Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-03

the street, though they live in Q hovel
and are clad in poverty and in rags, than l
| would SO lift it to any member Of the family Of
any purse-proud millionaire whose only
title to distinction in this land would
| be that he is the owner Of much gold
| and silver and many houses and land and stocks
| and bonds, which he had wrung unjustly out of
| the sweat and blood of the faces and out of the
| broken hearts and dying bodies of the
honest, toiling masses Of the land. Yes, 1 like
/ to see our old soldiers carry themselves proudly
| and because of this dislike to see them becom-
| ing suppliants at the shrine of official
power. to be made the play thing Of an honr by
| scheming and designing politicians. Pursuing
this thought little further, must confess that
have yet to learn that military training in
the aristocratic school at West Point or else
| where is in line with a proper understanding
| and appreciation of the peculiar and compli-
| Gated duties which belong to the chief account
| ing department Of the state. The principal
| nominees OF this convention today may not be
men with military records to blaze forth in the
eyes OF the people, for the purpose Of binding
them to the grave issues which confront .hem,
but they will be, trust, men to which every
good citizen of the state may turn for relief
from the dangers of the most appalling kind.
l might very properly refer to another
matter which shall be for your consideration
today, and that is the question of the indorse-
mont OF a constitutional convention. trust
that whatever action you may take on this
most important question will be OF a
decided character and that you will not treat it
in the light, evasive and deceitful manner
which characterized the utterances of those
who assembled here in q like capacity within
two weeks ago.
The committee on credentials reported that
there were contests in only two counties-Car-
bon and Lackawanna. In both contests the
sitting delegates we're recognized
Congressman Mitchell chairman of the COM
mitsee on resolutions then reported as follows
THy pJATFopN
]. We, the representatives of the democracy
Of Pennsylvania in convention assembled, re-
new our pledges of devotion to the principles
of our party in the country at large declared
in the platforms of the national conventions OF
1884 and 1883 and approved in the election of
those years bya majority Of the American
people. We are, rs we have always been, in
favor Of honest and economical administration
of public affairs, of limiting expenses and re-
ducing taxation to meet the actual necessities
of government. of q sound and stable currency
based on gold and silver coined and circulated
| i'll such proportions as will keep them on q
parity, Of reform and revision of the tariff, of
liberal but just pension laws and of all we'll
considered legislation tending to increase the
rewards and tighten the burdens of labor.
2. We realize and affirm that the state cleo
ton of 1891 in Pennsylvania involves no issue of
federal politics. We appeal to honest and patri-
otto citizens, regardless of past party affiliations,
TO unite in indicating the honor of this common
wealth and reGeeming the fiscal and auditing
departments of its government from official
| abuses and corrupt practices.
8. We arraign and condemn the republican
legislature for having refused to enforce the
constitution by appropriate legislation; for hav
ing failed to pass honest and equitable appor-
tioument bills. as required by the constitution;
for having ignored the demands of labor for re-
lief by law; for having denied the righteous
popular demand for such laws as would dis
tribute the burdens of public taxation equally
upon all classes OF property and for having re-
| fused to reform long-exlstlng abuses in the
mercantile appraisement laws as recommended
by the democratic executive in 1885.
4. We arraign and condemn the republican
legislature for the enactment of vexatious, op-
pressive and vicious legislation, against which
| the executive veto was interposed for the pro-
| lection of the people.
5. We arraign and condemn the republican
party of Pennsylvania for electing men to state
and municipal offices by whose neglect of duty
completely in fraud and plumber of the public
treasury million and half dollars of the peo-
pies money have been stolen and squandered
6. We arraign and condemn the republican
auditor general for having permitted John
Bardsley, the republican treasurer of Philadel-
phia city and county, to embezzle a half
million dollars Of state tax collected by him,
| which he was permitted to retain for a long
period after the same was due and PAYABLE.
z. We arraign and condemn the republican
auditor general for having permitted John
Bardsey, the republican treasurer of PhiIadel-
phia city and county, to embezzle more than
$3.50, 600 of state license moneys collected by
him, which he was permitted to retain for q
long period after the same was due and pay
able.
8. We arraign and condemn the republican
auditor general for having conspired with
John Bardsley, the republican treasurer of
Philadelphia city and county, to appoint and
retain corrupt mercantile appraisers, who
n 20
pecuniary advantage, robbed the state Of its
Just revenues and imposed upon the common
| wealth hundreds Of thousands Of dollars Of
| needless costs, and We demand the dismissal of
| the mercantile appraisers Of Philadelphia.
8. We arraign and condemn the republican
| auditor general for having conspired with John
| Bardsley, the republican treasurer Of Philadel-
| phia city and county, to speculate in public
| advertising and for having received from the
publishers of the same brides to influence their
official conduct in placing such advertisements
10. We arraign and condemn the republican
auditor general for having failed to promptly
collect the taxes and claims OF the common
wealth against delinquent and defaulting pub
lie and private corporations.
IL. We arraign and condemn the republican
state treasurer for willfully and knowingly per-
hitting John Bardsley to retain in his possess
| sion over million dollars OF money collected
| for and owing to the commonwealth Of Penn
sylvania, by reason Of which dereliction large
pOrtOu VI tue mOuey has Deeu LOST TO the
| people.
We arraign and condemn the republican
state treasurer for having conspired with John
Bardsley. the republican treasurer of Phila-
! delphia to secure to him the payment Of 1920
| 900 of the public school funds long in advance
| Of the usual time, and when Bardsley was
already known to the state treasurer to be a
| defauter Tor over half million dollars, which
| sum thus improvidently paid to Bardsley was
| by him enbezzled, to the loss of Philadelphia
! city and the shame and scandal of the state.
| 10. We arraign and condemn the republican
state treasurer and the republican auditor
general for having conspired to pay to John
Bardsley, the republican treasurer Of Philadel-
! phia city and county, on December 80, 1890
ESQ. 600 out of the state treasury ostensibly on
account of Philadelphia countys share Of the
| personal property tax, but actually before that
| tax had been paid into the state treasury and
when John Bardsley was already defaulter
and embezzler on account to the amount of
| S622. obj.
| IA. We arraign and condemn the republican
party Of Pennsylvania for having fostered en-
| couraged. protected and continued o reckless
| system of official speculation with public mon
| eys, whereby state and city treasurers have
| enriched themselves corrupted the public
morals and robbed the taxpayers. The prac-
tice of using public funds for private gain or
| political advantage is to be condemned and
should be completely and thoroughly eradi-
| Gated.
Is. We arraign and condemn the republican
| state convention recently assembled for its
| conformation and defense Of faithless republican
state officials guilty of these derelictions, some