The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-08-10
POLITICAL MATTERS.
Pennsylvania Democratic sta'e Conven-

Pennsylvania Democratic sta'e Conven-
tion.
At the Pennsylvania Democratic State
convention, held in Harrisburg, r. E.
James presided. Robert Taggart was nomi-
mated for auditor general on the third ballot,
and Joseph Powell for State treasurer on
The second. The platform which was adopted
reads as follows:
THE PLATFORM.
The Democracy of Pennsylvania. true to
the fundamental faith of their party, re-
assert their belief in strict construction
and rigid enforcement of the Federal G )nsti-
tuition. They uphold the sanctity of personal
liberty, the security of private property and
the rights of local self government. They
believe in that genuine and deep reaching
civil services reform which consists in the
election to Office of honest intelligent, cap
able and courageous pubic servants. who
will Faithfully administer their trust and will
be held to strict accountability for such
discharge of it, and who will redeem and
purge the departments Of the general govern
ment from that corruption and fraud with
which they have been permeated under
Republican rule, and which that party has
shown itself unable and unwilling to eradi-
cate. They believe in such taxation of the
people as is requisite for the necessities of
the government economically administered
and I'll at import duties should be SO adjusted
| in thei application as TO prevent unsqua
burdens, encourage produ ctive industries at
home and afford just compensation to lpbor
but not to create or foster monopolies. They
denounce the proposition of the Repub il an
party that the Poop sho Id lie taxed
TO raise a surplus fund for the Federal
government to distlibute among the
States The people should only
| be taxed so much as is absolutely indis-
pensable for the frugal conduct of their af.
fairs, not one cent for surplus and no I'M
necessary taxation. The existing surplus in
the treasury should be faithfully applied to
the payment of the public debt. The money
not needed for the expenses of the govern
ment should remain in the pockets of tha
people. To this end we favor the entire abo-
lition of the present system of inter nal
taxation as measure of relief de-
manded by the people from an unneces-
sary and unequal burden. They demand that
the government should redeem all its express
and implied obligations as to the coinage,
that it shall maintain and defend the dignity
of American labor and the rights of Ameri-
can citizens at home and abroad, They in
sist on reserving the public lands for actual
settlers, not another acre for corporations,
and they further declare that
First-1he admin st-ation of Governor
Pattison has vindicatel the pledges of re-
form upon which it was elected, and hi up
right, intelligent and courageous exercise of
the executive power &c eryes the unqualified
appreciation of his party and of the people
of the commonwealth.
Second-The econo MES enforced by the
Democratic house of representatives in the
departments of the State government which
have passed under Democratic control and
the abolition of useless offices that were a
burden upon the reople, give assurance that
the extension of that control to other depart
ments of the State government will be &C
companied by real reforms upon the extrava-
! gance and Irregularities which have pre-
vailed under Republican administrations.
Thlrd-PnhIIr
and all appropriations should be the subject
! of rigid scrutiny, to the end that these uses
may be served without personal or local
favoritism, waste or peculation.
Fourth-The long -continued abuses of the
State treasury and the defiance of law by its
management make essential radical Ie-
, form so that large funds shall not be &C
cumulated by taxation of the people and
distributed among the favored repositories
of State officials, but that all surplus in ex-
cess of the immed ate necessities of the
r State government shall be invested in inter
, est-bearing State or Federal securities ultll
it may be applied to the extinguishment OF
the State debt
Fifth-Tbe demand of the Democratic
senators and representatives for an honest,
Just and true apportionment is III accord
, with the letter and spirit of the constitution
and with the rights and interests of every
section and of all the people of the State
the shameless determination of the Repub-
3 present dishonest, unjust and untrue appor-
tionment of the State by their refusal to &C
cede to any fair proposition is de
| NAL to the people of their right to fail
t and equal representation. We commend the
governor for converting the extra session tC
, enforce obedience to the law. We counse
the Democratic members of the legislature
to continue to insist upon that obedience
he cost in money l. not to be weighed
; against the cost of q broken cons ituton
,.NIn ta1 1,,t Al do ~ nj hsa ri r,
! tie people.
t Sixth--That long cont nued immunity
} from punishment for polit cal and othe
: crimes whichtoffenders en- yedunder Repub
icun control of the pardon board has beer
{ terminated by the selection to that body o.
q Democri is who lave regard for their oathl
; and duties, and who exercise their response
. BILE Office without fear. favor or ate ton. ~,
} Seventh-The sixteenth ana seventeenth
articles of the State constitution, regulating
4 private corporations, railroads and canals
q are the supreme law of the commonwealth
y governing them. and these provisions of thu
y law should be enforc d in their full vigo
!, and meaning by appropriate legislation. Elk
II tortionate and fraudulent discrimination
are crimes, and should be punished as such
! Eighth-That the action of the Legislature
d in passing laws to prevent honest working
IS men from being brought into competition
= with convict laborers is to be commended
: and the Democratic house of representative
n is deserving of especial approval for origi
mating the measures looking to that end.
v Ninth-Every legitimate effort of labor +
: better its condition, enhance its reward an
: protect its rights commands the sympath
n and support of The Democratic party, whic
! is the natural foe of monor oily and tn
: natural friend of ths nottingham. TIL
n present UMPIRE cedented and unsat sfactor
r condition of the relations oflabor and cal it:
a demands the careful thought of legislator
n Due regard should be had to the vested right
u of capita and the claims of private enterprise
"a Legal arbitration is proper and commend,
/ BILE means of settling disputes between en-
ployers and employees
Tenth-The tax laws of the State should
revised and so changed as to make the IN MOI
j. equal and more just and bear equally upo
= all clsses of property.