Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-02
Telegrams to The Star.
THE FOUR NEW STATES.
Results Of Their First Election as
Far as Ascertained.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Resolutions Passed by the Ma
tional League.
Massachusetts Democrats in Con-
vention.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
THE ANTI-MAHONE CONFERENCE

MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATS.
They Hold a State CONFERENCE.-The
man Matthew'S Speech.
WORCESTER, MASS, Oct. 2.-The democratic
state convention is not as largely attended as
many OF former years and at the time of call
ing to order Mechanics hall held but few spec
| tators. At 1l:25 Chairman P. A. Collins Of the
state central committee called the convention to
order and Immediately announced the commit
tee on credentials. The temporary organiza-
ton was then effected with P. A. Collins as
temporary chairman. Mr.. Collins made no
formal speech, proceeding at once to the
appointment OF the committee on perma-
nent organization. While the committee was
celebrating the committee on credentials re-
ported. Their report was accepted and the
committee on permanent organization reported,
naming Nathan Matthews, jr., of Boston as
permanent president, Hon. p. A. Collins first
vice president, and the usual list of vice presi-
dents and secretaries. President Matthews was
conducted to the platform and introduced by
Mr.. Collins. He was enthusiastically received
and addressed the convention as follows:
Chairman Matthew'S Speech.
Mr.. Matthews in thanking the convention for
his selection to the general recognition of the
fact that the young men of the state are casting
their fortunes with the democracy being more
concerned about the living issues of the day
than with the spent traditions Of the past
They also see in democracy q system of politics
peculiarly American, led by men who, in elec-
ton times, appeal to reason and patriotism
rather than prejudice or hate. The party en-
deavors to conduct an honest, decent campaign
without SANDER, forgery or bribery, and when
successful gives the people an honest. clean
and efficient administration. If defeated it
accepts the result in a manly democratic way
without returning boards or electoral COM
missions, and Its candidate for President re-
tires to private life with honor and applause
With the party neither wealth nor the owner
ship of q political machine is necessary condi-
ton OF preferment, and the best men are put
up as candidates for public office, as in the be-
stowal Of the nomination for governor upon a
young man without money solely by reason of
his conspicuous ability.
THE LEADING ISSUE OF THE CAMPAIGN
OF 1888 was met by the party, as it has been in
every tariff campaign from 1900 to 1860 to the
end that no Unnecessary taxes should be levied
and no surplus revenue stored up a tempta-
tlon for extravagant expenditure. Our efforts
to elect the candidates who represented these
familiar applications of American democracy
were met by a campaign of Misrepresentation
personal slander, forged quotations, intImida-
ton and appeals to sectional hatred. but al
though the people voted by a substantial ma
jority in favor of the democratic candidates
and policy, their will was defeated through the
operation OF an electoral system which encour-
ages the concentration of money in doubtful
states and the division Of ''foaters'' in 'blocks
Of tive."
We were told that the prosperity of the coun-
try was due not to the intelligence and in
dustry OF the people, nor to the lavish gifts of
nature, but largely, if not wholly to taxation;
yet 1t has happened that since Harrison's elec-
ton work has been getting less and wages
lower, accompanied by strikes, lock outs,
and the men who shouted loudest for high
tariff and paid the most to get it are foremost
now in reducing the wages of their men.
THE RECKLESS ADMINISTRATION OF THE PEN
SION BUREAU
in an attempt to fulfill still more reckless cam
paign promises has caused public scandal and
the pension list has been thrown open. bya de-
partment ruling, to deserters and others dis
honorably discharged. In state affairs the re-
publican party has not been slow to initiate the
practices of its worst leaders in Washington.
and the republicanism of Andrews, Sumner
and Wilson have given way to that of Blaine,
Malone and Quay. The legislature just ad-
journed was the most republican and admit
tedly the most corrupt in recent years. and
their insincere quibbling over the liquor ques-
ton, the poll tax and the school laws furnishes
a record OF incompetency that even the repub.
lican majority in Congress will find it hard to
equal.
The Platform.
The platform states that the democratic
party of Massachusetts, renews its allegiance to
the platform adopted by the last national DEM
ocratic convention and declares its continued
and hearty support of the cause of tariff re-
form and firm conviction of its success in the
near future reaffims the demands for free raw
material and lower duties upon the necessities
of life; believes that free wool is essen
ndu.ov tl"1 TO the ,IRs prosperity of a the woolen
to all consumers of woolen goods; calls atten-
tiOn of the farmers to The relief they will re-
ceive through the reduction of customs taxes
upon articles which they use; gives hearty sup
port to the petition Of the present governor
and other leading iron and steel manufacturers
addressed to Congress, asking for free coal and
iron ore and lower duties on pig iron; demands
that all materials for ship building be relieved
from the heavy taxation now imposed and
MADE FREE OF DUTY;
favors q continuance of the sound and pro-
gressive policy in the administration of naval
affairs, established with such eminent success
by Secretary Whitney; favors closer CONNER
cial relations between the United States and
immediate method of securing such closer rela-
tions is thought a treaty of partial or entire
reciprocity OF trade between the two countries;
favors close commercial relations with Mexico:
condemns frauds in elections; but 10 ntrely
opposed to the scheme OF a national election
law; condemns the present administration for
narrow partisanship and low standard of public
duty for its betrayal of the cause of civil service
reform; for its perversion Of the pension ma
chinery into q means OF influencing votes; con-
demns the ruling by which this administration
has thrown open the pension list to persons
dishonorably discharged, reafifms the action
of last years convention in commencing to the
legislature the desirability Of further short
ening of the hours of labor Of women and chill
dren, endorses the system of secret voting and
pledges the democratic party to maintain the
school system in its full efficiency.
A Mysterious Double Tragedy.
MILWAUKEE, Oct. 2-Aeager accounts of q
double tragedy at Ogema, Wis, reached here