Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-04
DEVOTED TO STATE ISSUES.
Full Text of the Democratic Platform
Adopted Yesterday-Bardsley and His
Associates the Rain Objects of Attack

Not Much About Tariff on Silver.
HARRISBURG, Sept. 3.-The platforI
adopted by the Democratic Convention Il
day is as follows:
First-We, the representatives of the Den
ocracy of Pennsylvania, in convention a.
sembled, renew our pledges Of devotion 3
the principles of our party in the country 9
large, as declared in the platforms Of th
National Conventions of 1854 and 1885, an
approved in the elections of those years by
majority of the American people. We arr
as we have always been, in favor of homes
and economical administration of publ
affairs; of limiting expenses and reducin
taxation to meet the actual necessities @
Governments; of q sound and stable cul
rency based on gold and silver coined an
| circulated in such proportions as will kee
them on a parity; of q reform and revision
of the tariff: Of liberal but just pension laws
and of all well-considered legislation tend
ing to increase the rewards and tighten tn
| burdens of labor,
second-We realize and affirm that tn
| state election of 1891 in Pennsylvania in
wolves no issue of Federal politics; we ap
peal to honest and patriotic citizens, regard
less Of past party affiliations, to unite in win
dlcatlnS the honor of this Commonwealth
partments Of It's suu soVernment Vs a from offioia
| ABUSES and corrupt practices.
The Legislature Condemned.
-Third-We arraign and condemn the Re
publican Legislature for having refused tt
enforce the Constitution by appropriat,
legislation; for having failed to pass homes
and equitable apportionment bills as re
| quired by the Constitution; for having ig
| nored the demands of labor for relief By
| law; for having denied the righteous popu
| lar demand for such laws as would distrib
ute the burden of public taxation equally
rNfr nd W iT,v
refused to reform long existing abuses in
the mercantile appraisement laws as rec.
commended by the Democratic Executive OF
1886
Fourth-wc arraign and condemn the Re-
publican Legislature for the enactment of
vexatious, oppressive and vicious legisla-
tlon, against which the Executive veto was
lnterpossd for the protection of the people.
Fifth-We arraign and condemn the Re
publican party of Pennsylvania for electing
men to State and municipal offices, by whose
neglect OF duty, completely in fraud and
plunder of the public treasury million and
q half dollars Of the peoples money have
been stolen and squandered
S1Xth-We arraign and condemn the Re-
mitted John Bardsley, the Republican Treas
urer OF Phila adelphia city and county, to en-
Dezzle 500, 900 of State tax collected by him,
which he was permitted to retain for long
period after the same was due and payable.
Seyenth-We arraign and condemn the Re-
publican Auditor General for having per-
mitted John Bardsley, the Republican
treasurer of Philadelphia City ana county,
cense moneys collected by him. which he
was permitted to retain for q long period
after the same was due and payable.
A Charge of Conspiracy.
-Eighth-We arraign and condemn the
Republican Auditor General for having con-
spired with John Bardsley, the Republican
Treasurer of Philadelphia City and county,
to appoint and retain corrupt mercantile
appraisers, who abused their Office for their
own private pecuniary advantage. robbed
the State of its just revenues, and imposed
upon the Commonwealth hundreds OF thou
sands Of dollars of needless costs, and we
demand the dismissal of the mercantile ap-
praisers Of Philadelphia.
Ninth. We arraign and condemn the Re-
publican Auditor General for having con-
spired with John Bardsley, the Republican
Treasurer of Philadelphia City and county,
having received, from the publishers of the
same, bribes to influence their official con-
dnot in placing such advertisements.
Tenth-We arraign and condemn the Re,
to promptly collect the taxes and claims of
the Commonwealth against delinquent and
defaulting public and private corporations
Eieyenth-We arraign and condemn the
Republican State Treasurer for wilfuIly and
knowingly permitting John BaSdsley to re-
tain in his possession over s., 900, 600 OF money
collected for and owing to the Common
wealth of Pennsylvania, by reason of which
derelection large portion of the money has
been lost to the people.
Twelfth-We arraign and condemn the Re-
publican State Treasurer for having con-
spired with John Bardsley, the Republican
Treasurer of Philadelphia, to secure to him
the payment of $425, 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 defaulter for over
$50, 600, which sum thus improvidently paid
to Bardsley was by him embezzled, to the
loss of Philadelphia City and the shame and
scandal of the State.
Playing This String Strongly.
-Thirteenth-Wea arraign and condemn the
State Treasurer and the Repub-
lican Auditor General for having conspired
to pay to John Bardsley, the Republican
Treasurer of Philadelphia City and County,
on December 80. 1889, sl5OOOO out Of the State
Treasury. ostensibly on account of the per-
sonal property tax; but actually before that
tax had been paid into the State Treasury,
and when John Bardsley was already de-
faulter and embezzler on account to the
amount of s622,0l3 II.
Fourteenth-We arraign and condemn the
party of Pennsylvania for hav-
ing fostered, encouraged, protected and con-
timed q reckless system of Official specula-
tion with public moneys; whereby State and
corrupted the public morals and robbed the
tax payers. The practice of using public
funds for private gain or political advantage
Is to be condemned, and should be COM
pletely and thoroughly eradicated.
Fifteenth-We arraign and condemn the
State Convention recently as
sembled for its condonation and defense of
faithless Republican State officials, guilty of
these derelictions, some of whom sat in it's |
influenced its actions and dictated |
and controlled its utterances.
Sixteenth-We pledge the candidates this |
nominated kioot
and give such information to the Law De-
partment of the Commonwealth as will aid |
in bringing to punishment those guilty OF |
in office, and we pledge our |
support to the State administration in all its |
Efforts to accomplish these ends.
Seventeenth-We denounce the corrupt |
S. Quay in the politics of the State, !
Ind arraign and condemn the Republican |
party for its servile acquiescence in the |
leadership of man who has utterly failed |
% defend himself from grave charges against |
lis official conduct and political record.
The Pattison Plank.
-Eighteenth-We heartily indorse the |
vise statesmaanlike and patriotic admins |
ration of Governor Pattison; we applaud |
md approve his fearless vetoes of partisan.
,icious and ill-considered legislation, his
of salutary laws, his rigor-
'us investigation and wholesome correction |
# pnblic abuses, and his determination to
nforce the Constitution, punish offenders
md secure public reform.
Ninetee nth-We sympathize with the lust
demands of workingmen for all such Iegis-
alton as will protect their interests and for
uch speedy amendment to the Oonstitu-
ion as will secure to them free and secret
,allot.
Twentieth-We oppose the repeal of mer-
,antile taxes, and insist that they shall be
airly and equitably laid, honestly collected,
nd that the money arising from them shall
raoid inf ha "a Trao |
tolen by its agents. We favor the repeal of
uch provisions of law as require advertise
nent of these taxes and the incurring of
ost of collection where there can be no re-
oYary We faYor the abolition of the office