The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-10-01

substantially postponipg the consideration
Of the new State rules and report of the
Peace Commission until after tile nomna-
tion of the candidate.
An adjournment was then taken until
three o'clock, at which time the Committee
on Credentials reported that they had
awarded the seat in the Twenty seventh
Senatorial District 10 John H. Oaks; that be.
ing The only contest submitted to them. The
report was accepted.
A permanent organization was then ef-
fected by the election of W. u. Hensel as
President, with one Vice President from
each Senatorial District, and similar mum
Der of Secretaries.
The Committee on Resolutions next re-
ported, the platform being read by John II.
Fow, of Philadelphia.
THE PLATFORM. u
The report of the Committee on Resolutions
was read and adj pied as follows:
Resolved, That we, the Democratic party
of Pennsylvania, in Convention assembledj
declare
First, for the preservation of the Constitu-
tion of the United States, home rule, freedom
Of elections, for resistance to revolutionary
changes tending to consolidation or empire /;
against tho election of any person to the
Presidency third time, and against the pre-
sence of troops at the polls against the ap-
preparation Of public money for any purpose
but for the support of Government, and
against class legislation, which despoils la
Dor to build up monopoly.
Second, That the Democratic party, as of
old, favors constitutional currency of gold
and silver In all forms and coalition with re-
pudiators merits the commendation of honest
people. The rcfusql of n Republican admin
istration to accede to the Democratic demand
tor further reduction in the rate Ofinterest
on the national debt subjects the Government
to needless expense of millions of dollars
annually.
Third, That in view of the exposure of ex
tensive frauds in the Postal and Treasury
Departments under the last Federal admin
tstration, the people demand prompt and
tnfaltering prosecution OF the thieves ;.their
successful operations prove that there will be
no real reform in the management OF depart.
ments of the Federal Government without a
sweeping change therein. Sincere civil SER
vice reform will begin with return to the
Jeffersonian tests of officeh0lders of honesty,
capability and faithtulness to the Constitu-
tion.
Fouth, That in the administration Of the
Government of Pennsylvania, the Republi-
can party has encouraged, practiced and
shielded spollation of the State Treasury
and misuse of the public funds, bribery Of
legislators. undue favor to corporations and
monopolies, an unnecessarily high rate of
interest on the State loans, n shameless pros
titution of the pardoning power, n system of
wholesale waste anu peoulation in the 0rdi-
nary expenditures of the Government; and
harr!s !ssing and plundering exercise Of
municipal franchises, and abuse of local
trusts.
Filth, That the arrogant corrupt and per-
sonal domination controlling the Republi-
can party in this State and suppressing hon
toll,
dictated the policy, the platform andthe can
ddates OF its last State Convention. In view
Of Of til ese facts we hereby reaftirm the fol-
lowing resolution of the Democratic State
Convention of 1879: THAT the recent attempt
under the personal direction ofruling Repub-
licGn leaders, to debauch the Legislature by
wholesale bribery und corruption and take
from the Commonwealth four millions oi
dollars for which its liability had never been
ascertained, is fresh and alarming evidence
of the agKresslveness of corporate power in
collusion with political rings and should re-
ceive the signal condemnation Of the people,"
Sixth, That the Democratic party of Penn
sylvania, regardful of the States honor and
its interests, pledges itself to the Just appli-
cation of the public moneys to The public
service; to economy in governmental expen-
dituresi that the people may be lightly bur-
dened and the purity OF the administration
preserved to the abolition of all useless Off
ces and the looping off of all supernumerary
officials to the lowest practiGa GaDle rate of in
advantage of syndicates or spoculators; to
sleepless vigilance against the growth and
exactions of monopolies; to watchfully
guard the public interests against the pre-
tentions of the great transportation COM
panies to be above the fundamental law
governing all else within the borders of the
State F; to vigorous collection of all taxes
lawfully laid'upon corporations chartered OF
doing business 10 Pennsylvania, and to In
vcstigate into the correction of and punish
ment for the frauds and wastes which have
for years permeated the various departments
of the State Government and Republican
CONTROL
Seventh. That no monopoly or exclusive
right in the forces Of nature, In grants OF EN-.
inent domain, in the diffusion of information
among the people by telegraph and associa-
tons Tor furnishing dispatches to the press,
or the grant Of privileges affecting the daily
business of the citizen, can or ought rightiul
ly to exist under our form OF government
These are at all times to be snbleot to such
legislative regulation and control as the
rights and interests of the people demand
That the delegated power of Congress to reg
uIate commerce among the States and the
reserved power Of the States to regulate the
Game within their boarders should be forth
with exercised, TO prevent unjust discrimina-
tion by common carriers against individuals
and localities, and all the provisions Of the
Constitution of Pehnsylrania relative to the
exercise and abuse Of corporate franchise and
the duties of common carriers to the public
should be. enforced, without delay, by appro
pirate legislation that all Governmental
power should be used in restraint OF monopo
lies and not in aid Of them, and simple ant
and speedy remedies should be provided by
Legislative enactment by which any cltizer
| injured in his business may, in State and
Federal Courts, by due process of law, have
quick, certain and adequate redress for COT
porate wrongs; that vested rights must Dt
protected and respected and great corpora
| lions warning between themselves TO the in
jury of the public interests and their Owl
shareholders must be regulated and CONTROL
ed by wise anu effective laws. That franchis
es, the property Of the people, Shall be grant
] cd and exercise solely for the public benefit
and subject to immediate and absolute for
feiture by due process Of law when used fol
| oppression or extortion, or when otherwise
abused. No corportion can be above the peo
| ple or the law. We thus reatfirm the ancien
doctrines Of the Democratic party, and mos
cordially invite our fellOw-eitizens, of what
ever party, TO ioin with us in carrying GU
| the principles and policy we hereby announce
| and to the advocacy of which We hereby
pledge ourselves until the right shall prevail
Resolved, That all good citizens, regard
| less of party Affiliations, sincerely mourn th'
| death OF President GARFIELD, and that we, Al
representatives of more than four hundred
| thousand Democratic voters, express theil
| Individual and collective grief at the calam
| ity which has befallen the Republic, theii
| sorrow and sympathy with the domestic al
Fiction OF the Presidents stricken household
and their eXeeration Of his assassin and o
the murderer's foul crime
Thomas H. Greevy, Of Blair, offered a re
solution endorsing the administration OF ex
Auditor General Schell.
VIM. McClelland opposed the adoption o
the resolution because of the probable can
didaey of Mr.. sehell, for the Governorship
A running debate Of half hour ensued, af
ter which Mr.. Greevy withdrew his resolu
tion and the report Of the committee wa
| accented Mr. GFAAVyis molion was theI