Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-17
THE DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE.
Further Prcceedings-Th Stockton Plat
form Reaffirmed.

The RECORD UNIONS telegraphic report
of the proceedings of the Convention of
Democrats which met in San Francisco
Thursday to consider the general welfare
of the party, closed with the introduction
of an amendment by Mr.. Foley to the
committee resolutions. Subsequent action
was as follows:
REMARKS Or J. ". FOLEY.
In support of his resolution, Mr.. Foley
said Il see nothing undemOcratic IN the
resolution. The party is in very critical
condition. 1t is useless to deny that there
is strife in the party. ! believe the time
has come when the leaders OF the party
should come together in the true spirit and
unite the two factions of the party. We
might as well meet the condition OF the
party at the present time now as hereafter.
There were some things that were done at
the Stockton Convention which | do not
approve; there are many other things
which do heartily approve. l think that
we should not drive out number OF Dem
ocrats from the party. Accused be the
resolution that divides the party. | offer
my resolution in the interest of harmony
S NJ White asked Mr.. Foley what his
resolution meant
Mr.. Foley in reply said The Stockton
| Convention in one of its resolutions said
that Judge Field had no right TO aspire to
| the Presidency of the United States. be-
lieve Judge Field has the right to aspire to
that or any other Office. If the gentleman
will read the resolution, he will understand
it as well as the author
J. W. Breckenridge spoke in support OF
the resolutions One object of our assem-
| bling here is to express the sentiment OF
the Democratic party on the present stu
alton OF the party in the State. We all
know that the party is i'll the midst OF some
difficulties. There is a faction IN the party
which is led by paper in the city. the
| Alta, which processes that 1t Is the repre-
sentative of the Democratic party in this
State That paper does not represent the
party. but a faction, which is reputable in
wealth, intelligence and social position, but
contemplate in point of members | be-
| lieve the great majority of the Democratic
party is in sympathy with the principles
announced by the Stockton Convention.
That paper has attributed the Democratic
defeat in this State in the national cam
paign to the course of the Stockton Con-
vention Every man of intelligence knows
that this is not true The disaster in this
| State was due to the treachery OF the mai
contents in the party, and to the fact also
that the popular idol, Allan G..
! Thurman, was not nominated at
Chicago. No one desires TO see harmony
| in the party in the State more than ! do,
| but | do not want it at the expense Of
abandoning our principles. If the Demo-
| cratic party in this State is not the party-of
/ anti-monOpoly il is nothing. If we are
willing to stOop so low as to go back on the
action of the Stockton Convention, the mi
nority would glorify over the masses Of the
| Democratic party in the State. The amend
ment offered by Mr. Foley is qualification
of the party. We do not deny the right of
Judge Field to aspire to any office in the
land, but that right does not carry with it
| the backing of q constituency. | will say,
| finally, that in commencing the course of
the fifteen Senators in the Legislature, we
| do not condemn the course of the other
tive-we simply state that they have not
the approval OF the party
SENATOR REpDY.
Senator Pat Reddy asked Mr. Foley:
Do you accord - the people the right
to reject the claims of any candidate?"
Yes, sir, replied Mr., Foley.
Have they the right to instruct their
| representative to vote against candidate ~
asked MIR Reddy.
Yes, sir" was the reply.
do? Do you mean to insinuate that the
| Democratic party has never allowed any
| one in its ranks to aspire to Office"
! Mr.. Foley said: | was at the Stockton
| Convention, and / applauded the course of
| Mr. Reddy, when he defended Marshall
against the attacks that were made against
| him"
call the gentleman to order" said Mr.
Reddy. don't think it is necessary to
refer TO personal matters of that kind"
| Mr. Foley continued: O. have a detesta-
ton of edge-breakers, but appeal to you
to act for the good of the party in the
| future"
Arnold, OF Colusa, spoke as follows:
am not here seeking an appointment.
| have come from Colusa to promote the
harmony of the party. l offer the follow
ing resolution in the interests of peace:
Resolved, That it is the sense of the meeting
| that the Democrats of California as a party
| should lay aside past and present differences,
and prepare 10 present an UnbrOken front in
| future political conflicts
| ResOiucd, That we are willing our present Sen
| ator and Representatives in Congress should adj
| wise President Cleveland and his administration
as TO appointments in this State.
S.M. White opposed Arnold's resolution
| He said If we are to barter away what
we consider sacred then | do not want
| harmony at such a price. Are you ready
| to disapprove of the action of the Stockton
| Convention The resolution of Mr. Foley
| recants the action of that body in regard
to Justice Field. If this body is ready TO
| indorse Justice Field, who says that the
State has no right to regulate fares and
| freiehts, then It'll timeto recant our resolu-
tons III regard to him"
REPLY OF EX-GOVERNOR IRWIN
Ex-Governor Irwin replied as follows to
Mr. White: q regret exceedingly that
! these resolutions of the committee have
been introduced. | presume that the
Stockton Convention represented three
fourths of the Democrats of the State l
do not want this body to reverse the action
of that Convention, but don't want TO see
ii reiterate the platform Of that Convention.
That Convention denounced some men az
corrupt and unworthy of confidence.
think that was something that should not
have been done. | think there might
have, been men in the extra ses-
! sion who did not vote for the Barry
bill who did so ConScientiOuSly. | know
that some men were so actuated | think
| now that this body should not reitcrate the
declaration that such men are unworthy of
confidence This is a momentous event
At the recent election we were defeated by
1900 The lack of harmony in the Dem
ocratic party produced apathy and caused
defeat"
w. D. English (interrupting)-Is it not
better TO be defeated on a principle than to
get votes by forfeiting the principle?
Mr. Irwin say that this is a question
Of honor There is no conclusive evidence
hat the men who were denounced by the
Stockton Convention were corrupt, and |
say n reiteration of the condemnation of
those men is not wise
Stephens, of Sacramento, also opposed
the resolutions of the committee He said:
"a know that large number of the Con-
vention will vote for the resolutions. This
body is constituted largely by the men who
participated in the Stockton Convention,
which these resolutions approve. The fact
that this body has been convened Is the best
evidence that the Democracy is divided
The State Central Committee and the vari-