Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-08-19
MASSACHUSETTS GREENBACKERs.
State Convention at BOston-(seneral
h. r. Butler Nominated as Can.
didate for Governor.
BosroS, Aug. is.

The Massachusetts State greenback con-
vention met in Meonian Hall, this forenoon,
with a large attendance. The delegates were
called to order bv G. B. Hutchinson and
committee on credentials and permanent or
eanization chosen The convention then took
q recess for ten minutes.
On reconveniug the committee on resolu-
tions was chosen. The committee on ere
dentials reported 325 delegates from ~
towns The convention then permanently
organized with the following officers: Presi-
dent, Charles ii. Litchman of Marblehead,
and large number of Vice Presidents. Sec
retaries, G. B Hutchinson of Boston and
George ID. Stiles of Lynn.
The convention then took recess for one
hour.
On reassembing A. p. Tanner. greeDback
candidate for governor of Connecticut, took
the platform and said the party in his State
intended to put the vote for governor this
wear beyond what it was in 1873, and what
will be done in Connecticut will be done
more generally in other States. He eulo-
gized Armstrong of Pennsylvania and Plais-
ted of Maine. predicting for the former l00.-
600 votes, and speaking of the latter as the
most eloquent greenbacker in New England.
The committee on resolutions then report
ed as follows: While the representatives of
the other parties in the field may point with
satistactionlto the victories won at the ballot
box, we, the representatives of the national
party of Massachusetts, review with equal
satisfaction the many concessions with these
parties who have been compelled to offer to
our principles, and that from ridicnle they
have progressed surely TO the adoption of
many of them. The policy of destroying the
greenback has been changed to reissuing
it. Silver which was demonetized secretly
has been restored to its former place. Oar
declaration that the only weakness of the
greenback was because of the exceptions
placed upon its back by the friends or dupes
of the money power has been proved true
by the action of John Sherman,
secretary of the treasury, who upon
his own authority removed the greatest OF
those exceptions, and brought the greenback
to a premium over gold and silver coin. Our
position is that the government should re
tain for itself the option Of paying its bonded
debt when ever it had money on hand to do
so, instead of funding it into long time bonds,
is rapidly becoming the position of the intel
Ggent masses of our people. These, and
similar evidences of the progress, which has
been made through force of public opinion
and educated by our agitation, show that our
labors have met with a good measure of sue
cess.
Resolved, That check should be placed
upon the power of wealth and its unjust ac-
emulation, and a system adopted which
will secure to the laborer the profits of his
TOLL that we demand that the national debts
shall be paid as rapidly as the revenues will
allow, and. if refunded, it shall be made pay
able at the option of the government alone;
that the general government should coin and
issue all money, whether metallic or paper,
and make it full legal tender for all debts
ment of all taxes, and that it shall abolish
national banks banks of issue; that no
one should be allowed to monopoize land,
air, light and water; that all citizens be al
lowed the use of the ballot upon equal terms
that all property should be equitably taxed
for the support of the government but right
of suffrage should not be dependent thereon;
that we are in favor of legislation. which
shall tighten the eXhaustiveness of toll, the
hours of labor. and secure universal educa-
ton among the people; that we are in favor
of weekly payments to labor; that eight
hours should constitute legal days work;
that we are in favor of the passage of the
laws for incorporation of harbor organiza-
tons under the laws of the State, and for
the appointment of State board of arbtra
ton to be composed of an equal number of
workingmen and of employees for the set
Element of labor troubles; that our platform
is presented without intending any invasion
and with no mental reservation; that we
protest against the iniquitous system of con
tract convict labor that places the honest
mechanic in direct competition in the labor
market with criminals that as merchants
we deplore the arbitrary Imprisonment and
illegal detention of our citizens in British
hastiles and deplore our continued misrep-
resentation at the court of St. James by
minister who sanctions the illegal conduct of
the British government.
After rambling discussion as to the rela-
tive merits of the different candidates the
different candidates to the convention proceed
to ballot.
On the second ballot Gen. B. +. Butler
was declared the nominee.
The balance of the State ticket was than
put in nomination as follows:
Lieut.. Governor-George button of Spring
field.
Secretary of State-John HAYES of Wor-
cester.
Treasurer-GeOrge Foster of Lynn.
Attorney Gcneral-E. 4. Snow of Athol.