The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-03


resentatves from this State, we'll that of the
very large majority Of Democrats in the lower House
Of Congress in their earnest and faithful EFFORTS 70
bring about reduction Of the present ruinous high
tariff taxation in the direction of the actual
of the government and restorationot censttutlonal
principles in levyng duties imports.
ixth-That the investigations recently made by the
congressional committee, of whom Hon. Nm NJ
Springer is chairman having developed the commits
sion Of cross frauds in the Office Of the United States
marshal for the Southern district OF this State we
therefore urge upon that committee an examination
into the administration of other departments OF the
national government not only in the Southern but
also in the Northern district of this State, and we
heartily commend Mr. Springer for his active efforts
in ferreting out frauds which have peen committed by
other officers of the government IN the Department. OF
Justice.
Seventh-We demand home rule honest money,
consisting of gold and silver and paper convertible
into coin demand the strict maintenance OF pubic
faith State and national generous recognition OF the
faithful soldiers and sailors of the republic and their
widows and orphans; subordinaton OF the military 60
the civil power, and general and thorough reform
of the civil service
Eighth-The nominationof Blaine and Logan, made
bya Republican national convention for the high ohces
Of President and Vice president OF the United states
were accomplished in the interests Of the worst and
most dangerous elements in American politics The
election of these nominees would be menace 70 that
standard of public morality which should adorn ana
purify the public service, and would imperil the bust
ness and material interests of peaceful land
Ninth-It is the duty Of the government to repos
sess itself of all public lands heretofore granted Tor
the benefit of corporations which have been tortefed
for Noncompliance with the conditions of the grant
and it should hold the the ana oI
Che people. Laws should be passed to prevent the
ownership of large tracts of land by corporations or
by persons not citizens of the United States,
who have not declared their intention
to become such provided by law. Congress should
discourage the purchase of public lands IN large bodies
by any parties for speculative purposes, but should
reserve the same so far as practicable for actual
settlers and all subsidies, well as all grants OF
money TO corporations on SPECTATORS should forever
cease.
Tenth-The Democratic party is the friend Of labor
and the laboring man, and pledges itself to protect
him alike against the cormorants and the commune.
It recognizes the fact that the laborer IS the
producer of the wealth of the country. and
our laws should beso formed as to promote and en-
courage the interests progress and prosperity OF the
industrial classes. The Democratic party fayoTs the
enforcement of the national eghthour labor law and
also reduction of the number of hours for days
labor upon all public works, State and municipal
Eleventh--We denounce the employment of prison
and reformatory labor in such wise to compete with
the labor and industries Of free and honest citizens
Twelfth--We recognize the right of all to organize
for social material advancement the right of wage
workers to alpeaceful and lawful means to pro.
tect themselves against Entertainments of moneyed
monopoles and the right to fix price for their la
Dor commensurate with the services they render and
we hold that every has right to dispose of his
own labor upon such terms as he may think will best
promote his interests, and without molestation or
interference by others. The Democratic
party fayors such measures and policies as will
promote harmony in the relations between capital and
labor and will adequately protect the rights and In
terests Of both; and to this end favor the the
Enlistment far can be DONE of boards Of arbi
tration to settle disputes between employers and
ployes; and we favor also, weekly payments in cash,
by all corporations for labor performed during
the previous week and complete abolition OF the
trade system. We also favor such legislation In this
State as will give eectual security for the wages of
all railroad as well as other employees.
Sections I3, Ia and prefer to the record of the
Republican purity while in control of the State of
Illinois, charging it with extravaganza and fail
ure to suppress crime. The platform then con
tinues:
Sixteenth--whle the Democratic party extols, and
temperance, and by rigid laws would forbid and pun
Ssh the sale Of Intoxicating drinks TO minors and in
ebriates IT, nevertheless is opposed to all mrtuary
legislation and will firmly oppose all enactments Of
prohibtory laws as being fanatcal destructive of the
rights of free men, vicious, iDsneere utterly inehca
cious for good, and fraught with manifold evils.
THE BAND BEGINS TO PLAY.
At the conclusion of the reading, Mr.. Judd
moved the adoption of the resolutions. and
called for the previous question
Mayor Harrison who arrived by an afternoon
train from Chicago, rose on the floor Of the con
vention and said that, as proxy from the Third
district, he desired to be heard before the ques-
tion was put to vote The members Of the
convention rose to their feet and cheered as the
speaker was recognized and made his way to
the platform. When quiet was restored, he
asked that the convention pause before
adopting the resolutions as presented.
He would move that the tariff question
be referred to the national convention. which
would meet in five days. and he had no doubt would
act wisely The speaker believed that tariff for
protection was robbery. The only kind of tariff
which was defensible was tariff for revenue.
There were various shades of opinion on the tariff
question in the Democratic party and the Demo
Gratis Of Illinois should not undertake to antici-
pate the wisdom of the assembled Democracy of
the nation. The passage of this tariff plank at
this time would endanger the success of tho De-
mocracy, State and national The speaker then
proceeded upon the matter OF his
successive elections as mayor of Chicago,
changing Republican majority Of 5000 to a
Democratic majority of 10, 600 He asked his
hearers not to ALLEVIATE Cook county by this ac-
ton. He closed by moving to strike out all that
part of the platform referring to the tariff
The motion was received with mingled cries
for and against
Hon W. r. Morrison was called for and re-
eeived with tumult Of applause He pro
ceeded to oppose the motion, saying that if what
was wanted by the Democracy Of Illinois was
that the necessary revenues of the gov
ernment should be provided for, and
that thereafter the fax-gatherer should
stay his hand, let them declare
it; if they wanted tariff for protection, let them
say so. The people could not be deceived by
words. He hoped the gentleman who had pre-
coded him would be nominated and elected Gov
erfor, but that his motion would be defeated
Joseph Mann, Of Danville, opposed the mo-
The scene during all this time was very dra-
matte The speakers were laboring under much
suppressed excitement and the members of the
convention occasionally INTERCEPTED terse ex
pressions of opinion.
Ex-Governor Palmer said if Mayor Harrison
was not willing to make the run on this plat
form, he should refuse the gubernatorial noni-
nation if rendered him by this convention
Mayor Harrison interrupted the speaker to
say that he was misrepresenting his position.
His Mayor Harrison's) motion was not to strike
ont the plank but merely the instructions to the
Illinois delegation to work in concert in the ma
Honal convention.
Intense excitement and great confusion fol
lowed numerous speakers struggling for recog-
milton at the same time Finally, it was decided
20 call the roll of the convention on the question
of striking out the instructions to the State dele
Cation, as moved by Mr. Harrison This process