Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-02
BRIEF, BUT POINTED.
THE TEXT OF THE PLATFORM WHICH
WILL BE ADOPTED.


A Constitutional Convention Demanded to
Provide for Ballot Reform-Local Tax
Reform Indorsed-Quayism to be One of
the Issues of the Campaign.
IFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT
SCRANTON, July LIB. F. Meyers, of
Harrisburg, has been the principal literary
carpenter who put together the platform
that will be presented to to-morrow's con-
vention. Eight resolutions form this docu-
ment. They are as follows:
The Democracy of Pennsylvania by their
representatives in State Convention assembled,
devotion to the reserved rights of the people
and the States, do declare: First-That ballot
reform is necessary, and to this end the neces-
sity for the assembling of a constitutional con-
yentfon forfthe purpose of removing the marked
ballot clause of the constitution so that laws
may be constitutionally enacted for the assur-
ance of the secrecy of the ballot and the free
= dom OF the voter is recognized as imperative
and unavoidable.
Second-That tariff reform is necessary in
order that manufacturers may be freed from
terials, the iaborer relieved from taxation of
the necessaries of life, and the consuming
millions disburdened of the incubus OF ex.
cessive revenues laid only for the production OF
parasites and public plunderers.
Local Tax Reform Necessary.
Third-1hat local tax reform is necessary in
order that the taxation for county, municipal
and township purposes may be equaiized, the
unjust discrimination against land values and
in favor of certain kinds of personal property
under existing laws may be corrected, and that
the farmer may be relieved of the double tax
on the value of his farm and the principal OF
the mortgage which may stand against It.
Fourth-That the law requiring that the sur
plus IN the State Treasury shall be invested in
State or United States bonds must be observed
and executed.
Fifth-That we recur with pride to the ad.
ministration of ex-President Grover Cleveland
and challenge comparison of the courage, hdel-
ity and integrity Of that administration with
the duplicity. vacillation and corrupt surround
ings of that now in power.
Sixth-That we favor such policy with re-
gard to the coinage of silver as will keep both
gold and silver coins in circulation or Treasury
notes redeemable in the same.
Seventh-That the right to be apprenticed
to trade should not be subject to restriction
of race or nativity, but should be enjoyed
equally by the youth of the State without dis
tinctiou except as to merit.
Eighth-That we deprecate and denounce
unequal appointments of districts for the
election of Representatives in Congress and
believe that the voters of the State should be
allowed to make their own apportionments
which they could do if no appointments were
made by law and each voter were permitted to
cast one vote for one candidate for Congress
and NO more. We
Accept the Issue of Qnayism
rendered by the late Republican State Con-
vention, and we arraign the Republican party
for its usurpation of powers In the administra-
tion of the Federal Government, which the
people and the States have not granted; for
placing In the hands of dictator in the chair
of the speaker of the Federal House of Rep
resentatIves the power to legislate for the rep
resentatives of the whole people; for its open
disregard for the provisions of the civil ser
vice law which the President of its choice was
solemnly pledged to support; for its failure to
fulfill its promises to the honOrably discharged
soldiers of the Union; for its ceaseless efforts
to promote sectional strife and disturb the
tranquility of the country; for its lavish and
reckless expenditure OF the public moneys; its
passage through the House of Representatives
essaries, reduces only those laid upon luxuries.
and is calculated to promote and foster trusts;
for its failure to enforce the laws against the
importation of contract and pauper laborers;
for its attempt to pass a Federal election law
designed to Excite race war. and finally and
especially for its indifference to the rights of
labor, its defeat of the labor bills in the last
Legislature. its failure to enforce articles 16
and II of the Constitution by proper legisla-
ton, its corrupt methods in popular elections
and Its cringing subserviency to party boss
who stands mute before the most terrible in
culpatlon ever charged against public
official.
Recalling with pride the glories of our party's
past, rejoicing In the majesty of its present
strength and looking forward to its speedy
triumph throughout the country, we conf
IDENTIFY appeal to the intelligence and integrity
of the people of Pennsylvania for their active
and enthusiastic support of the political re-
forms this day inscribed upon the standard of a
united, progressive and aggressive Democracy.