Morris tribune., 1883-08-11
MINNESOTA NEWS.
Minnesota Democratic State Conven-
lion

Minnesota Democratic State COnven-
ton.
The State convention of Minnesota dem
ocrats at st. Paul on the I'd inst, was the
largest for several years. Hon. @. #. Buck
was president and @. H. Lehman and 8. 8.
Mckinney, secretaries.
Mayor Ames of Minneapolis, who had
been suggested for governor by the Hen
nepin delegations, declined TO run and
placed in nomination Hon. w. w. McNair OF
Minneapolis. r. A. Jones of Rochester
nominated Adolph Bierman of Rochester.
The convention then proceeded to an in
formal vote by counties on the nOmina-
tons, with the following result: McNair,
1872; Bierman, l25. Upon the announce
ment OF the result, K. A. Jones arose, and
on behalf OF Mr.. Bierman, moved that the
nomination of Mr.. McNair be made unani-
nous, which motion prevailed.
h. l.. Frazee OF Frazee City was nominated
for Lieutenant Governor; James j. Green of
lie Sueur for Secretary of State; John Lud-
wig of Winona for State Treasurer; John
W. Willis of Ramsey county for Attorney
General; A. T. LindhOln OF Washington
county for Railroad Commissioner. The
following platform was unanimously
adopted:
vention assembled, reaffirm our devotion
10 the time-honored maxims OF the demo-
cratic party, that that government is best
which governs least; which leaves the citi-
zen in the enjoyment of the greatest person
al liberty consistent with the rights of 9TH
ers and public welfare; and while 1t affords
full protection to life and property, allows
the creeds, business and customs of the peo-
pie to remain uniettered by sumptuary laws,
class Legislation and extortionate monopO-
ellis.
First-That every species of taxation lev
led upon the many for the profit OF the few
creating monopolies and producing rev.
enue in excess of the wants OF the govern
meat, economically administered, is unjust,
tyrannical and dangerous. Sound Iolicy re-
anires that the business OF the people should
be free from oppressive duties and vexatic us
restraints, and That all legislation in refer
ence thereto should be impartial in it's OBJ
jects and equal in its burdens. We, there
lore favor such thorough revision of the
present tariff laws as will remedy existing
evils and result ia the establishment OF
tariff for revenue only, as the permanent
commercial policy of this country.
Secondhand constitutions are made to
protect t he minority of the people against
the encroachments OF the majority; that no
proposition for change of or amendment to
the organic law of the state should be enter
taine1 or submitted to vote of the people,
which, if adopted by the majority, would
prevent the minority from exercising their
inherent and inalienable rights. That we
consider the enactment of sumptuary and
prohibitory laws subversion of the rights
of the people and that we are unalterably
opposed to them.
Third-That we appreciate the impOr-
lance of liberal appropriations for the i'm
provement of the Mississippi river; but,
inasmuch as the river and harbor bill has,
under republican administrations, become
an Omnibus" for the corrupt combina-
tons by members of congress, we would
favor the adoption of an amendment to the
constitution comforting upon the president
the power to veto such provision of the
river and harbor bill, and all other apprO-
priation bills, as, in his judgment, are I'M
warranted.
Fourth-That the patent laws should be
revised, to the end that the innocent pur-
chasers of manufactured articles, using the
same in good faith shall be protected from
harassing and oppressive suits for the in
fringement of patent rights.
Resolved That the maintenance in
power of any political party for an undue
length of time tends to an assumption of
power inconsistent with democratic prluci-
pies of government, and is dangerous to the
rights of the people; and We therefore,
urge upon the electors of this state, that
they carefully investigate the existing state
of things with reference to change of state
administration, in their own interests.