The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 14, 1896, Page 3

.2 THE ‘SAN FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1896 San Francisco, T. V. Cator of San Fran- cisco, J. R. Welch of San Jose, M. W. Wilkins of San Jose and J. W. Hines o San Jose. . Sixth District—J. K. Burnett, L. M. Dexter, R. E. Curran, E. M. Hamilton and J. L. Steele. Seventh District—E. D. Duncanson of San Bernardino, C. Bennett of Orange, J. L. Dryden of San Diego, George F. Elliott of San Benito and W. H. Gilstrap of Tulare. SACRAMENTO, Carn, May 13.—The work of the Populist State Convention is shown in the list above and in the plat- form to be found in another column. The personnel of the convention was probably higher in point of ability and in some other directions than any of its predecessors. It was sufficiently varied to kaleiaoscope all colors of the political rain- bow. It contained a Populist Sheriff from Shasta, filty or sixty Grand Army veter- ans, a member of the Populist City Board of Education of Los Angeles, a clergyman from the orange belt with a stentorian voice advertising stridently and sonorously the salubrity of the climate of thé sunny south; a man who drove big-headed hob nails into the soles of hisshoes and walked from Healdsburg to Sacramento; a man who rode in a rickety cart from Lakeport to the capital, an ex-candidate for Gover- nor; two Populists who wore silk hats—a dangerous innovation from San Francisco —all earnest men, most of them with whiskers. Then there was an ex-socialist leader and a surprisingly large number of ora- tors, ranging all the way down the gamut of eloquence from the bigh C of Shasta, a Mr. Many-Initialed Murphy, to Fulton of eles, whom the chairmsan’s ina- to recognize worried very much. be a natural-born orator, and wanted to make a speech on almost every subject. It was for this reason that the second and final day’s session was protracted toward the midnight hour. It was an enthusias- tic convention, the cheering and zip-zip of the delegates being the loudest and most | prolonged when Thomas V. Cator was nrominated for United States Senator. e e THIS IS THE PLATFORM. It Favors Free Silver, Equal Suffrage and a Tariff Commission and Opposes Funding. SACRAMENTO. Car., May 13.—Follow- ing is the platform as adopted in its en- tirety by the Populists: We demand the enfranchisement of women upon the same terms now enjoyed by men, and 10 that end pledge our votes and most earnest | efforts to procure the adoption by the people | of this State at the next general election of the | eleventh amendmeni to the constitution. The People’s party of the State of California reaffirm the principle of the Omaha platform | and demand direct legislation by the initintive and referendum &nd proportional representa- tion. We denounce the policy of the Democratic and Republican parties in maintaining the 20ld standard and in issuing bonds to pur. chase gold to pay National obligations which are, on iheir face and by law, payable in eitiier gold or silver coin. And'we condemn the hypoerisy of ihe Republican party for de- nouncing Grover Clevelsnd for so issuing s while it has, by its representatives in Congress upheld that policy and has refused to votefor esented by Populist Senators to restrain of such bonds without the consent of We renew and en ize ourdemand for the | free and unlimited coinege of silver as well as | gola at the ratio of 16 to 1,asa full legal | tender and without reference to any other | nation. We request our delegates to the National Convention to present the following for its consideration: *We favor genuine protection 10 American labor by the restriction of the imt migration of foreign labor and by & true Amer- | ican system of finance which will render | justice to labor and industry and restrain the | evils of usury; and we demand the creation of & Natioual non-partisan tariff tribucal of ex- perts by Congress, which shall be subject to the control o Congress, to the end that tariff agitation may be taken out of politics, and to the end that tariff schedules shali be so ad- | justed that the benefit derived therefrom shall | Tesult to labor and not to trusts; and we di nouuce the Democratic and Republican pa: ties for refusing to properly restrict immigra- tion of foreign labor when having power so to do in Congress."” We demand that whenever a monopoly be- comes oppressive it shall be taken possession of by, and owned and operated in the interest of, the people, just remuneration being first made for the property taken. We oppose and denounce &l bills to refund or extend the payments of the Pacific railroad cebis; and we oppose any settlement by which these roads are Lo remain in the hands of any private person or corporation, unless these debts are paid in full at maturity; and unless | 50 puid we demand that the Government, by | virtue of terms of its mortgages, enter into and take possession of these roads, and operate the same as National enterprises in the in. terestof the people; and upon foreclosure, if there is a deficiency, that the Government pursue every legal or equitable remedy to re- cover any such deficiency from those respon- sible therefor. We view with apprehension the encroach. ments of the Federal judiciary upon the lib- erties of the people, s nced by the de- cisions in the recent c pt in_inCome tax cases, and are