The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-08-14

gates would help him conhol the conven
ton and promptly dispose of the business
8 O. m. tomorrow.
THE PLATFORM.
The committee on platform and res
olutions was in session until 10:3(
tonight. and all did not go as "merry
as wedding belT' in the committed
room. 1t took the delegates a long time
to agree, and long and heated was the dis
cussion on the railway problem. The
members of this convention seemed to be
very nearly unanimous in the opinion that
commission plank must go in the plat.
form, but they could not exactly agree on the
style and cut of the new gown. Judge
Sheppard of Camp, Editor Miner of Rusk
and several other conservative members oi
the commission were not in favor OF
demanding the pound of flesh and reading
out thousands of anti commission Demo-
Gratis. They could see no sense in shutting
out the non-commission democracy by the
Insertion of clause as to party fealty
On the other hand I. j. Brown of Gray
son, Senator Field and others wanted to do
the job up between them and insert a
clause that would make mans hair stand
ON end and sing Arnie Rooney.
Mr.. Brown said "Are we prepared to
go back on our constituency? 1t is
a duty to ourselves and to Gen.
Hogg to say that we want a
commission to regulate railroads and as to
those opposed to the commission measure
let them take their course. We must adopt
the measure without apology, and as for
myself desire to promulgate none.
After considerable argument pro and con
the whole e-hog-or-none fellows carried the
day.
The platform as agreed upon and which
will be presented to the convention tomor-
row is as follows:
To the chairman of the Democratic State
convention:
We the committee on platform and reso-
lutions have TO report:
1. That we, the Democracy of Texas, in
convention assembled pledge anew our de-
votion to the time honored principles OF
Democracy and re-atfirm the principles
announced in the last national and State
platforms.
2. The government of the United States
has only the power expressly given it in the
constitution of the United States and the
amendments thereto, and we believe that
the perpetuity of the Union created by said
constitution and amendments consti-
tutionally and consistently with popu-
lar liberty and the blessings oflocal selfgov-
ernment can be secured only by the
jealous confinement of the Fedral govern
ment in all its departments to the leglti-
mate and economic exercises of the powers
so expressly conferred upon it.
3. That upon this principle we oppose
any tariff or duty for other purposes than
revenue, only. We oppose the collection,
and distribution by the Federal
government of any money in aid
of the educational system of the
several States or any of them, or in the way
of advancement, or loan to any citizen or
class upon any sort of security, whether
government or commercial bonds, for farm
or other products. We oppose the election
law recently passed by the Republican
house of representatives, and condemn ali
the recent encroachments by the Federal
judiciary upon the power of the States.
4. That in a free representative govern
ment there is no room for life tenure of
any office, and of such tenure is born ar
bitrary and irresponsible power. Therefore
we favor an amendment to the Federal
constitution limiting the tenure of Federal
offices to responsible term Of years.
B. That we are opposed to the continu-
ance OF the national banking system and
demand the abolishment thereof as soon as
by law the same can be done. We demand
the passage of all necessary laws prevent
ing the creation of trusts and providing for
the dissolution of those now in existence.
We are in favor of the free and unlimited
coinage OF silver, and endorse the ac-
ton of our senators and representa-
tives. Therefore, we oppose paternal SIN
in all its forms and acting upon this princi-
pie we oppose the ownership By the gov
ernment of the railways aud telegraph lines
of the State as destructive to the rights and
liberties of the people and tending TO the
establishment of despotic government.
e. We believe it is the right and duty of
the State to regulate and control the public
highways within her limits and that
effective regulation is impracticable
without the agency of a rail-
way commission. Therefore we iavol
and will support the amendment to
Art l. Sec. 2 of the present constitution
relating to railroads submitted TO a vote OF
the people by the legislature, and we de-
mand and pledge the enactment of law
creating commission clothed with any
power necessary to prevent abuses and dis
elimination, and to make, establish and
maintain reasonable rates of railway
charges for the transportation of passen
gers and freight having original departure
and destination within the limits of the
State. We demand that the constitutional
provision that declares monopolies
contrary to the genius of free gov
ernment be respected and obeyed
in all particulars andI especially by the
enactment of law that will prohibit the
further operations of land corporations and
requiring those now holding the possession
or title of lands to dispose of the same
within such reasonable time as will not
impair vested rights and that the policy of
selling the public lands to actaal settlers
only be strictly enforced.
8. We demand that as general diffusion
OF knowledge is essential to the promotion
of the liberties and rights of the
people, the constitutional provision
requiring the public free schools to be
maintained and supported for period of
not less than six months of each year shall
be faithfully carried out, and that the
University, its brances and the other public
educational institutions be properly en-
dowed and maintained.
g. We.demand that suitable provisions be
made by the State for home for the dis
abled Confederate soldiers where their
reasonable wants may be supplied and their
miseries all alleviated without humiliation
to them as objects of charity.
10. We favor separate coaches for white
and black passengers on the railways of
this State, and demand that our legislature
pass law which shall compel railways to
furnish the same.
Second Days Proceedings.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, Aug. BIT was
about 9:30 when Chairman Hutcheson
called the convention to order this morn
ing. Mr.. 7. J Brown, chairman of the