DRAFT OF The PLATFORM
Declares FOR the Suppression o. the
Saloon. the Traffic In Girls. Abuse
Of Sunday and Gamblin9-ROossvelt
Policies Endorsed.

| foicies ENDORSED.
Columbus. O.. July IS-with nearly
/ 1900 OF the 1919 delegates present. the
national Prohibition convention was
called 20 order today IN Memorial hall
Robert H. Patton. Of Springfield i'll.
was chosen temporary chairman. ant
David b. McCalmont. Franklin Pa
temporary secretary.
Temporary Chairman Patton deliv.
cred keynote speech that set the
delegates almost wild. He shot the
rum demon" fun of holes. mercilessly
jumped upon the old political parties.
criticised a public press almost uni
yersaily against us" aud joyfully cried
that in spite Of the fixed habits OF ap-
petite. greed and lust. we have by The
help of God and the power of the right
conquered over all. and are met here
with the shouts Of victory upon our
lips. We are face to face with the
hour that gives assurance Of complete
triumph"
Mr.. Patton put the Democratic and
Republican parties on the grill Tie
said the plank in the Republican IA
tional platform "rcafirming our adher
ence 10 every Republican doctrine pro
claimed since the birth OF the party
was direct reamrmation OF a piank
in the Republican platform OF 1872
which declared against interfering
with the rights Of the people"
The temporary chairman read let
ter from Attorney General Wade Il
Ellis. OF Ohio. who wrote this years
20 r.fn
lis declared he could find nothing in
the platform Of 1872 inconsistent With
good Republican doctrines.
Scores Taft and Bryan.
Mr.. Patton denounced William Il
Taft's friendliness and cooperation
with she Brewer Boss Politician o.
Cincinnati-Boss Cox"
The speaker decried the alliance OF
the Democratic party with the saloon
element and asked William J. Bryan
10 explain this plank in the Demo
cratic platform; We reamrm our
faith in and pledge our loyalty 20 the
principles of our party" which princf
pies. declared Mr. Patton. included tho
famous antisumptuary plank in tho
Democratic platform of 1876 He con
tinueG From the fact that Mt Bryan
recently in a public interview con
fessed 10 voting and making speeches
20 defeat prohibition in his own state
from the fact that in his campaign
speeches in Oklahoma he spoke fer
all OF their constitution but the pro
hibition part, from the fact that h.
has recently In an interview tried Co.
nutr 10
sue and not a national one. what hove
have We that he and the Democratic
party vii. give any aid 20 this cause o.
He advised the organization OF thr
party on practical lines and declared
that the time had now come when tue
movement must go forward or back
ward. There is no middle ground
The Platform.
The following Is a draft OF the plat
form 10 be submitted TO the resolution
committee by Wilbur F. Crafts. of The
International Reform bureau. Wass
ington. which will in all probability O..
adopted.
we appeal to the sovereign people
against the Republican congress thar
has year after year refused 20 with
draw the federal shield OF interstate
commerce from 'speakeasies. an
against the Republican party that a.
its recent convention refused 70 prom
Use this reasonable reform. and against
the Democratic party because il failed
10 make any clear declaration al is
national convention on any moral is
sue. We believe the selection OF e
successor by the president is q dan
gerous precedent. and that at most Il .
should have intimated he would CD
pose the nomination OF any man liable
to reverse Roosevelt policies. which W.
heartily endorse. We believe these POI.
icies. which in their attacks on trust
have not prevented the raising OF
prices. should be supplemented De-
such gradual tariff reform as will
make private monopolies impossible
We favor a constitutional convention
20 amend the constitution so as 70 pro
vide for the election OF senators By
direct vote Of the people; for fedora
control Of marriage. including divorce
and polygamy; for national prohibition
OF importation, manufacture OF sale OF
intoxicating beverages.
Meanwhile We propose as the largest
measure of prohibition now possible
10 dam the liquor traffic at every state
line by forbidding all interstate com
merce in Intoxicating liquors.
I'VE invite intelligent Christian vo;
ers in the Republican and Democrat e.
parties, never so numerous as now
who have been turned down hard b.
refusal OF platform makers OF both par.
ties 10 recognize that nations do not
die Of free trade OF free silver. but o.
free love: not of currency or conquest
but of cancer-to join US in eiectine
an issue, namely. national prohibition
by constitutional amendment and pro
hibition by congress in the District Of
Columbia and the territories and wher.
ever the national government has
jurisdiction. and in electing officers il
sympathy with the legislation to Ell
force It, And We make this paragraph
our only test Of party fealty
We favor conditionary suffrage. not
on sex, bat on intelligence. with com
pulsory voting or public record of rea