therefore in favor of an amend- | ment to the Nativnal constitution prohibiting those tribunsls or any other courts from an- nulling any Congressional act without the con- . currence of the people by a referendum vote, Resolved, That we condemn the dishonest action of such essessors in this State as are habitually and corruptly underestimating the values of the proverty of the banks, corpora- tions and wealtay ciasses of this common- wealth, Resolved, That we pledge the People’s party to nominate.assessors who will obey tae law, observe their oaths and assess such properties in the manner required by the constitution. We furthermore protest against the collection of taxes on personal property in this State by torced levy and sale without process of court; and we pledge ourselves to the repeal of the iniquitous statute that permits it at the next session of the Legislature. Believing as we do that the polltax isa wrong aund a burden on the masses, therefore, we pledge our Assembly nominees, if elected, that they will work for the repeal of this obnoxious and unjust law. We favor good roads. The People’s party is pre-eminently the party of public fmprove- ments, and were its finencial-demands in oper- ation all roads would be made good. We favor the support of the free public school system, and oppose public moneys being used for sectarian schools. We condemn the legislation of a Government which permits a vast army of its citizens to hopelessly beg for employment, while public highways and public works are parceled out to fayorite contractors. We demand that all public work shell be carried on without the intervention of contractors, under skilled su- intendents, and that preference be given in such werk o our own unemployed citizens. We favor homes as the true foundation of a frec and happy people, and we further favor an awendment to the constitution exempting from taxetion all properiy of each head ofa family in this State to the extent of $500. And we favor s graduated tax upon land, whereby the ratio of tax shall increase as the velue of land js greater in single hand, to the end that great estates in land may be broken up and tbat land mongpoly mey be destroyed. ! We demand that salaries ol’public officials, which in many instances_remain as high as in times of prosperity, shall be reduced in the proportion that the prices of products and property have fallen, and that county offices consolidated wherever practicable. We prom: to conduct the government of this State efficiently upon a tax of fifty cents upon the one hundred dollars,and we condemn both Republican and Democratic administrations in this State for having broken their platiorm pledges in this respeet and for an extravagance whereby almost as much money is levied to carry on tie affairs of this S:ate as is levied to conduct the State g overnment of New York. Resolved, That we favor a union of reform forces at St. Louis on July 22, provided it can be beneficially effected without the sacrifice of any of the principles of the People’s party. We oppose any proceeding by which the Peopie’s party convention shall sit with or join any other convention or aamit any but the dele- gates elected to the People's party National Convention. DEBATING THE ISSUES. Each Plank of the Party Platform Adopted After Careful Con- sideration. SACRAMENTO, Can, May 13.—The | tion and order of business. ry man on the floor almost seemed to first business taken up by the convention at 9 o'clock this morning was the xeponl Secretary W, T. Hamilton of the Populist Convention at Sacramento. |Sketched from life by a *“Call” artist.] of the committee on permanent organiza- Everything went on smoothly until the seventh order, the nomination of a United States Sena- tor, was reached, when a score of dele- gates threw themselves into the fray. The battle raged hotly during nearly | the whole of the afterncon. Fierce gentle- men, gnashing their teeth and roaring at the full strength of their lungs, shook their fists at the clock in the galléry in the effort to shout down the equally fierce gentiemen frantically calling for points of order and the previous question. In the midst of the tempest Chairman Barlow ruled that after the previous ques- tion had been put and carried, the side which opened the discussion had the right to close. In this ruling the chair was sup- ported by D. T. Fowler of Fresno. Haskell of S8an Francisco took the floor and asked in a most excited manner whether the convention proposed to defer the naming of a United States Senator and allow it to be done at the session of the Legislature “by a body of men sneaking here and jobbing there” in the interest of monopolies. Van Meter of Fresno followed with the declaration that Mr. Cator, the gentleman named, was a personal friend of his and was his choice for the senatorship. “But I want to say to yod,” he added, “that you are never as near to the people as the men who are elected by the people to the Legislature. You were not voted for by the people, but you were chosen by dele- gates selected at a caucus or at primaries, and God knows in what other ways.’” Van Meter's speech raised a shout of dissent, and before the confusion bhad sub- | sided, J. Asbury Johnson of San Fran- | | the people inthe far East will chorus, cisco was in front of thespeaker’s desk. While all around him were