Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-29
KEYSTONE DEMOCRATS.
MEETING OF PENNSYLVANIA DEMO
CRATIC STATE CONVENTION.
W. U. Hensel Called TO the Chair
Resolutions Adopied-Ieffersonian
Tests for Office Seekers-War
Against Monopolies.
MOURNING FOR THE DEAD PRESIDENT

acknowledged the honor in an eloquen
speech, making a pathetic reference L
the recent death OF the President. HI
declared that time had vindicated th'
capacity Of the Democracy to maintain
the true principle Of government Hi
speech was repeatedly applauded. Th'
usual committees were appointed and {
recess taken.
The Convention reassembled. Mr.
Oaks, OF Philadelphia, was admitted Al
q delegate from the Twenty-seyentt
Senatorial district
The report OF the Committee on Per
manent Organization was adopted. II
provided that Henzel, the temporary
chairman, should be made permanent
chairman. Henzel was again applauded.
The report of the Committee on Reso.
lutions was adopted as follows:
Resolved, That We, the Democratic par
ty OF Pennsylvania, in Convention as
sernbled, declare
First. For the preservation OF the
Constitution Of the United States !;
home rule and freedom of elections; for
resistance to revolutionary changes
tending to consolidation or Empire;
against the election OF any person to the
Presidency a third time; and against
the presence OF troops at the polls;
against the appropriation OF public
money for any purpose but the support
of the government; and against class
legislation, which despoils labor to build
up monopoly.
Second. The Democratic party, as Of
old, favors q constitutional currency OF
gold and silver, in all forms, and coali-
ton with repudiation merits the con-
demnation of honest people. The re-
fusal OF the Republican administration
to accede to the Democrats demand for
further reduction in the rate OF interest
on national debt subjects the government
to needless expense OF millions OF dol
lars annually.
Third-In view Of the exposure OF the
extensive frauds in the Postal and Treas
ury Departments under the Federal ad-
ministration the people demand the
prompt and unfatering prosecution oil
the thieves Their successful operations
prove that there can be no real honesty
in the management Of the department OF
the Federal government without q
sweeping change therein. Sincere civil
service reform will begin with a return
to Jeffersonian tests for otficeholders-
honesty, capabllity and faithfulness t.
consideration.
Fourth-That in the administrator OF
the government OF Pennsylvania the
Republican party has encouraged, prac-
tlced and shielded spoilation OF the
State Treasury, and misuse OF public
funds, bribery OF legislators, undue
favor to corporations and monopolies,
unnecessarily high rate OF interest on
State loan, shameless prostitution oil
the pardoning power, a system OF whole
sale waste and speculation in the ordi-
nary expenditure OF the government
and harrassing and plundering exercise
OF municipal franchies and abuse OF To-
cal tracts. :,
Fifth-That the arrogant, corrupt and
personal diminution controlling the Re
publican party OF this State and sup.
pressing honesty and independence in
that organization, dictated the policy,
platform and candidate at its last State
convention. In view OF these facts,
We hereby reaffirm the fol-
lowing resolution OF the Democratic
State Convention Of 1879: That the re-
cent attempt under the personal direc.
ton Of feeling Republican leaders to
debauch the legislature by wholesale
bribery and corruption and take from
the common wealth four millions OF dol
lars for which it's liability has never
been ascertained, is fresh and alarm
ing evidence OF the aggressiveness OF
corporate power in collusIon with poll
tical rings, and should receive the
signal of condemnation of the people.
sixth-That the Democratic party oi
Pennsylvania, regardful OF the States
honor and it's interest, pledges itself to a
lust application OF the public moneys to
public services, to economy in govern
mental expenditures. That people may
be lightly burdened and the purity
of the administration preserved; 10 the
abolition OF al useless offices and lop
ping off all supernumary officials; TO
the lowest practicable rate OF interest on
State loans without regard for the ad'
vantage Of syndicates or spectators; 10
sleepless vigilance against the growth
and eIaetions Of monopolies; 10 faith
fully guard the double interests against
the pretentions Of the great transporta'
ton company; to be above the funda
mental law governing all else within the
borders OF the State; 10 q vigorous col
lection OF all taxes lawfully laid on the
corporations chartered or doing business
in Pennsylvania, and to investigation
into the correction OF, and punishment
for frauds and wastes which have fol
years pei meated various departments o
the State government under Republican
control.
seventh That no monopoly or ex
elusive right in the forces OF nature in
grants OF eminent domain, in diffusion
OF information among the people by tel
eeraph and associations Tor furnishing
dispatches to the press, or grant OF priv
iI-y-s affecting the daily business OF
citizen can or ought rightfully to exist
under our form OF government. These
are at all times to be subject TO such leg
/ I8lHIlNc TtldLiOu auu SohseSs -. s'N
rights and interests OF the people de.
mand; that the delegated powers o'
Congress to regulate commerce among
the States, and the reserved power oI
the States to regulate the same within
their borders should be forthwith
exercised to prevent unjust discrimins'
ton by common carriers against individ.
uals and localities, and the provisions ol
the Constitution Of Pennsylvania rels
tive TO the exercise and abuse of the
corporate franchise and duties OF com
mon carriers to the public should be en-
forced without delay by appropriate
legislation; that all governmental power
should be used in restraint Of monopo.
lies and not in aid OF them, and simPle
speedy rene lies should be provided by
legislative enactment BY WHICH any citi'
zen injured in his business may In State
and Federal courts by 1ue process.
of Law have qnick, certain and
adeouate redress for corporate
wrongs: that vested rights must be pro.
| tacted and respected and great cotpora.