Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1891 — THE NEW THIRD PARTY. [ARTICLE]

THE NEW THIRD PARTY.

Union National Conference at Cincinnati. Fifteen Hundred Farmers’ Alliance and Other Delegates Gather in Political Council—The Proceedings. Whatever its outcome, the big convention that met at Cincinnati on the 19th was inaugurated in a fashion of which any American citizen might well be proud. One thousand five hundred representatives of the bone and sinew of the Nation, gathered alike from farm and city toil, came to order at the hour that months before had been agreed upon, lifted their voices in magnificent diapason in a hymn to their country, said together in simple reverential unison the “Lord’s Prayer,” and then calmly proceeded to fight out as best manhood dictated the question whether or not a great new political party in the United States should forthwith be given an existence. From first to last the developments of the opening day were strangely impressive. Such an air of unmistakable sincerity pervaded the overwhelming majority of the delegates that the recurring humorously grotesque Incidents that marked nearly ev<?ry stage of the proceedings were quickly lost to view. Every one laughed till their sides ached when, at the very outset, a band of well-meaning but inattentive far-away enthusiasts from Kansas delayed the opening appeal to the Almighty till they had given three cheers and a tiger for their idolized “Sockless” Jerry Simpson, who had just entered the hall. But in the great hush that fell upon the convention hall when, a moment later, the fifteen hundred delegates with bowed heads began with the words “Onr Father,’’ no one noticed the peculiar incongruity Of the Kansans just then petitioning with the others for the forgiveness of trespasses. The conference began with the singing of the national anthem. Rev. E. P. Foster, of Cincinnati, now invoked the throne of grace, beseeching victory against the powers of evil in the name of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. The delegates repeated with him the Lord’s prayer. Capt. A. C. Power, of Indiana, then read the official call for this conference and requested the various organizations therein named to rise as their names were called, which was done, applause greeting the appearance of ex-federal and confederate soldiers, also the Farmers’ Alliance, which showed great strength. Next came the Citizens’ Alliance, the Knights of Labor, the Colored Farmers’ Alliance, which Mr. Power stated were a million strong and ever ready to do battle. Hearty cheers greeted each. There was a cheer when the words “National Union Conference” were read. Mr. Rightmier, of Kansas, then read the supplemental call, issued from Topeka in February last. Charles Cunningham, of Arkansas, was elected temporary chairman, and A. B. Jones, of Missouri, secretary, with two askstants.

A lively wrangle here ensued as to whether States be called for members of the committees or that the various national organizations named in the call make the nominations of committeemen. Mr. Oakland, of Kentucky, led the fight against the first plan, but was finally beaten, after the conference had mixed it--self in a seemingly inextricable tangle of amendments, points of order and questions of privilege. At 3:20 p. m. the convention had only completed one of its Committees, that on credentials. The great size of the hal! and the large number of delegates—about I.soo—with several speakers at times simultaneously occupying the floor, made progress very slow, but the good nature and persistence of both the delegates and the 2,500 spectators present seemed inexhaustible, and the work went on with wonderfully few people leaving the hall. The most interesting moments of the afternoon were during the spirited passage between Ignatious Donnelly and Gen. Weaver. It was like nothing so much as a duel between two skilled swordsmen, and when the combattants were parted no one in the hall could say which had the best of it. Both brainy men, keen and readyabowie, each appeared to feel that he had a foeman worthy of his steel. Donnelly favored a third party on the spot; Weaver would wait at least a year. With consudimate skill the chairman parted the fiery pair just when delegates and spectators were holding their breath, expecting no one knew what. The following names were adopted as members of the committee on resolutions, with instructions to go into session and prepare the convention’s platform: Arkansas, J. O. Bush, California, H. E. Dillon; Colorado, E. G. Curtis; Connecticut, Robert Shine; North Dakota and South Dakota, Charles M.Fee; Districtof Colum-' bia, T. A. Bland; Georgia, D. G.Post; Illinois, James W. Dill; Indiana, M- C. Rankin; lowa, J. B. Weaver; Kansas, J. G. Otis; Kentucky, L. D. Dustin; Maine, W. D. Smith; Massachusetts, W. A. Green; Michigan, Mrs, S. E. V. Emery; Minnesota, Ignatious Donnelly, Missouri, Leverett Leonard; Montana, J. H. Powers; New York, Wm. Henry; Ohio, John Seitz; Pennsylvania, F. R. Agnew; Rhode Island, B. Balheist; Tennessee, H. B. Osborn; Texas, J. G. Davis; West Virginia, Virgil A. Gaines; Wisconsin, N. Schilling; Wyoming, H. E. Shears. The conference then adjourned for the day. d All doubt was dispelled as to the formation of a new party when Ignatius Donnelly, of Minnesota, Chatfmanuf the Committee on Resolutions, with a dignity befitting his words, announced that thecommitteq had become a unit for starting a third party in the Nation without another instant’s delay, Itowas marvelous to see the effect on delegates and spectators alike, fatigue and foreboding quarrels vanished as if struck by lightning. Breathless and hushed, the listening hundreds waited as Donnelly continued earnestly: “Wo think wo have performed a work that will affect the politics of this country for the next fifty yeara.” That was enough. The audience could contain Itself no longer,