excited, Mr. Johnson was perfectly cool and self-pos- sessed. He made a logical speech devoid of claptrap or noise, and made a marked impression upon his hearers. He bewan by asking pointedly whether any of his hesrers would be willing to send delegates to a State convention with the agreement that they would frame a platform, but to name no candidate for Presidentand Vice- President, and leave it for the Presidential Electors to decide after they shall have been elected. The thing was an absurdity, he said. He asked whether the same principle and the same law did not prevail exactly when they named their candidates for the Legislature to vote for. Mr. Johnson createa a sensation whin he charged that the opposition was en- gaged in a scheme to prevent the naming of a United States Senator by the conven- tion for thé purpose of leaving the way open for an arrangement to fuse for the re-election of the Democratic Senator from | California—Stephen M. White—or some other Democrat. “You cannot consistently say to the man whom we desire to name,”” continued Mr. Johnson, *‘that, although we nomi- nated him for United States Senator two years ago, he must on this occasion go before the Legislature and make his battle there.”” At this point the convention was thrown into a wild state of confusion by calls for | debs, private and public, issued by the Gen- the previous question and demands that the debate be allowed to go on. Chairman Barlow ruled that the close of the debate would be granted to Vann of Colusa, who, he stated, had opened it. There were cries of objection to the chair’s ruling, and so vociferous were these that in a heat the chairman shouted back at the members: “1f you don’t like my ruling vote it down." Some one claimed that Judge Gibson of Alameda had opened the debate, and the chairman then stated that this gentleman would be permitted to close. This method of procedure of allowing debate after the previous question had been called for raised such a general protest that Chair- man Barlow was finally compelied to re- verse himself and to declare all debate closed till the call for the previous ques- tion was voted upon. The vote for the previous question was carried, and then a rollcall was demanded on the main ques- tion—Shall a candidate be named for United States Senator? Following is the result of the rollcall: COUNTIES. | Yes. | No. [ FNSTS - Total... 68 This victory for Cator was greeted with | tariff | was affected to tears. | afrer great applause and the vote was made unanimous. J The proposition to assess all who nomi- nated candidates for office $10 each was defeated. The next matter taken up was a resolu- tion providing that all resolutions should be handed up to the desk without being read, provided that the author of nn{ reso- lution should iave the privilege of read- ing itin case ot its rejection by the com- mittee on vplatform. This was unani- mously carried. The report of the committee on per- manent organization and order of business recommended that C. H. Castle of Merced be appointed vice-president of the conven- tion, and that the temporary officers of the convention be made the permanent officers. This was adopted with a shout and a recess was taken till 1 p. . After the noon recess the platform was read by Professor Douglass T. Fowler of Fresno. He has a fine voice and a very clear enunciation and not a syllable was lost. Nearly every plank in the platform was greeted with cleers and yells, many of the delegates standing on their chairs and waving their hats while they cheered. The greatest applause greeted the plank denouncing the Supreme Court of the United States. Out of courtesy to the fair sex the woman-suffrage plank was taken up first and was adopted with a shout and much cheering and waving of hats. The air was full of enthusiasm and Susan B. Anthony She was called to the platform and in a voice showing traces of much agitation said that like Zacharias she had not come the Lord to see, but to see the 300 men before her. She thanked the convention on behalf not only of the women of the State of California but of every State in the Union. who were iooking to California and wait- ing and hoping that this convention would pass the resolution. She was sure that when the news was flashed over tie wire *Glory, glory, hallelujah!’* for the Popu- list party of California. She was more | gratified and rejoiced at the action of the Californian political partiesso far than she had words to express. “I could not gake a single word from your resolution or add to it, it is so well and so strongly worded,” she added. The speaker advised the friends of wo- man augrage not to relax in their efforts to convert unbelievers among their neigh- bors. Woman suffrage was simply estab- lishing in a man’s family a republican form of government. She called attention to the fact that in New York State the property of women is assessed ata much | higher value proportionately than that of men. Because women could not vote they could not complain,and like the poor man, who is taxed higher in proportion than is the rich man, they were obliged to suffer under this injustice. ‘When the sl-nk indorsing the Omaha platiorm and demanding direct legislation came up an attempt was made to add the words “imperative mandate” to it, but considerable waste of time and words in which frequent claims were made