Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-08-26
TWO CONVENTIONS.
Democrats and GreenbackerS
Adopt Platforms
And Agree on q Ticket


Temporary Chairman Fuller called the
Grenback convention to order in Powers
opera house, in Grand Rapids, at 10:45 a.
m, on the 18th inst.
The committee on permanent organiza-
ton recommended Gen. VIM. p. Innes Of
Grand Rapids for permanent chairman,
and that the temporary secretaries be
made permanent.
Ex-Gov. Begole and Moses w. Field were
designated as an escort to Gen. Innes, who
was introduced by Mr.. Field as the "hero
Of Lavergne."
Gen. Innes confessed his surprise at his
selection. He modestly alluded to his SER
vices In helping free 1000, 900 slaves twenty
years ago, and he felt he could not lay
down his sword until the 50,OO0,OOO white
slaves now in bondage were freed. He
gave the delegates some good advice on
the propriety of observing parliamentary
practices, and not quarreling, and placed
himself in the conventions hands.
The convention resolved itself into dis
trict meetings to select vice-chairmen and
took a recess till 3 O'Clock.
to order in the afternoon Messrs. Ruther-
ford, Parkhurst, and Weston, the COM
mittee from the democratic convention,
were on the stage. Mr.. Ruthford was the
spokesman and was pleasant and suave in
the few remarks he made. He announced
the mission of the committee, and that it
wished to take back to its convention the
answer of the greenback convention to the
request for a conference on fusion.
With the retirement of the democratic
committee came the expected fight over
fusion. Motions to appoint a committee
of conference and to take q recess until
the committee on platform was ready to re-
port were made at once and the former
considered.
By an almost unanimous vote it was de-
cided to appoint the committee, which was
not to act until both platforms were be-
fore the convention.
John G. Blanchard announced that the
committee on platform was ready TO re-
port, but the delegates had separated into
district groups to select members OF the
conference committee. The members
chosen were as follows, in the numerical
order Of their respective districts:
Moses w. Field, Wayne; George A.
Peters, Washtenaw; Charles L. Snow,
Jackson; c. s. Maynard, Van Buren, /;
Samuel s. StoTe i1ni W, Marth s, ssriE
c. j. Willets, Gratiot: w. ID. Fuller, Ne
waygo; j. s. Andrews, Otsego; I. s. Hans
lev, Benzie.
Mr.. Blanchard then came forward and
said the resolutions were longer than he
had wished, but that IL was necessary to
make them lengthy to satisfy the many
wishes of the 300 or 400 men who had ideas
to work into the platform. He then read
the platform as follows:
The national party Of the state OF Michi-
Ian, in convention assembled at the city
II Grand Rapids Aug. 1S, 1886, enunciate
he following declaration of principles
which shall govern their political action F:
We heartily approve and indorse the
Jeffersonian idea of a strict construction
Of the constitution of the United States
and the exercise of the powers therein
conferred upon congress- and whereas the
constitution expressly declares THAT
congress shall have power to coin Tor
createl money and regulate the value
thereof. Therefore we declare that con-
gress in the exercise of this power should
ment of values, consisting of gold, silver
and paper, and of adequate volume to
meet the wants Of government and the
natural and healthy demands of commerce
and trade, all receivable alike for public
and private demands and made legal
tender in payment Of all public and pri-
vate dues, and the exercise of this power
TO create money or to control or to
regulate the volume thereof, should not
be delegated to corporations or private
ndlviduals. v
The constitution further expressly de-
Flares: THAT congress shall have power
10 levy astarif for revenue;" therefore we
declare that we favor a constitutional
tariff for revenue so adjusted as to afford
protection to such industries as employ
labor without creating monopoly of any
kind or increasing the burdens of ether
industries, and a tariff based upon the
selfish New England idea of protection to
any particular individuals business or
branch of industry at the expense or to
the detriment of others is not only uncon-
stitutional. at variance with the true
theory of the government, which is
equality of persons and property before
the law, but unjust and oppressive to the
laboring and consuming classes OF the
country and directly calculated to destroy
individual enterprise, establish manufac-
turing corporations, and build up colossal
fortunes for the few at the expense Of the
many, and we denounce the system as
tyrannical, oppressive and unjust.
Every species OF property except educa'
tional, religious and charitable institu-
tions recognized or protected by law, in
Guiding stocks, money and bonds in the
handC of corporations, as well as private
individuals, should bear its just proper
ton at the expense of government, and
we also demand a graduated income tax
We also demand law which shall fairly
and equitably divide taxation on real es-
tate between the owner Of the fee and the
holders of mortgage liens thereon, wheth-
err such mortgages be residents Of this
state or otherwise.
We demand that labor should be so pro-
ected by material and state authority as
p equalize its burdens and insure just
distribution of its results. The eight hour
law of congress should be enforced; the
vanitary condition of industrial establish
nents placed under rigid control; mines
and workshops inspected; law abolish.
l,,rx x.la nsno MI
convict labor under the direct control
ample protection to labor engaged
in mining, transportation, and manu-
featuring institutions as to health
md personal safety, and for the payment
Of wages in cash; the recognition by cor
porations of trades unions and such other
associations as may be organized by the
working masses to improve their condition
and protect their rights and controver-
hes between labor and capital, as between
by arbitration, and in all actions involving
the questions Of contributory negligence
the burden of proof shall be on the party
charging it: a law which shall give the
mechanic, artisan, or party furnishing
first lien for labor and material, together
with reasonable parcel Of land upon
which any building or structure Is placed.
We deprecate all laws and treaty stipula-
lions tending to admit or encourage Chi
nese emigration or the introduction of
contract or other legalized labor from
other nations.
We demand that the bonds be paid in
the lawful money Of the country, accord
ing to the contract, as rapidly as our re-
sources will permit. The practice or
policy of boarding millions in the treasury
and at the same time paying interest on
the public debt Is not sound financial
policy, and we heartily approve and in
dorse the Morrison resolution, so-called,
lately passed In the House Of Repre-
sentatives.
We favor liberal system Of pensions to
soldiers and sailors, their widows and or