The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-05-24
MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS.
Thoy Meet In Convention, Make q
Truce and Build a Platform.

/
The Democrats OF Minnesota have for
some time been troubled by war between
the Michael Doran and DR.. Amcs footing.
and vigorous contest was looked for in
the State Convention which met in St. Paul.
But in that the people were disappointed,
Tor though there was o lively shuttle the
feud was partially healed by the
election Of both D0ran and Ames to the
st. Louis Convention. Tho delegates and
alternates were rs follows:
Delegates at largo: Michael Dora n, OF 10
Steur; Albert 4: Amos, df Hennep in: Rob-
ert A. Smith, Of Ramsey; John Ludwig OF
Winona.
Frank l.. Morse Hennepin: Z. W. Du-
rant; Wasf1ington: William Quinn, Wright:
John Adams; Dodge.
! THE PLATFORM:
The following resolutions were n assed:
The Democrats Of Minnesota, in harmony
| with the Democracy of the Union, declare
that the longer continuance Of taxes levied
for the conduct of a war which ended nearly
| u quarter century ago is needless and un-
Unsuitable burden upon the people of this
| country.
To the already accumulated $3.50, OOO,-
600 surplus lying unused and useless in the
treasury there is being added under our ex-
tsting revenue laws an increasing surplus of
$50, 100000 each year This money is not
needed for any Legitimate purposes OF gov
it plays no part in the business transactions
Of the people; it Ii a constant temptation. a
| standing inducement for schemes of plumber
and corrupt extravagancc.
We demand as right that the people shall
be at once and forever relieved from this un-
necessary and oppressive burden Super
| Huous taxation is tyranny.
The time has come tor thorough revision
and radical reduction of the existing reve-
nue. taxes. We insist that this work be at
once began and speedily consummated with
| out farther evasion or delay; and that in the
doing of it the following principles shall be
adhered to as the true basis of genuine revc-
| nue. reform. viz:
First-That taxation is not a public bless
ing, nor an element of national prOsDerity
That while sufficient revenue should at all
times be collected for the support of an Geo.
| nOm!cal government in the discharge OF its
legitimate functions. for the payment OF 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, and
as tribute to the private business of q
favored few.
Secondhand whatever taxation it may be
necessary to retain for governmental pur-
poses, should be imposed as far as practical
bic upon articles OF luxury and indulgences
| which mainly minister to the enjoyment of
the rich and the habits Of the dissolute.
Third-That the taxes should b. greatly
| reduced, and, when practicable, altogether
| abolished unon 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 our labor shall DC no longer
! diminished by a tax upon the things for
| which we exchange these products; the
! value of what we sell no longer curtailed by
| enhancing the cost OF what we buy with the
| proceeds of our sales; that tax upon i'm
! ports is in effect a tax upon exports and that
the best way to render our agricultural and
manufacturing industries profitable and
prosperous is to increase the purchasing
power OF their products in the markets of the
world by abOlishing taxes upon the things
purchased.
Fifth-That our foreign and internal COM
MERGE 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.
Sixth-That our manufacturing industries
| should have the benefit of untaxed raw ma
terials used by them, thus ell abling them to
dispose of their surplus products In other
|
Seventh-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 the limited de-
| mands of un easily OverstOcked home market
Eighth-That the cunningly complicated
| system of specific and ad volorem duties
| upon the same article. whereby the heaviest
taxation is imposed upon the cheaper grades
of materials used manly by our working
people, should be wholly abandoned, AID the
millionaire compelled to pay at least an
| equal percentage of taxation with the poor
] est labOrer.
individually, that all taxation shall be
equal and impartial; that our people shall
have free access to the markets of the world
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 q monopolized home market, in
| fuenced by combinations and at the mercy
of pools and trusts
This is what we mean by revenue reform
The existing traffic was created and is now
| maintained by the aggregated selfishness OF
| the particular interests which have so long
and bounteously fattcned upon its profits
! Originally imposed as necessary @WaE
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 ~prot ection" from
scrutiny and popular Indignation. A com
bination of favored monopolists, SO power
full and Sc deeply interested in the mainte-
nance of such system is not to be easily
broken. Inch by inch the cause of reform
and endorse the Mills bill now pending in
| congress 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-
! trs OF Minnesota we hereby cali their at
tention to the recent ut,crance of the plat
form adopted by the late Republican stat.
conventional platform which makes nc
demand for reduction OF tariff taxes. but
is an outspoken endorsement OF u protective
tariff. But we respectfully suggest to them
that such reform is not to be expected al
the hands Of men who are beneticiaries OF
the abuses to be reformed, but can only co,ae
from those VINO are in hearty sympathy will
the reform to be accomplished.
In conformity with these principles W.,
specify as among the articles which shou::
be placed upon the FREQ list salt, coal, lum-
Der, sugar, iron and steel, glass, binding
Irvine material, drugs and medicines wool
and all wearing apparel, carpets and house.
hold goods. tools, implements and ms
chinely used in agricultural and mechanical
cmplovments, and all raw materials co.,
sumed by our manufactures
While we are not unnindful of the grow.
ing interest OF the people Of the State q
Minnesota in this great question. we dcc,a1 /
our firm conviction that tariff reduction II
| not n local issue merely, but ono of trans
| cendent national Importance affcctina
the prosperity, welfare and happiness OF al
the people of the whole country; it wa,
made SO by the fearless and u,.equivocal pc.
sition assumed by President Cleveland in hi:
last annual message Tariff reform uncc,
his leadership is the VITAL single issue of the
present campaign. With such a cause unde,
| such leader we cannot fail.
A Nebraska Riot.
Plattsmouth Nebraska was the scene
Of shooting affair that bid fair at one
time to develop into q riot. As it turned
out blood was shed. but no lives lost.
Peter Rogers. q striking Brotherhood en-
gincer, and n Pinkerton man got into Il