by the speakers that they had ‘‘studied the subject’” the plank was adopted as origi- nally presented. The anti-bond plank went through with- ‘out an objection. . Haskell of San Francisco moved that the two financial planks be consolidated into one, but the motion did not prevail. Judge Dilion introduced the following substitute for the financial plank: We are in tavor of sound money, ahd define the same to consist of gold and silver and the United States notes, fuil legal tender for all eral Government, without the intervention of banking corporations, and in volume sufficient to transact the business of the country on a cash basis, and demand the restoration of silver 1o the place it occupied before the demonetiza- tion act of 1873, After a brief discussion the substitute was laid upon the table and the financial plank demanding the free coinage of silver &t 16 1o 1 was adopted unanimously. The plank on tribunal, over which the committee had wrangled for several hours last night, was the next to be taken up for consideration. It was read as follows: We request our delegates {0 the National Convention to present the following for its consideration: “We favor genuine protection to American labor by the restriction of the immigration of foreign labor, and by a true American system ot finance which will render justice to labor and industry and restrain the evils of usury; and we demand the creation of a National non-partisan tribunal of experts by Congress, which shall be subject to the con- trol of Congress; to the end that tariff agita- tion may be taken out of politics; and to the end thet tariff schedules shall be so adjusted that the benefit derived therefrom shall result to labor and not to trusts; and we denounce the Democratic and Republican parties for re- fusing to properly restrict immigration of foreign labor when having power so to do in Congress.” J. V. Webster of San Luis Obispo offered to amend by striking out all after the word *‘using’”’ down to the words “and we denounce,’” and inserting in lieu thereof | the following: So iong as an import duty is necessary we favor a ressonable tariff on imports for the purposes of revenue and protection 1o Ameri- can labor. Motheral of Kings County declared him- self to be a Southern man and in favor of free trade, and he therefore opposed the amerdment. 8. E. Fulton of Los Angeles moved to lay the entire plank on the plank. Professor Douglass T. Fowier of Fresno addressed the convention at length on be- half of the tariff commission plank. He wanted something when he went before the people of all classes by which he could claim that the Populists could regulate this as it nad never been regulated by the old parties. The question was a selfish one, he agreed. If a man lived in the south he wanted a tariff on raisins, and if he lived in the north he wanted a high tariff on sometning eise. In order to ascertain what a man’s opinions were on the tariff it was necessary not only to know whether he came from the north or the south, but also his business must be known. The tariff should be taken out of politics because business in the United States was overturned every time there was a Congressiona) or a Presi- dential election.. Representative business men of the country would meet this month in Detroit for the pur, of taking the tariff out of politics as far as it could to ask for a be done, ana they pro, Gommission oF tebin the non-pariisan tariff | unal to deal with | M. W. W | this most aistarbing matter. What the Populists wanted was protection to all the people. They favored the genuine protec. tion of American labor by a restriction of the immigration of foreign labor. The door to this undesirable kind of immigra- tion had been opened by monopolists who desired to cut down the wages of Amer- ican labor by importing into this country cheap foreien labor. =4 ‘“‘Let us have something high enough, something honest enough, something scientific enough to deal with this matter, he said. x J. V. Webster said that from the expres- sion on the floor of the convention and in the committee he was confident that the majority of the convention would not be diabosagto strike out the_tariff-commis- sion clause, but he knew that many dele- gates were opposed to the tariff commis- sion. The tariff commission as proposed stood absolutely the creature of Congress and was absolutely under its control. It had to report its work to Congress, and it had no authority of itself at all. “Did_you ever hear of a Congress,” asked hf; Webster, ‘‘composed of at least two parties, each in antagonism to the other, appointing a non-partisan commis- sion? If this power was placed in the hands of the President there might be a robability of a nml-{-srnnn commission gein appointed. After these experts should have formulated this proposition they have nothing to do but to submit it to Congress, so that it becomes merely a committee of Congress and nothing else. It is perfectly impracticable.”” Judge Thompson of San Francisco spoke in favor of the resolution. He thought that its controlin: idea was admirable and that it was not altogether novel. The chief measures demanding reform, accord- 1ng to his view, were civil service and the tariff. The people had become rid of lots of evil things by means of the civil service tribunal. The proposed plenk would take the tariff question