i £ but, with dynamite force exploded In a terrific thunder of applause. i A sensational feature of the proceedings following Donnelly’s announcement came after the platform proper had been adopted. A California man was the Individual that nearly rivaled the classic yonth of ancient renown who fired the Ephesian dome. The Californian’s name was G. W. Miller, and he was a Prohibitionist from the summit of his steeply brushed hair to the very bottom Of his boot heels. Apparently, nothing on earth could disconcert that Californian. Over a thousand thoroughly enraged and disgusted brawny grangers and mechanics turned on him as if they would tear him limb from limb,but he refused to budge an inch. He worked his jaws without ceasing, though every syllable he uttered was lost in the hurricane of jeers and contumely. The Cali* fornian wanted to thrust before the con. ventlon a resolution pledging the new party to the prohibition cause. The convention emphatically did not want to sub mit to any such process, But It had to. The nerve and grit of one man against a thousand carried the day and the people’s party, before it was an hour old, was forced to go on record upon the youngWesterner’sresolution. The convention, however, instantly took Its revenge. Like a vicious young colt, it kicked the resolution into kingdom come with a sickening suddehness and vigor that must have surprised even Mr. Miller himself, though he managed somehow not to betray the fact. To-night it was reported that many members of the National Reform organization, headed by President W. W. Jones, of Illinois, had withdrawn from the party because of the defeat of the resolution.

Possibly the picture that will be longest remembered by those who witnessed it will be that of the pertinacious Californian, but the unequaled display of enthusiasm by the big gathering at the joining of the blue and the gray with the black in the person of an ex-Union soldier, a Texan exrebel and the leader of the Colored Farmers Alliance. The significance of the incident was little, if any, marred by the fact that the third of the trio was of pure Caucasian blood. All through the rapidly succeeding hours the scenes and Incidents from the first moment were of the most absorbing nature.

The name of the new party, the “People’s Party Of the United States,” elicited a magnificent outburst of applause, and as each plank was read the cheering was renewed so frequently that the great hall seemed to reverberate continuously. A resolution recommending universal suffrage to favorable consideration met with a rather chilly reception, but the one de manding the payment of pensions on a gold basis was roundly cheered. At this Juncture a delegate objected that the platform was one-sided for the Farmers’ Alliance, but he met with little encouragement, and Mr. Schilling declared that the convention was here for harmony and for the new “Declaration of Independence.’’ He annomced that the pension plank was left to the soldier member on the committee, with an inquiry whether it was satisfactory, and on his acquiescence it was adopted unanimously. Mr. Davis, of Texas, a lank six-footer, in a light suit, who had electrified the convention after Donnelly’s speech by a long, weird whoop of exultation, was conducted to the platform, and, to the intense delight Of the convention, repeated the unearthly Indian-like thrill. Then he announced himself as an ex-confederate, and declared himself for the platform—every plank and resolution. An extraordinary spectacle followed. Mr. Wadsworth, of Indiana, an ex-Union soldier, rushed up to ex Confederate Davis, in full view of the convention, and the two one-time mortal foes grasped hands.

