Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-09-07
Minority Convention.

Tc presentation vi IltpuoiiSah uliH"ii'iN -
the State Legislature, and in all official
bodies.
The convention was called to order by b.
J. Moore, of Allentown, who moved that
George Lear, of Doylestown, be appointed
| Chairman
Joseph Ritner, of Cum berland, was hen
appointed Secretary, and Morgan Il. HIS
OF Montgomery county, Assistant Secretary
/ of the Convention.
/ John H. Oliver, of Lehigh moved that
committee of five be appointed by the Pres
/ ideut TO receive the credentials OF the dele
! gates which was agreed 10.
On motion of John A. Schwartz, of Cum
! berIand, committee consisting of one from
each Representative district was appointed
| on resolutions.
A. Ii. Chase, of York, moved that Dem
ocrats have the same privileges IN the con
vention as Republicans, which was ruled out
| Of order, as the previous resolution had not
| been disposed of.
| J. A. Schwartz moved that ali resolutions
! be placed before the Committee on Resoiu-
! tions without debate.
| Mr. Chase asked that his resolution be
| taken into consideration by the convention,
| which gave rise to debate on the subject,
! when, at the suggestion of the President,
| organization of the convention.
The Secretary then proceeded to read off
the counties in the State, when delegates
| from the following counties answered as
their counties were called OFT:
| Berks, Bucks. Carb, n, Clinton, COlum-
bia, Cumberland, Lancaster, Lehigh, Mon
! roe, Montgomery. Montour, Northampton,
| Philadelphis, Pike. Schuylkill Wayne,
Westmoreland and York.
Col. Fisher, of Lancaster, stated that It
| Democrats were not to be admitted into the
Convention, he then alone represented Ian
| caster county, but two gentlemen, Demo
! Gratis, were present, and he would like to
| see them admitted into the Convention.
VIM. II. Ainey, of Lehigh, moved that
representatives. present, not accredited as
| delegates, be invited to take seats in the
| Convention as advisory members, with all
| the privileges of delegates, except the right
| to vote, which was referred to the Commit
mittce on Credentials.
| The President then announced the varl-
/ Gus committees. and the Convention ad
| journed until afternoon.
! In the afternoon the Committee on Per
manent Organization reported the following
officers, viz.
Prcsident-George Lear, of Bucks.
Vice Presidents 5. W. Geer, Schulk
kill; Gen VIM. Lilly, Carbon A. W.
Heister, Berks; a. j, Fry, York; Henry
Ditmer, Philadelphia; c. G. Jadwin,
| Wayne.
Secretaries-.Jos. Ritner, Cumberland ;
Morgan r. Willis, Montgomery; L. j.
Moore, Lehigh J. w. Wood, Northamp-
ton; Benz. l.. Berry, Philadelphia.
The President made few pertinent re
marks upon assuming the duties assigned to
him.
J. S. Richards, Esq, Chairman of the
| Committee on Resolutions, reported the fol
| lowing, which were unanimously adopted !:
ResoIved, That the practice which has
grown up in the Legislature OF Pennsylya-
MIA of submitting all matter OF local legisa-
| ton to the exclusive control OF local Repre-
! sentatives, has practically placed the local,
political aud business interests of minority
constituencies requiring legislation, at the
mercy of majority local representatives, and
has afforded such continued series of
wrongs and of petty oppression. as loudly
| calls for reform.
! ResoLcsd, That we can conceive of no
| other remedy for such wrong and oppression
except in system which will secure to each
| local minority, as near as can be. Its proper
! tiOna share of local representation.
! ReSOiycd, That such minority representa-
| tion will not only remedy the wrongs, Of
! which we more especially complain, but will
| also tend to lessen unjust and illibera parti-
sanship, and to promote greater purity in
! legislation.
Resolced, That a fair and proportionate
representation OF minoritles by districts is
not only Just. but is in accord with the spir-
| it of all our State political systems, which
l. l., L., IL g I,,
districts in order to protect the minority at
large from the unjust domination of the ma
joriiy, as well as to guard the interests of
localities, and which we propose now to sup
pement by placing the local minority be
yond the reach of the unjust domination of
the local majority.
Resolced, That in view of the taking of
the present census and the approaching
Legislative re appOrtionment Of the State,
we recommend the passage of acts of As
semble by the next Legislature embodying
the principles of minority Representa- ton in
reference to the legislature, boards of coup-
ty commissioners, directors Of the poor, and
county auditors, as well as township and
other offices.
ResoIred, That we recommend the pas
sage Of an Act of Assembly providing for
Constitutional Convention, to be composed
of members elected on the minority princi-
pie, and to such convention, in making the
many constitutional reforms so loudly de
manded for years, we respectfully recon-
mend that the principle Of minority repre-
sentation be embodied in the new cunstitu
ton of our Commonwealth.
ResoIved, That we tender our hearty con-
gratulations to the people of Illinois for their
great and saiutary advance in the art of self
government by adopting the plan of the
free vote, for the election of Representatives
in their Legislature and for the choice of
Directors and Managers Of all Incorporated
companies in their State; aud we pledge to
them our best efforts to extend this whole
| some reform which they have begun, so far
as our power aud influence may exterd to
Federal, State and Municipal elections;
confident that thereby we shall promote the
best interests of our whole people, joined
together in a union of fr institutions.
Resotred, That the people of Pennsyva.
MIA Of every political party be invited to
| unite in promoting the important objects
embodied in the foregoing resolutions.
Res0ire9, That the Chairman Of this
Convention shall appoint an Executive
Committee OF twenty one persons, to serve
during the coming year, whose duty it shall
be to use all proper measures TO promote