away from Congress and place it in the haunds of a tribunal which will be responsible upon that prop- osition alone, The Interetate Commerce Commission had the same good feature. It was a difficult and technical work to regulate a tariff. < “I might as well go to a blacksmith to fill my teeth,” continued Judge Thomp- son, “as to go to the average Congressman to get this tariff question settled.” Rev. C. H. Bowman of Los Angeles ad- vocated the passage of the resolution as it stood. Some delegates, he said, looked upon this plank as an innovation, as a novelty in the People’s party platform. In the Omaha platiorm there was a dis- unct declaration on the tariff question, where it was stated that the People’s party denounced the fallacy of the treatment of the tariff question by both parties, and this plank simply pointed out the nature of that fallacy which was used as a means of deception upon the people of this Na- tion. The reverend gentleman became warmed up at this stage, and proceeded : “Those who say, ‘Protection and sound money,’ hypocritically deceive the people on this subject and try to make us believe that those old parties are tue protectors of the people—hypnotizing the people under the cry of protection while robbers are gluudering the Nation. Let us thus fgo efore the people of this country. If I should be czlled upon to carry the banner of Populism over this State I want to take this resolution to put into my sling to slay the Goliath of this deceptive tariff issue.’” Woods of Sacramento, a long-haired man, who keeps a hotel on the city front, caused a laugh by remarking: *“We have had high protection and low protection, free trade and the tariff in every shape, form and fashion, and this country has gone to hades.” M. M. Wilkins, editor of the New Char- ter, a Populist organ published in San Jose, said that he was a free-trader, and that if his belief were to be inaugurated m the government of the country chaos would be the result. The plank was only & recommendation to the National Con- gress at best, and even though that Con- gress should indorse it it would not be- come a factor in the National Government until Populism became successful, and when that time came the matter would be in their own government. He thought that the «doption of the piank would be a wise move, and he hoped that it would be adopted. J. M. C. Murphy of Shasta announced that he had changed his mind, and would vote for the resolution. Vann of Colusa denounced the plank as a straddling of the issue. “Nothing of the kind, sir,” remarked J. Asbury Jonnson of San Francisco. Vann was interrupted by loud cries of angry dissent, and he appealed to the chair to be given a respeclpul hearing. He continued to argue that the fact that the tariff did not figure in the Populist plat- form was the cnief element of its strength. In the Populist party the ex-Republican would be founa on one side of the tariff proposition and the ex-Democrat on the | other. “Just as sure as you force this tariff | issue into the Platlorm you will split this | party in two,” shouted Vann. *“Take the | Democratic and the Republican parties in Congress, and you will find that they never voted solidly asa party upon any issue other than the tariff. This commis- sion will be nothing more or less than a committee u!\poinleg by Congress.” T. V. Cator followed with a ringing speech. He said that for the last twenty- five years the people had_had nothing but the tariff question drilled into them. In the Omaha convention the subject of the tariff was discussed for an entire day and references to the tariff appeared in three different places in the Omaha platform. When the Populist should go before the veqple in the Presidential campaign of 1896 the first question to be asked him would be, *‘If the Populists get into power, will they let the Wilson bill stand?” and he would have toanswer that question. Mr. Cator proceeded: “The gentleman says that it isa strad- dle. On the contrary this is the first declaration by any party that is not a straddle. The Republican State Con- vention which met here last week had a plank to restrict the im- | migration of pauper labor, and we all | know that that's a straddle and merely repeats the present law:. In the United States we have received less than 2,000,000 votes, and there are 12,000,000 votes which we must have, and they are the votes of people whose minds are saturated with this tariff question. This is new and no stradale, but it is scientific, proper and i;m' Congress must pass a law and the resident must appoint a non-partisan commission. Congress must retain con- trol over it also, so that when this scien- tific commission shall have gathered its data one element of the lobby cannot say to the other ‘Give me 80 per cent on coal and I'li give you 80 per cent on lumber.’ That is why tariff bills go through Con- gress with scarcely any opposition. {‘Whatever benefit there is in this thing will accrue to labor and not to the trusts, This plank has been carefully considered and discussed by the committee, and it is a dangerous thing to tamper with it after all the hours we have devoted toit. All the possibilities that are before us are for ®ood, there is no possibility of evil. The great national convention will act wisely and we should not be afraid. We have nothing to fear by putting ourseives squarely on record on any proposition.” . V. Webster here announced that, taking everything into consideration, he would vote for the resolution rather than not to vote at all, and he therefore with- drew his amendment. The resolution was carried by a viya voce vote, there being very few nays. 3 E. M. Wardell moved that the consider- ation of the platform be temporarily set aside to hear and act upon the report and plans of the State Central Committee. ‘The motion was-carried and Mr. Wardell then cailled upon N. W. Motheral of Kings to address the convention on the matter of raising funds for the campaign. He stated that each member of the State Central Coramittee had agreed to contribute $6. ‘‘We have a deficiency,”’ he saia, ‘‘to pay and have also to raise money to carry on the campaign; we want each delegate to sign for what he is willing to give and then want him to go home and raise mone {rom every man whovotes the People’s party ticket. Twenty cents for each vote cast at the last election will give us enough SanTrancica TATE 1 ineARY In the Woman’s Corner at the Populist Convention. county delegation be appointed a financial board, with power to add to its number antil every precinct in the State had at least one member of this financial board. H]a also recommended the Kansas picnic plan. J. L. Gilbert of Fresno made an eloquent appeal to tige loyalty and generosity of the assemblage. Rev. W. C. Bowman of Los Angelés gave a revival flavor to the situation by preach- ing on the evils of money as a preliminary to showing the members how they might advantageously rid themselves of at least a part of their worldly goods. Hedeclared that as Christ was the spiritual salvation of the world, so was the People’s party to be the political salvation of the American Nation. Continuing, he said: **Why, they talk of the American Pro- tective Association! We need three pro- tective associations to free and protect us from the slavery we are held in by the plutocracy of capitalists and monopolists. I tell you, the People’s party is the great American protective party. I pray you go deep down 1nto your pockets to support this crusade against the enslavement of the 60,000,000 white slaves held in the power of the wealth-owners.” J. 8. Dore of Fresno, on behalf of the executive committee, pledged that body to expend the $10,000 required for the next campsign honestly and honorably. The roll was called, and each county, throngh its chairman, as it was an- nounced, pledged itseif to contribute to the campaign fund its proportion, based on 20 cents for each Populist vote cast at the last election. These amounts raneced from $40 for Tuolumne to $1200 for San Francisco. Meanwhile, blank pledges as follows were distributed 8mong the dele- gates: lngreawpnf to the treasurer of the State Central Committee of the People’s party $— per month from May 15 to November 15, 1896. After all the counties had been pledged the hat was passed around and coin and pledges gathered in. This completed the afternoon session, and an adjournment was taken until 7 p. M. It was 7:30 o'clock wheun the evening session began. The work of considering the nlanks of the platform seriatim was continued. The anti-monopoly, anti- funding and the anti-Supreme Court planks were adopted without debate. On the reading of the plank protesting against dishonest assessments an amend- ment in favor of the abolition of the poll- tax was adopted after B. Haskell had talked himselt red in the face in a denun- ciatory effort to make clear the objection- able character of the law governing the collection of taxes. The plank as amended was then adopted. No time was lost over the good roads, unsectarian school, labor, graduated tax and salary-reduction planks. Each was adopted as read. Then came the last plank—that on union with “reform forces at St. Louis.” As ex- pected, this precipitated a hot debate, albeit short. Bcarcely had the reading of it been concluded when E. F. Maguire of Alameda proposed an amendment strik- ing outthe first sentence,referring to union. Speaking to the amendment he asked: “What does that ciause mean? Are there any other reform forces than the People’s party which work on the lines on which we are working?"’ i He then registered his position as fol- lows: “I am opposed to this convention pass- ing any resolution that will allow any hole through which to crawl into coali- ition with the silver or any other men. I propose to stand squarely by the Omaha platform.” J. M. C. Murphy of Shasta declared that the resolution itself provided that there should be no sacritice of any of the prin- ciples of the Omaha platform, and con- tinued: “I think that if the silver party will join with us it is right for us to accept its members. Iam in favor of using all re- form elements throughout the United States if they will come to us and stand on our platform. I say that there are thousands of people who are not mem- bers of the People’s party who want re- form, and it is our duty to see that those people come with us, for we have got the best platform on God's green earth.” M. M. Wilkins, much to the surpriss of many of the delegates, spoke in favor of a union. He said: *Idon’t want fusion, but union on the lines specified we do want. We want a union of all honest peugle, and I favor the original resolution. don’t see what more we ask than what this resolution sets forth—union without sacrifice of prin- ciples. I assure the gentlemen of the con- vention that we who have been opposed to fusion are well satisfied with this plank.” Fowler spoke in favor of the original resolution, saying: “I believe there 1sno word in this re- solution that sacrifices one jot or tittle of the principles of the People’s pnrtg." After a few further remarks by other delegales the amendment was defeated, the last plank in the platform adopted, and then the entiredocument was adopted as a whole. —_—— CATOR FOR SENATOR. The San Francisco Disciple of Populism Given the Nomination by Ac- clamation. SACRAMENTO, Can., May 13.