R. W. Humphrey, of Texas, organizer of the Colored Alliance, which numbers over half a million members, seized with the Inspiration of the moment, suddenly iolned the ex-soldiers, and, amid a perfect cyclone of enthusiasm, a delegate moved the adoption of the platform as read. The convention went wild and the delegates amounted tables and chairs, shouting and yelling like Comanches. A portion of the convention, in thunderous chorus, 9ang, to the tune, “Good-bye, My Lover, Goodbye,” the words: “Good-bye, Old Parties, Good-bye,” and then the “Doxology.” In the forest of flags and State banners that had been gathered with their bearers around the trio, a Kansas man on the shoulders of two colleagues standing on chairs raised the Kansas banner and held, it aloft just above all others. The tumult Surpassing in Its remarkable suddenness and vigor anything that had previously taken place in the convention, lasted fully a quarter of an hour, till it ceased from the sheer exhaustion of the delegates.

THE PLATFORM. Firstr—That in view of the great social, industrial and economical revolution now dawning upon the civilized world, and the new and living issues confronting the American people, we believe that the time has arrived fora crystallization of the political reform forces of our country and the formation of what should be known as the People’s party of the United States of America. Second—That we most heartily Indorse the demands of the platforms as adopted at St. Louis ltrl889; Ocala, Fla., in 1890, and Omaha, Neb., in 1891, by the industrial organizations there represented,summarized as follows: (a) The right to make and issue money is a sovereign power to be maintained by the people for the common benefit, hence we demand the abolition of national banks as banks of issue, and as a substitute for national bank notes we demand that legal tender treasury notes be issued in sufficient volume to transact the business of the country on a cash basis, without damage or especial advantage to any class or calling, such notes to be legal-tender in payment of all debts, public and private, and such notes, when demanded by the people, shall be loaned to them at not more that 2 pe>* cent, per annum upon non-per-ishable products, as indicated in the subtreasury plan and also upon real estate, with proper limitation upon the quantity of land and amount of moriey. (b) Wo demand the free and unlimited, coinage of sliver. fa)— We demand the passage of laws

prohibiting alien ownership of land tab that Congress take prompt,, action to devise some pish to obtain all lands now owned by alien and foreign syndicates, and that all land held by railroads and other corporations in excess of such as is actually used and needed by them, be reclaimed by the Government and held for actual settlers only. (d>—Believing In the doctrine of eqna rights to all and special privileges to none, we demand that taxation, national, State or municipal, shall not be used to build up one interest or class at the expense of another. • (e>—We demand that all revenues—National, State or county—shall be limited to the necessary expenses of the Government economically and honestly administered. (f>—We demand a Just and equitable system of graduated tax on income. (g)—We demand the most rigid, honest and Just national control and supervision of the means of public communication and transportation, and if this control and su-i pervision does not remove the abuses no# existing, we demand the Government own-* ership of such means of communication' and transportation. (h>—We demand the election of President, Vice President and United States Senators by a direct vote of the people. Third—That we urge united action of all progressive organizations in attending the conference called for Feb. 82, 1892, by six of the leading reform organizations. Fourth—That a national central committee be appointed b>* this conference, tobe composed of a chairman, to be selected' by this body, and three members from each State represented, to be named by each State delegation. Fifth—That this central committee shall represent this body, attend the national conference on Feb. 22,1892, and if possible unite with that and all other reform ororganizations there assembled. If no satisfactory arrangement can be effected, this committee shall call a national con? vention not later than June 1, 1892, for the purpose of nominating candidates foe President and Vice-president. Sixth —That the members of the central committee for each State where there if no independent political organization, conduct an active system of political agitation in their respective States.