West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-05-04
THE INDIANA PLATFORM,

The resolutions OF the lnulana
State Convention do not have that
bold and clear-eut ring demanded
by the situation. That on the tar
if is as follows:
Taxes on imports should be reduced to
the lowest point consistent with ettclen-
CIV in the public service. and we demand
a revision of the present tariff as recon-
mended by the President.
This, though an improvement on
the rigmaeole called "the Ohio plat
form" is but the whining and truck
ling politicians afraid OF the mill
ionaire manufacturers. The reso-
luton should be:
The many must not be taxed to
enrich the few: We denOunce the
doctrine of protection as a cunning
scheme to plumber the unorganized
masses and we demand that no tax
es be levied except for revenue.
Cabell county Democrats have
voiced the popular judgment. Their
resolutions are:
/. We commend Cleveland as
President who has fully met the ex-
pectatiOns and hopes of his party
and the country; fulfilling the obi
cations and carrying out the prom
ises undertaken and made by him
when he entered upon his term Of
service.
3. We endorse his tariff views.
3. That we favor and are ready to
further in every proper manner the
Democratic doctrine of tariff for
revenue, sufficient only to pay the
cost of Government, prudently and
efficiently administered.
4. That we favor immediate act
ion by Congress in the matter of re
ducing tariff taxes, to the end that
excessive collections shall not be
exacted from the people; that we
believe such reduction not only nee
essary and proper as Constitu-
tional measure, but necessary to al
lay the popular prejudices now rap
idly being formed against American
manufacturers, as class, on &C
count Of the eXorbitant demands
made by them in the way of tribute
upon other classes of their fellow
citizens.
). That we welcome the single is
sue thus presented on the tariff
question, and will enter upon the
campaign with that confidence
which inspires men battling for the
right.
We understand from the Hunting
ton Times that Hon. f. A. Bennett
drafted these resolutions and if so
he will receive the thanks of every
farmer. miner, mechanic and work.
ing man who at all comprehends the
situation. 1t is unfortunate, some
Democrat like Bennett was not pres
ent to counsel the Indiana politi-
clans.
The civ;l-service plank of the In
diana platform is also the work of
mere machine politicians;-it says:
We favor such rules and regulations
for the civil service as viii secure hon
est, capable and deserving public OIL
GERS, but when honesty, ability and mer-
il are equal, we believe there would be
both jus tice and wisdom in giving pref
erence to those who would harmonic IN
principle and policy with the party hav-
ing the responsibility of administration.
The resolution should be:
Federal patronage must not be
used to pension on the Treasury the
strikers Of Congressman. We de-
nOunce a system which creates an
army of office holding managers of
politics and we demand q complete
divorce OF the appointing power
from the legislative department.
The Indiana Convention was evil
IDENTIFY dominated by machine poll
ticians who lack msnliness, who
lack convictions and who have no
faith in honest appeals to the intel
ligence of the masses. This will be
a campaign Of the money power
against the people. We do not be
lieve we can win with such men as
are responsible for the Indiana res
olutiOns fortunately Cleveland is
stronger than the trucking politi-
clans now in front, who are ready to
betray their constituents to procure
reelection of themselves.