—After the adoption of the platform in the Popu- list Convention nominations for United States Senator were declared to be in order and Carleton H. Johnson of San Francisco took the floor and presented the name of the Hon. Thomas V. Cator, a man whose record, Mr. Johnson said, was familiar to every member of the convention. “I need not enlarge upon his services to the party,” continued Mr. Johnson, *‘his qualifications, his virtue and his long and honorable record, therefore I nominate the unanimous choice of San Francisco—the Hon. Thomas V. Cator.” The nomination was seconded by D. T. Fowler of Fresno on behali of Fresno County. The speaker explained that whatever opposition had been heard from Fresno against the nomination of a can- didate for Lieutenant - Governor at this time there had never been a question of personal op tion in any way. The speaker paid a high compliment to Mr. tor for his distinguished and unseltish services to the Populist party. Dillon of Los Angeles, Vann of Colusa, Wilkins of Santa_ Clara, J. V. Webster of San Luis Obispo, Gladding of Placer, Gay- lor of Tehama and others seconded the nomination and alluded to Mr. Cator as %o carry on the campaign as we desire.’” ilkins ..éfimmd that one of the old guards of Populism in this ach | State. Mr. Cator was declared nominated by acclamation, and the announcement of the result was greeted with most enthusi- astic cheering, the members rising to their seats and appfuuding again and again. Mr. Cator, in response to repeated calls, took the platform and_thanked the con: vention for the honor. He said that when he had received from the hands of former Populist conventions a similar nomina- tion he did not expect that he would be elected. “But,” he added, “I believe, as much as I believe that I stand this hour before you, that you will elect your candi- date for Senator of the United States from California.” [Prolonged cheering.] 3 “It has been said occasionally—and is true—that I have some enemies, ard I hope that the hour will never come in the history of the People’s pariy of California or in any other State when it shall com- mend any man for high office who in the aggressive warfare for principle has not made any enemies at all. In condemning men who have attempted to steal away and sidetrack our party these many years I have come in conflict with that element of human nature which always seeks some way of hindering the success of a glorious movement., “Iam willing to wait until this move- ment car. succeed upon principle, and I demand that every other man in the party shall do the same. I believe that I have never seen the hour in my life when I con- sidered my personal situat.on or the effect upon me of anything that I should do if it was right.” Mr. Cator spoke of the unfavorable re- ception which his resolution on the tariff commission had met on the nizht before in the committee on platform and resolu- tions. A friend had warned him that if he did not withdraw the resolution he would be defeated on the floor of the con- vention for the nomination for United States Senator. He had refused to with- draw the resolution because he believed it to be right, and he would rather have lost the Senatorial nomination than to have receded from a position which he believed to be right. This statement by Mr. Cator was loudly cheered. The speaker then proceeded to discuss the question of fist' money, and at the conclusion of his address he was applauded to the echo. Nominations for Lieutenant-Governor were declared in order. James L. Dryden of San Diego paid a magnificent tribute to the moral and intellectual lifications of James L. Gilbert of Fresno and placed him in nomination for the office. There were a dozen or more seconding speeches, and Mr. Gilbert’s nomination was made unanimous. A rather unique and interesting episode occurred at this int, the chairman re- questing the soldiers who had ifought in the late war on either side to rise to their feet. Thirty-six responded. As explained by one of the warriors, this was done to refute the charge that_ there were no old soldiers allied with the People’s party. Some one stated thata canvass earlier in the day, before any member had left the convention hall, showed there were sixty solaiers actredited to the convention. On this Chairman Barlow said in tones of glee and triumph: “Compare that with the ‘G. 0. P.” gang.” The next order of business was the nom- ination of two electors at large. Secretary W. T. Hamilton of Sacramento, who was not a delegate, nominated Daniel McKay of Sacramento. Judge E. M. Gibson of Alameda nominated J. V. Webster of San Luis Obispo. Both were unanimously chosen. After the election of delegates the fol- lowing