The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-05-26

demn the further issue Of interest bearing bonds.
either by the National Government or by
States, Territories or municipalities.
"Lnbor-Arbitratio should take the place OF
strikes and other injurious methods OF settling
labor disputes. The letting OF contract labor to
contractors should be prohibited. the contract
system bc abolished in public works. the hours
Of labor In industrial establishments be re-
duced, commensurate with tho increased pro-
duction by labor-saving machinery, employees
protected from bodily injury, equal pay for equal
work for both sexes, and labor, agricultural and
cooperative associations be fostcred and en-
couraged by law. The foundation OF, "a republic
Is in the intelligence OF It's citizens, and children
who are driven into workshops, mines and fac
tories are deprived OF the education which
should be secured to all by proper legislation.
"Pension-We demand the passage OF SER
vice pension bill to every honorably discharged
soldier and sailor Of the United States.
"Income Taxa graduated ircome tax Is the
most equitable system Of taxation, placing the
burden Of government on those who can best
AFFORD to pay, instead Of laying 1t on the farmers
and producers and exempting millionaire bond
holders and corporations.
~. s. Sennte-We demand constitutional
amendment making u. 8. Senators elective by
u direct vote ofthe people.
Contract Labor--We demand the strict en-
forcemcnt Of laws prohibiting the importation
tract.
"Chnese-wc demand the passage and en-
fOrcemcnt OF such legislation rs will absolutely
exclude the Chinese from the United States.
woman Sufrragc-The right to vote is in
herent in citizenship irrespective Of sex, and
is properly within the province OF State lcgis.
lation.
Paramount Issues-The paramount issues to
be solved in the interests Of humanity are the
abolition Of usury, monopoly and trusts, and we
dcnounce the Democratic and Republican par
ties for creating and perpetuating these
monstrous evils"
The reading was frequently interrupted by
applause, and at the close Uncle Jesse Harper
moved the adoption of the report US read. This
was seconded. An amendment offered was
that the platform be acted upon section by Sec
tion.
Burrows, of Nebraska, after some confusion,
managed to announce that he had minority
report to present. which read as follows:
''Money-Resolred. That the persistent policy
OF the Government since 1905 has been to re-
duce the money circulation OF the country
first, by funding hundreds Of millions Of legal
tenders into intercst-bearing bonds; again by
stopping free coinage OF silver; again by allow
ing national banks to withdraw circulation
whenever avaricc dictated, and lastly,
by locking up nearly seventy mil
lions OF dollars under various
prctexts in the U. s. Treasury. Thus a money
famine has been created, debts doubled fabu-
lous rates Of interest extorted. prices of labor,
produce and land reduced to zero and farmers,
business men and manufacturers forced to dis
charge employees, crowd down wages OF those
retained, and finally to combine into countless
trusts and pools to push up prices to the living
point. Thus business has been driven from q
cash basis to nn interestbearing note basis, the
whole country has been blanketed with bonds
and mortgages, until European and Ameri-
usurers extort annually II 400 100000 on go.
600, COO, 900 OF debts. The most vitnl question
now is, Who shall own the soil, the mortgagor
or the morgagee! The present owners must
lose it unless the moneycontraction, debt-ex-
pansion policy is revised This policy was in
augurated by the Republicans and adopted and
aggravated by the Democrats The present
Administration has added mountains Of idle
money locked in the treasury, and, rather than
pay the public debts under plHin provision OF
law, has loaned sixty millions of public funds
free to pet banks. Not an additional dollar OF
greenbaclss has been issued. though the Su-
preme Court has decided such issue constitu-
tional. Even free coinage OF silver Is refused.
by recent vote the Democratic House de.
clined to deprive the banks of the power to still
further contract the currency, after the Senate
/ had voted to do SO. In short, Wall street die
tates the policy OF both old parties The ex-
change of one for the other brings no relief, and
to hide these monstrous crimes to confuse and
distract the people, they are engaged in u fruit
less, perennial and perpetual quarrel over tariff
taxes and war issues
"Resolred, That we appeal to oil citizens OF
the United States to no longer trust their
treacherous promises, to no longer eat husks mt
their dctation, but to come out from them for
ever and vote for us for tho following great
principles, which will bring immediate relief
and make our people the most prosperous and
Nappiest Nation on earth.
1--WE demand the resumption by the Govern
pf tfc inh rfv
said money to be issued in volume sufficient to
place the business OF the country upon q cash
basis to be loaned temporarily upon ample land
security, at low rate of interest; the abolition
of banks OF issue; free coinage of silver while
we have free coinage of gold; the prompt pay
ment of the public debt Mt its face value; that
no more intcrest-bearing bonds be issued, and
that graduated income tax be imposed"
A motion to lay 1t on the table was lost. After
considerable debate q vote was taken on the
minority report. The result was-yeas, so,
nays. 158 Lost.
The tlrstplank of the platform was read, and
Fogg OF Michigan, offered substitute, which
read as follows:
'Recognizing that all wealth is produced by
labor and consequently all taxes must be paid
from the fruits OF labor, therefore be it re-
solved,
'That general system of taxation be estab-
lished by the General Government and that
these taxes be collected upon an assessment OF
land values estimated upon the taxation of sur
rounding lands and improvements That the
valuation OF lands be placed upon an equality
with the improved land around it, and that the
taxes the State be borne by all in proportion to
the benefit each derives from the community"
A long wrangle ensucd over the above which
was recognized Us the single land tax theory
and the only bone of contention existing be-
tween the Union Labon and United
Labor party. To adopt the Fogg
plank would be to concede every thing to the
United Labortes, and OF course it was almost
unanimously voted down. The original plank
was then adopted, and it was noticeable fact
that rs soon rs this was done the two hundred
or more in the gallery left in u body, the major
ity beng United Laborities. The convention
then adjourned until T:30 o'clock.
There was noticeable decrease in the at
tendance at tho evening session. Mr.. Shook
OF Texas, asked for hearing and gave an ac-
count Of the manner in which the party IN
tended to cut down the Democratic majority
there. Two years ago Shook introduced Union
Labor principles in his State, and was almost
mobbed.
Now things had changed, and he was certain
II a strong temperance plank be adopted by this
convention the Union Labor ticket in Texas
would be elected this fall. His party intended
to revolutionize the Lone Star State this time
They had enlisted In the cause, not for one year,
t>,,t f1,o hrr-1