Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-08
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
Massachusetts Democrats at Worcester
They Endorse Cleveland's Administra-
iOn-Platform Adopted-Frederick U.
Prisce Nominated for Governor.
WORCESTER, Oct. 4.

! eNUl'c OiuScIs VI the etdLS ComHittSe. L uS
usual committees were then appointed. The
committee on permanent organization then
reported the name of John Z. Fitzgerald as
President and Col. j. W. Coveney and j. p.
Donovan as secretaries. The report was
adopted aud Fitzgerald was escorted 90 the
platform and made an able address.
Hon. WIN. Asplnwall sent to the committee
on resolutions resolve declaring against
biennial elections.
I The committee on credentials reported 23
cities and 215 towns represented by 1928
delegates.
MIR. Avery, from the committee on resolu-
tons, presented the following platform:
We, the democrats of Massachusetts in
convention assembled, renew our attachment
TO the principles OF democracy as declared by
the last national convention at Chicago. We
congratulate the people of the whole country
on the election OF a democratic President and
Il Vice President We have full faith and con
idence in the President in his wise caution,
his far seeing sagacitv, his courage and firm
ness IL administer government IN the inter-
ests OF the whole people, and his devotion 10
the principles of the national democracy that
the public lands be rescued from the hands
of squa'ters, spectators and landed monop-
olles, and preserved for the use OF the people
to whom they justly belong; that the prnci-
| pai departments OF government VIII De so
economically and honestly administered as
to impose the least possible burden of taxa
ton on the people. and that confidence in the
people, IN their love of liberty, their fidelity
to the constitution and their devotion to the
United States will be restored. We there
fore pledge to Grover Cleveland, President
of the United States, our untailing support
We earnestly request that no candidate be
nominated ior either branch OF the legislature
wbo Is not pied2ed to the support OF the
| following measures;
The right of every city and town to select
its own ofhclals and to control its internal af-
fairs Is co-existent with the commonwealth
and we denouce as an act of usurpatlon blow
at local sel1-government, violation OF mu-
nlcipal independence and political crime,
| the law deprlvlng the city or Boston OF all
control over the appointment of its police
and compelling It's citizens and taxpayers to
pay salaries Tor ofhclais IN whose selection
they have no Immediate voIne. We are in
favor OF the immediate enactment OF such
laws as Will provide for the settlement of all
diferences between the employed and the
empower py system OF arbltratlon.
we iaVor a radical ana thorough change
IN the organlzation' mel thods and management
OF the present incompetent ana lncongruous
state board OF health, lunacy and charity, to
the ehu that the several important depart
inents now uhder It's charge may be more
eHectlveiy' honestly ana economically con-
Quoted, and that the scandals winch have
marked It's career may be uprooted, and we
condemn the acton OF the present executive
VINO himself became party to the scandalous
ana lnelnclent conduct or the department.
we oenounce the repubilcan members OF
the last legislature Tor their opposition to all
the demands OF the labor interests in the
commonwealth. we return our cordial
thanks to the democratic members OF the leg
isiature TOR their earnest efforts during the
last session to secure the passage Of the law
relating to the LIABILITY OF employers for in
jury 10 the employed, the establishment OF
board OF arbitration for the differencIes be-
tween the employed and employers, the
weekly payment of wages and the regulation
OF convict labor, and sincerely regret that
their efforts were defeated by the organized
opposition OF the republican members.
We are opposed to the payment of poll
tax as condition on which the right to vote
must depend we believe In free, honest,
unobtruslve ballot, that the right to vote
should attach to citizens and not to dollars;
we are opposes to the competition of convicts
to the labor OF honest people, and demand
such legislation as Will prevent 1t; we be-
lieve that the frequent payment OF wages en-
aDes the employed to live more economically