Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-10
DEMOCRATS OF pENysYnnAN1A
The Harrisburg Conventional Platform
of yigor--The Republicans Severely
Arrairned,

of yigor--The Republicans Severely
Arraigned.
HARRISBURG, Sept. 3.-Promptly at
1870 o'clock Chairman Kerr of the state
committee called the Democratic con-
yention TO order. At that hour the
Harrisburg Opera House was filled with
a representative gathering OF the Demo-
Gratis Of this state. The representatives
in the convention consists of 461 dele
gates made up Of one representative for
every 900 voters or fraction OF a thou
sand cast for Governor Pattison at the
last election.
The calling of the roll and the making |
of substitutions consumed Az minutes. |
Nearly all of the delegates answered to
their names. Nominations for tempo
.rary chairman were then in order. |
Herman Kritz of Berks nominated 5.
Willis Bland of Reading for the posi- |
ton and he was unanimously chosen.
Mr.. Bland was conducted to the chair
amid applause. In his speech he ex-
pressed his consciousness that the COM
pliment paid by his selection as tenn
porary chairman was paid not to him,
but to the $4,000 Democratic majority OF
old Berks county. Never in the history
Of the party, he said, has a campaign
been begun under more suspicious or
promising conditions.
Upon conclusion Of BANDS address,
committees were appointed on resolu-
tons, credentials and permanent organi-
zation. Congressman William Mulch
| Ter of Northampton, was selected as
| chairman of the committee on resolu-
| tons. The convention then, at IL
o'clock, took a recess until $50.
THE PLATFORM.
The platform starts out with re-
newal of endorsement of the national
Democratic platforms Of 1854 and 1888,
which were approved by majority Of
the American people in the elections OF
those years; renews devotion TO honest
and economical administration Of public
affairs and the reduction of taxation to
the actual necessities of government.
on THE CURRENCY.
We are in favor of sound and stable
currency based on gold and silver,
coined and circulated in such proper
tons as will keep them on parity.
The platform goes on to declare for
tariff revision and reform; liberal, but
just pension laws; well considered labor
legislation.
! THE ISSUE A STATE ONE.
But the election of 1891 in Pennsyl-
vania involves no issue of federal
politics and the platform, recognizing
this, appeals to all honest and patriotic
citizens, irrespective of past party atfili-
atoms, to unite in upholding the honor
of the commonwealth and redeeming
) the fiscal and auditing departments
from official abuse and corruption. II
! then proceeds to arraign and condemn
the Republican legislature for various
J acts of omission and commission; TO de-
} nounee the corrupt and shameless
, domination of Quay; to score the
: Bardsley defalcations and embezzle.
ments, and to pledge the Democracy tc
! wipe out these abuses and punish those
/, guilty of them.
Z Governor Pattison's administration
/ comes in for applause and approval
: general and specific.
BALLOT REFORM.
We sympathize with the just demands
Z of worlSingmen for all such Legislation
a as will protect their interests and To-
! such speedy amendments of the consti
I tuition as will secure TO them free ant
q secret ballot.
: We approve all legislation looking K
an honest registry Of votes, to the ent
= that every qualified voter may be secured
!, in the exercise Of his franchise.
. We approve the largest measure o
"a ballot reform and believe the whole ad
2 vantage of the Australian ballot should
) be secured TO the electors of Pennsyl
vania.
$ The platform declares for the aboli
y ton of the office of mercantile appraise
! and the substitution of something better
\, = Various Republican misdeeds ar
- cited and condemned, and that part
!, is held responsible for the Bardsle
steal of $1,500,000 from the pub
d lie treasury, and more than $4,000
1t Of the State license money. TIL
" auditor is condemned fo
,r conspiring with Bardsley to appoin
6 and retain the corrupt mercantile ar
4 praisers; for specializing in public advel
:. Using; for failure to collect taxes an
;s claims; and the Bardsley plumber come
10 in for another severe scoring. TIL
l. greater part of the platform is devote
" to matters connected with this giganti
re steal.
s. 1t winds up by emphasizing the nee
. of secret ballot and fair registration
land to this end and for these purpose
Il only we favor the assembling OF a COZ
i. stitutional convention"
10 The convention will nominate Robel
v L. Wright of Allentown for audito
81 general and A. l.. Tiiden of Erie Il
es state treasurer.
Entire harmony prevails and tt
n nominations will be by acclamation.
Nv