The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-09-11
CAMPAIGN ISSUES.
THE PLATFORM AS ADOPTED BY THE
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.

The following is the platform adopt
ed by the Democratic State Conven-
ton last week Thursday:
1. We, the representatives Of the
Democracy Of Pennsylvania. in con
vention assembled, renew our pledges
Of devotion to the principles OF our
party in the country at large, as de-
clared in the platform of the national
convention of 1884 and 1888, and ap-
proved in the election of those years
by majority of the American people.
We are. as we have always been, in
favor Of honest and enconomical ad-
ministration of public affairs of limit
ing expenses and reducing taxation to
meet the actual necessities of govern
ment of a sound and stable currency
based on gold and silver, coined and
circulated in such proportions as will
keep them on parity; of a reform
and revision of the tariff; of liberal,
but just, pension laws, and of all we'll.
considered legislation tending to in
crease the rewards and tighten the bur
dens of labor.
2. We realize and affirm that the
state election of 1891 in Pennsylvania
involves no issue of federal politics
We appeal to honest patriotic citizens,
regardless of past party affiliations, to
unite in vindicating the honor Of this
commonwealth and redeeming the fis-
cal and auditing departments of its
government from official abuses and
corrupt practices.
5. We arraign and condemn the
Republican legislature for having re-
fused to enforce the constitution, by
appropriate legislation, for having fail.
ed to pass honest and equitable appor-
tionment bills as required by the con-
stltutlon, for having ignored the de-
mands of labor for relief by law, for
having denied the righteous, popular
demand for such laws as would distri-
butte the burdens OF public taxation
equally upon all classes OF property,
and for having refused to reform long
existing abuses in mercantile appraise-
ment laws, as recommended by the
Democratic executive in 1885.
coNpEMNs THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLA-
TuRE.
a. We arraign and condemn the
republican Legislature for the enact
ment Of vexatous, oppressive and VIC
ious legislation, against which the exc
cutive veto was interposed for the pro-
lection of the people.
S. We arraign and condemn the re-
publican party Of Pennsylvania for
electing men to state and municipal
Offices, by whose neglect of duty,
completely, fraud and plunder of the
public treasury million and half
dollars Of the peoples money have
been stolen and squandered.
6. We arraign and condemn the re-
publican auditor general for having
permitted John Bardsley, the republ-
can treasurer of Philadelphia 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.
7. We arraign and condemn the
Republican auditor general for having
permitted John Bardsley. the Republi-
can treasurer Of Philadelphia city and
county, to embezzle more than $780,
900 of state license moneys collected
by him, which he was permitted to re-
tain for long period after the same
was due and payable.
8. We aIraign and condemn the
Republican auditor general for having
conspired with John Bardsley, the Re
publican treasurer of Philadelphia
city and couny, 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 thous-
ands of dollars of needless costs, and
we demand the dismissal of the mer-
camille appraisers of Philadelphia.
9. We arraign and condemn the
Republican auditor general for having
conspired with JohI Bardsley, the Re
publican treasurer Of Philadelphia city
and country, to speculate in public ad-
vertising, and for having received from
the publishers OF the same bribes to
influence their official conduct in plac-
ing such advertisements.
STATE OFFICIALS ARRAIGNED.
10. We arraign and condemn the
Republican auditor general for having
failed to promptly collect the taxes and
claims of the commonwealth against
delinquent and defaulting public and
private corporations.
II. We araign and condemn the
Republican state treasurer for wilfully
and knowingly permitting John Bards-
ley to retain in his possession over a
million dollars of money collected for
Il