Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-23
Afternoon Session

temporary secretary.
Afternoon Session
The convention re-convened at 2:3O
O'clock, and the committee on credentials
was instructed to meet in the agricultural
room to perfect its business.
The convention commenced regular
business at 1920, when the committee on
credentials reported, which report was
adopted.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
The committee on permanent organiza-
ton reported as follows:
Chairman l.. r. Larson, of Eau
Claire.
waukee. Assistants-C. Clark, of James
vile; James Ryan, of Appleton.
Judge Larson addressed the convention
in these words:
GENTLEMEN: l thank you for the hon
or of presiding over your deliberations.
do not suppose that you will be able to
find is candidate for your governor a
man who is the only obstacle between the
people of the commonwealth and anarchy.
Such men are rare and the democratic
party does not contain any of them. The
man who can be described In language
which, if applied to man of the ability
of Julius Caesar would be gross exaggera-
ton, you will not nominate. But you will
nominate as your candidate one whose
private life is above reprOach and whose
public career has been an honor to him
self and the state, and has manifested
that he is in sympathy with those whom
Mr.. Lincoln described as common people,
and who, whether in the executive cham
Der, the executive mansion or on the pub
lie platform, will always be cultured, pol
ished gentleman of whom every citizen of
the state may be proud and not ashamed.
do not doubt that on the ticket with him
you will put candidates worthy of such
leader.
You wish, too, to adopt platform of
principles expressive of the ideas of the
democratic party of Wisconsin on the
political questions of to-day.
And last but not least, you wish to ex-
press your admiration and endorsement
of the administration of President Cleve-
land. That you may proceed to the per-
Torrance Of these pleasant duties, now
await your pleasure.
THE PLATFORM.
Col. Geo. W. Bird, Jefferson, chairman
of the committee on resolutions, read the
following, which was unanimously adopt
ed:
THE PLATFORM.
This convention, representing the Dem
ocracy of Wisconsin, declares:
1. That we re-affirm the general declar- |
alton of principles of the Democratic
party, as set forth in the platform of
1854, upon which Grover Cleveland was |
elected president.
2. That we send a cordial greeting to
President Cleveland and his Cabinet, and
our hearty communication of their wise
and patriotic administration of public
affairs in accordance with the principles
and pledges of the Democratic party-an
which, by its purity, fidel- |
ity and ability, has commanded the re- |
spect of all parties and classes of men |
in the United States, and revived the |
faith of all in the principles of free
government; and we especially commend |
the Postmaster General for his economi-
cal management of his department, and |
for the successful opposition to the So
called "Pacific Mail Subsidy" wherein he
adhered to Democratic princi-
pies and triumphantly indicated the
pledges of the party to oppose the
tyranny and greed of monopoly.
B. That we warmly approve the action
of the democratic house of representa-
tives of the last two congresses, in
securing the restoration to the public
domain many millions of acres of land
long since granted to railway corpora
tions and never earned according to the
condition of the grants. Inasmuch as
the welfare of American labor demands
that the public lands, yet remaining,
should be kept for homesteads for actual
settlers, we insist that all unearned lands
heretofore improvidently granted to aid
in the construction of railroads shall be
by forfeiture; and we denounce
the practice and policy of the republican
administrations in permitting vast areas
of the public lands to fall into the owner
ship of foreign land companies and alien
absentees.
the system of letting convict labor to con-
tractors as being highly detriment
al to honest labor and pre- en-
inently so to such branches of
as are exposed to its di-
rect competition, and we invite atten
ton to the insincerity of the republican
party in adopting resolution, in its recent
platform in opposition to the contract
system of convict labor, evidenced by the
defeat of a bill to accomplish that end
by the republican legislature of 1885.
We are opposed to the importation of
foreign labor under contract.
We are opposed to monopoly in every
form.
5. That we are firmly opposed
to lawlessness or mob violence in every
form. Recognizing the fact that all
parties in this state regard with abhor
renee all sentiments that favor or lead to
anarchy, and that scarcely a citizen is
in favor of such sentiments, or of riotous
with the rights of person or
we denounce the action of the
ate republican convention in attempt
ing to conduct this political campaign
On the "riot ISSUE" as political subter-
fuge, which by reason of its self-evident
falsity and absurdity, is libel upon the
fair fame of Wisconsin and an insult to
the great body of her laboring classes.