Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-07-18
SCORES CID PARTIES
Taft and Bryan Denounced in Pro
hibition Convention
DRAFT OF TIE PLATFORM

Declares For the Suppression Of the
Saloon, ths Traffic In Girls, Abus.
Of Sunday and GannbIins-RooseveH
Policies Endorsed.
Columbus. O.. July 15.-with nearly
1900 of the 1919 delegates present. the
national Prohibition convention was
called to order in Memorial hall
Robert II. Patton, of Springfield, III.
was chosen temporary chairman. and
David 3. McCalmont, Franklin. Pa.
temporary secretary.
Temporary Chairman Patton deliv
cred a keynote" speech that set the
delegates almost wild. lie shot the
rum demon" full OF holes, mercilessly
jumped upon the old political parties
criticised "A public press almost uni
versally against US" and joy.ully cried
that i'm spite of the fixed habits OF ap
petite. greed and lust. we have by tbs
help Of God and the power OF the right
conquered over all, and are met here
with the shouts Of victory upon ouI
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 He
said the plank in the Republican ma
tional platform "reafirming our adher
ence 20 every Republican doctrine pro
claimed since the birth OF the party
was direct reclamation of a plank
in the Republican platform OF 1872
which declared against interferina
with the rights Of the people"
Scores TAFT and Bryan.
Mr.. Patton denounced William II
Taft's friendliness and cooperation
with the Brewer Boss Politician OF
Cincsnnati--Boss Cox"
The speaker decried the alliance o.
the Democratic party with the saloor
element and asked william j. Bryan
to explain this plank in the Demo
cratic platform: I'VE reaffirm oull
faith in and pledge our loyalty TO this
principles OF our party" which princi
pies. declared Mr.. Patton. included the
famous anti-sumptuary plank In the
Democratic platform OF 1876. He con
tinued: From the fact that Mr.. Bryan
recently In a public interview con
fessed to voting and making speechei
10 defeat prohibition Ia his own state
from the fact that ia bis campaign
speeches in Oklahoma, he spoke for
all OF their constitution but the pro
hibition part; from the fact that he
has recently In an interview tried tc
NJ
sue and not national one. what hope
have we that he and the Democratic
party Will give any aid 70 this causei
He advised the organization OF the
party on practical lines and declared
that the time had now come when the
movement must go forward or back |
ward. There is no middle ground"
The Platform.
The following is draft of the plat
form 10 be submitted to the resolution
committee by Wilbur F. Crafts. of the
international Reform bureau. Wash |
ington, which Will in all probability Be !
adopted:
we appeal to the sovereign people |
against the Republican congress that
has year after year refused to with
draw the federal shield of interstate
commerce from 'speakeasies.' and
against the Republican party that al
its recent convention refused to prom. !
Use this reasonable reform; and against |
the Democratic party because Il failed /
to make any clear declaration at it, /
national convention on any moral is |
sue. We believe the selection of a 1
successor by the president IS a dan \
gerous precedent, and that at most b 4
should have intimated he would CD |
pose the nomination of any man lab,
TO reverse Roosevelt policies. which ",
heartily endorse. We believe these 20 !
icies. which in their attacks on trust
have not prevented the rassns
prices. should be supplemented b
such gradual tariff reform as VI
make private monopol.es i,Cposs BE
We favor a constitutional cOnyeatic.
10 amend the constitution 50 as t. pro
vide for the election OF senators by /
direct vote of the people; for feie-a.
control of marriage. including divorce
and polygamy; for national prohibition
OF importation, manufacture or sale OF
beverages
Meanwhile we propose as the largest
OF prohibition now possible
TO dam the liquor traffic az every state
line by forbidding all interstate com
merce in intoxicating liquors.
I'VE invite intelligent Christian vot-
ers in the Republican and Democratic
parties, never SO numerous as now
who have been turned down hard by
refusal of platform makers of both par
ties to recognize that nations do not
die Of free trade or free silver. but af
free love; not OF currency or conquest,
but OF cancer-to join us In electine
an Issue. namely. national prohibition
by constitutional amendment and PRO
nibition by congress In the District OF
Columbia and the territories and wher-
ever the national government has
and in electing oficsrs in
with the legislation to en-