The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-25
B0SSISM
Gets a Slap in the Face.
Honest Republicans in Penn
sylvania give it.
They Declare Against the
Spoils System.
Crop Reports Show Good
Average Prospects.
Criminal News. --Sporting,-
General Items.
POLITICAL.
THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMEN,

POLITICAL.
THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMEN
PHILADELPHIA, May 24-The indepen-
dent republicans convention met today.
G. Carpenter, president of the regular
convention, was on the platform. PRAYER
was offered by the prohibition leader in
the state Senator Mitchell was snthusi-
astically made temporary chairman and
made ringing speech predicting victory
at the election. He hoped the atmosphere
of Pennsylvania would be too pure for any
republican willing to be a political slave
There must 5e leaders, but not bosses; the
latter must be torn up, root and branch
He would be glad to say the president
would support the civil service system,
but there was as yet no indication Of it.;
what had been achieved at Chicago had
not been borne out by the present admin
istration. He said he had approved the
election of Garfield
When all the delegates were called,
Wolfes name drew out such applause that
he was called to the platform and merely
said, Il am here"
The committee on rules reported plat
form which was frequently applauded, es-
pecially the anti-stalwart planks and was
adopted.
Mayor Merrick nominated for governor,
Elk Chief Agnew; DR.. Doan nominated
John Stewart. Wayne McVeagh's name
was proposed but withdrawn, as it was
said that he would not accept.
DR.. Doane said he was here to resolve to
put the grand old party where Lincoln
found it, and the immortal Garfield left it.
H. G. Foster was chosen permanent
chairman, and Senator Stewart, was chosen
chairman on resolutions. Senator Foster
charged the death of Garfield, directly on
the spoils system.
PHILADELPHIA, May 24.-The com
mittee on rules reported platform. which
was frequently applauded, especially the
antistalwart plapks that was adopted.
Major Merrick nominated for governor,
Ex Chief Justice Agnew.
For Lieutenant Governor, Levi Bird
Duff, of Allegheny; Secretary of Internal
Affairs, Major Merrick, of Trogo; fer
Congressman at large, Col William Nc
Michael; for Judge of Supreme Court, Geo.
Junkin.
THE PLATFORM
The following is the platform of the re-
pnblicans of Pennsylvania, who win not
surrender their political rights and who
maintain the exercise of their own con-
science and judgment concerning public
affairs having assembled in state conven-
tion make the following declaration of
principles and purposes: First, we declare
our attachment to The principles of the re-
publican party, freedom. union. national
ity, equal rights before the law, ma1nte-
nance of pnblic faith, protection to home
industry, and we demand the record which
we so nobly made shall be wisely and fear
lessly perpetuated. We declare the NOM
ination and election of James A. Garfield
signiied to US triumph of true reform in
the civil service and enlarged liberty of
action for the masses of the republican
party in the nomination of candidates and
plore the overwhelming evidence present
ed to us in Pennsylvania, that the calamity
of his assassin alton has been followed by
an overthrow of these reforms in the hands
OF his successor.
Third, we denounce the system which
makes patronage and spoils out of public
offices; we denounce the practice of giving
them to political managers for their use
in advancing personal and political ends;
we denounce the removal of faithful OFF,
GERS in absence of public reason; we de
nounce the practice of levying assessments
and demanding contributions for party use
from public officials; we denounce severally
and collectively the evils OF corruption
which accompany the conduct of govern
ment as a spoiis system and which are in
tration, and we denounce the system of
boss rule and machine control which when
tamely endorsed, makes leaders autocrats
and reduces the mass of citizenship into
political bondage.
We declared our purpose to take up the
work which fell when Garfield fell We
demand in place of the spoils system the
reformation of the civil service by law SO
that the appointive places therein may be
freely open to all fit and industrious citi
zens, and removals therefrom shall be on
ly for good and sufficient public cause.
We demand instead of the prostitution
OF the public service to private use, its
recognition as high and honorable trust
to be administered for the peoples benefit
with efficiency. economy and integrity,
We demand in stead of insolence, the
prescription and tyranny of bossism and
machine rule the free and conscientious
exercise of private judgement in political
affairs, and faithful discharge by those
who assume representative trusts of the
expressed will of the people.