resolutions were adopted unani- mously: Reso!ved, That we extend our hearty sympa- thy to the people of Los Angeles in their stru; lé to have & deep-sea harbor constructed a n Pedro in sccordance with the recommen- dations of Government engineers and to pre- vent the expenditure of $3,000,000 of the peo- le's money for the use and benefit of the uthern Pacific Company of Kentucky at 1ts private wharf at Santa Monica. Resolved, That we here express our earnest sympathy with the Cuban peovle in their struggle for constitutional liberty and extend w0 S:em the hand of fellowship and hope, trusting that Almighty God will crown with success their heroic efforts. Resolved, That this convention requests the Board of State Harbor Commissioners to grant space for a free market north of the passenger landings in San Francisco; and be it further Resolved, Thata copy of this resolution be forwarded by the secretary of this convention to the State Harbor Commission. Resolutions of thanks to the Secretary of State for the many courtesies received were adopted and similar ones to the press and their representatives for the full, fair and accurate xegorts of the convention. Haskell of San Francisco announced that some one of the delegates would re- sign and that James Asbury Johnson of San Francisco would go to the National Convention in his stead. At 11:30 P. M. a recess was taken for the Eurpose of allowing the Sixth and Seventh ‘ongressional districts an opportunity of selecting their electors_and delegates, and at 1:10 A. m. the Sixth District convention was engaged in debating whether it should nol:muto & Congressman at this time or not. At 1:20 A. m. the Sixth District conven- tior decided to Fosg)one the question of the nomination of a Congressman to some future time this morning, and the State Convention wa to order for the purpose of receiving the reports of the nominations made by the district conven- tions for electors and delegates. After transacting some routine business and thanking its officers, the State Con- vention at 1:50 o’clock adjourned, sine die, with three cheers for the ticket and the platform. Then the Sixth District Con- vention resumed its session and discussion on the nomination of a Congressman. Technical Decision Against a Negro. SPRINGFIELD, Iir., May 13.— The Supreme Court yesterday handed down a decision sustaining the action of a Bloomington drnggist who refused to sell soda water to a negro on account of his color. The court holds that the nll‘mf of soda water does rot constitute the furnish- ing of lodging, amusement or meals, as provided for in the act. \ SRy An Adadition to the Public Domain. WASHINGTON, D. C., May 13.—By direction of the President the War Depart- ment has turned over part of the miiitary reservation of Fort Niobrara, Nebr., te the Interior Department for disposition under the law Jflve!ning useless and ‘abandoned Teservations. Inereasing Postoffice Receipts. WASHINGTON, ‘D. C., May 13.—The gross receipts of the thirty largest post- offices in the United States for the month of April, 1806, as compared with 1895, were $2,836,030, against $2,662,914 in 1895, a net increase of {1.73.116. . HAMIMOND'S FATE IS PRONOUNCED-~ The Transvaal Reformers Said to Have Been Sentenced. FIVE YEARS IN PRISON. Leaders of the Johannesburg Conspirators Given Long Terms in Captivity. LENIENT TO LESSER LIGHTS. One Year’s Imprisonment the Punish. ment Meted to the Rank and File. BERLIN, GERMANY, May 13.—A private telegram received in this city states that the sentences of Colonel Francis Rhbodes, brother of Cecil Rhodes, ex-Premier of the Cape Colony; John Hays Hammond, the American mining engineer; Lionel Phil- lips and George Farrar, who were con- demned to death by the High Court at Pretoria upon charges of treason, in being active members of the Johannesburg Re- form Committee, which was held to have instigated Dr. Jameson’s raid into the Transvaal, have been commuted to im- prisonment for a term of five years. The sentence of other members of the Reform Committee, who were found guilty in connection with the conspiracy and raid, and were condemned to imprison- ment and banishment and to pay a tine of $10,000 each, nave been reduced to one year’s imprisonment. The telegram is as yet unconfirmed. PRETORIA, Sovrs Arrica, May 13.— General P. J. Joubert, commander-in-chief of the Transvaal forces and a member of the Executive Council, has been elected Vice-President of the Transvaal Republic. 4 GIRL ASSASSINATED. Shot From Ambdush While Returning Home From a Social. UNIONVILLE, fowa, May 13.—While Mamie Peterson, aged 16 years, was re- turning last night from a social gathering, accompanied by George Shults of Moulton, some one stepped from behind a building and fired three shots at her. All three chots took effect and the young lady died almost instantly. Shults claims that he was too frightened to spread the alarm and took to his heels. The body was found this morning and Frea Hemphill of Unionville was arrested. It is supposed that jealousy prompted the deed. NEW TO-DA “At Sloane’s.” WILTON VELVET CARPET, Choicest designs, $1 10 rer SEWED, LAID and LIN TAPESTRY BRUSSELS, Best made, 75 cents Sewed, Laid and BIGELOW BODY BRUSSELS, Finest quality, Immense Line of Patterns. $1 12} per yard, sewed laid and lined. W. & J. 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