Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-05-24
MINNESOTA DEHocRaTs.
They Meet In Convention, Make q
Truce and Build Platform.

rnav Meat IN Convention, Make q
truce and Build Platform.
The Democrats OF Minnesota have lor
some time been troubled by war between
the Michael Doran and Dr. hmes ,ooeihs.
snd . viyorous contest was looked for 10
the state Convention which nett st. Paul.
Rnt IN that the people were disappointed,
f,r tbouph there was lively shuttle the
land was paftiaiiy healed by the
election OF both Doran and Autes to the
81. Louis Convention. The delegates ana
alternates were as follows:
Delegates at large Michael Doran, OF lie
Sueur Albert A. Ames, OF Hennep In; ROD
ert A. Smith, Of Ramsey; John Lud"ls Oh
Winona.
Frank L. Morse Hennepin; z. w. Du-
rant, Washington William Quinn, Wr2nH
John Adams, Dodge.
tn Y PLATFORM.
The following resolutions we're passed:
The Democrats of Minnesota. IN harmony
with the Democracy of the Union, declare
that the longer continuance OF taxes ieVIso
for the conduct of war which ended nearly
a quarter century ago is needless and un-
iustifiable burden upon the people Of this
To the already accumulated $3.50, OOO,-
poo sarplus living unused and useless IN the
treasury there is being added unoer our eA.
listing revenue laws an increasing surplus VI
$50. DOC. 900 each year This money Is not
needed for any legitimate purposes OF gov
eminent; It is withdrawn from circulation |.
il plays no part In the business TRANSACTIONS
of the people; 1t is a constant temptation;
standing inducement for schemes OF plumber
and corrupt extravaganza.
We demand as right that the people snaii
l.. a r..lip from
necessary and oppressive burden. super
fiuous taxation in tyranny
The time has come for thorough revision
and a radical reduction OF the existing IeFe-
nue. taxes. We insist that this work DC AZ
once began and speedily consummated Win On
out farther evasion or delay; and that IN the
doing of it the following principles shall De
adhered to as the true basis OF genuine reVe-
nue. reform. viz
Frst-That taxation Ia not public bless
ing nor an element of national prosperity
That while sufficient revenue should at al
times be collected for the support OF an eco
nomical government in the discharge OF us
legitimate functions, for the payment oil the
public debt. and liberal pensions to deserv-
ing veterans of the Union armies, not one
dollar of superf1uous tax should be imposed
for the purpose of enhancing the prices OF
commodities consumed by the people, ana
as a tribute to the private business OF
favored few.
Second-That whatever taxation it may be
necessary TO retain for governmental pur-
poses, should be imposed as far as practica-
bic upon articles OF luxury and induigences
which mainly minister TO the ehloYHenO VI
the rich and the habits of the dissoiute
Third-That the taxes should be greatly
reduced, and, when practicable, altogether
abolished upon all articles and materials In
such general use as to be rightly classed as
necessarics for our people. which are essen
tial to their health, comfort and prosperity,
which enter into their domestic life, their
industrial pursuits, and their personal hap
piness
Fourth-That the purchasing power of the
products of orr labor shall be no longer
diminished by tax uoon the things Tor
which we exchange these products; the
value of what we sell no longer curtailed by
enhancing the cost of what we buy with tho
proceeds of our sales; that tax upon I'M
ports is in effect a tax upon exports, and tnat
the best way to render our agricultural ana
manufacturing industries profitable and
prosperous is to increase the purchasine
power OF their products in the markets OF the
world by abolishing taxes upon the things
Fifth-That our foreign and internal com
merce should be increased and the cost OF
transportation reduced by repeating taxes
upon the materials which enter into the con-
struction and equipment of the railways and
marine
Sixtb-That our manufacturing industries
should have the benefit of untaxed raw ma
terials used BIZ them, thus enabling them to
dispose of their surplus products In other
markets than our own.
Seyenth-That the workingmen in those
industries should have that steady employ
ment and fair remuneration which can never
exist so long as the sale OF the products OF
their labor is confined to che limited de-
mands of an easily oyerstocked home market
Eighth-That the cunningly complicated
system of specific and ad volorem duties
upon the same article. whereby the heaviest
taxation Ia imposed upon the cheaper grades
of materials used mainly by our working
people, should be wholly abandoned, and the
millionaire compelled to pay at least an
equal percentage of taxation with the poor
est laborer.
Ninth-Finaliy, that all taxation shall be
equal and impartial; that our people shall
have free access to the markets of the world
to buy as well as to sell to the best advantage
and with equal terms with the peoples OF
other lands; that our power TO produce and
our ability TO purchase shall no longer be
confined TO monopolized home market, in
fluenced by combinations and at the mercy
of pools and trusts
This is what we mean by sevenue reform.
The existing traffic was created and is now
maintained by the aggregated seIfishness of
the particular interests which have so long
anu DOunbtOufl1 Idvttntu uDpu pEOuOS
Originally imposed as a necessary swar
measure" it has since been perpetuated and
its enormities concealed by deluding credu-
lous people with false issues and keeping
alive the sectional ha.reds engendered by
the war For more than twenty years the
bloody shirt has protected protection" from
scrutiny and popular Indignation. COM
bination of favored monopoiists, so power
full and so deeply interested in the mainte-
nance OF such system is. not to be easily
broken. Inch by inch the cause of reform
must win its way We therefore welcome
and endorse the Mills bill now pending in
congress as the first aggressive advance,
which deserves the united support of ali
men who honestly favor revenue reform.
While we recognize the growing sentiment
for tariff reform among the Republican vot-
srs of Minnesota, we hereby cali their at
tention to the recent utterance of the plat
form adopted by the late Republican state
conyention-a platform which makes no
demand for a reduction of tariff taxes but
is an outspoken endorsement of a protective
tariff But we respectfully suggest to them
that such a reform is not to be expected
the hands of men who are beneficiaries q
the abuses to be reformed, but can only com
from those who are in hearty sympathy vii
the reform to be accomplished.
In conformity with these principles
specify as among the articles which shuul
be placed upon the free list salt, coal, lum-
uSI. nun huu stSSl, RfdSs, Dl0OlnE
Irvine material, drugs and medicines wool
and all wearing apparel, carpets and house
hold goods. TOOLS implements and ma
ch.neiy used in agricultural and mechanical
employments, and all raw materials con
sumed by our manufactures
While we are not unmindful of the grow
ing interest of the people of the State of
Minnesota in this great question. we declare
our firm conviction that tariff reduction is
not a local issue merely, but one of trans
cendent national Importance affecting
the prosperity, welfare and happiness of ali
the people of the whole country; IL was
made so by the fearless and uhequiyocal no.
sition assumed by President Cleveland In his
last annual message. Tariff reform uuCer
his leadership is the vital, single issue of the
present campaign. With such cause under
such a leader we cannot fail
Nebraska Riot.
Plattsmouth Nebraska was the scene
II 4. al. L