The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-11-20
ABOUT THAT CONVENTION.
EDS. COLUMBIAN:

to the most remarkable article on the
second page, headed "The Conven-
ton 1t is so full OF inaccuracies and
misstatements that it ought not to be
passed by unnoticed. 1t begins thus !:
"The proposition for a Constitutional
Convention has been showed under by a
large vote, and that, too, in face Of the fact
that both parties were pledged TO its sup.
port
The first part of this statement is
correct. The constitutional conven
ton was ;..snowed under" by a major
ity in the state nearly twice as large as
the entire vote in its favor 1t was
more than a snow storm; it was resu-
lar cyclone The majority against it is
246,775. But this was not ''in the
face Of the fact that both parties were
pledged to its support Neither
Governor Pattison nor the democratic
party ever promised the people that
they would give them an opportunity to
vote upon the proposition to hold
constitutional convention. Governor
Pattison recommended certain amend
ments TO the constitution in a message
to the Legislature, and favored the
passage of bill providing for holding
a convention ac1hOW submitting tie
question 10 a cote Of the people. Had
this recommendation been adopted,
and convention become fixed fact,
the only thing left for the people to do,
would be the selection Of competent
and honest delegates to sit in that con
vention, and there would have been
no difficulty about the whole matter.
But the uncertainty as to whether there
would be convention drove able men
from the field, and in many districts
led to the selection of delegates who
were in no way fitted for this very i'm
portant position. In our own district
there is an instance Of this. The
democratic nominee from Montour
county would never have been thought
of for an instant for the place, if there
had been any certainty of a conven
tion.
The Democratic party did not en-
dorse the proposition. 1t is we'll
known fact that strong efforts were
made at the state convention to intro
duce resolution giving an unqualified
endorsement Of the convention. This
was voted down in committee, and as
compromise, the few words endors-
ing it only TO a limited extent, were
inserted in the resolutions. This was
meaningless, for the law submitting
the question to vote provided for a
convention to make a mem constitu-
ton, with power to change the consti-
tuition from beginning to end.
But it is useless to discuss this ques.
ton. The Overwhelming vote against
the convention shows that the
better judgment of the people pre-
vailed, and to charge it to the lnhu-
ence Of the corporations is the shecrest
nonsense and an insult to the inteli-
gence and integrity Of an overwhelm-
ing majority Of the voters OF this com
monwealth.
The article in question contains the
following:
"Had the democratic leaders of this state
been honest with the party and put in nomi.
nation for Auditor General man whom the
farmers and laborers had confidence, instead
OF corporation lawyer whom the vot ers dis.
trusted, and then declared unqualiieily for a
convention, and fought the battle on those
lines, the democratic flag would be floating
tnct do ,h hr.a L.. r. l..
cd in ignominious defeat"
In the light of all the facts, this is
a most astounding speech for the
.Seatine! to make. Does it forget that
a Democratic county convention was
held in Bloomsburg last August, and
that the owner of the Sentinel, Will.
liam Krickbaum, claimed all the cred
it for the result oil the primary elec
ton Does it forget that he made
himself chairman OF that convention,
and that he ran everything to suit his
own sweet will' Does it forget that
he selected the five delegates to the
state convention and had his county
convention elect them, and that four
oW Of the tioe men Of his selection,
oOtea tor tie nomination of Robert
H. Wright for AuditOr General !?
And yet he has the gall to say that the
Democratic leaders were not honest
with their party in nominating Wright.
Such trash makes one tired it is alb
solutely nauseating. But here is an
other dose of the same kind:
"Quay issued the order that the conven-
lion proposition must b: voted down, and
then at once our party leaders decided to
larry on the campaign on the lines laid down
~ the republican boss. Even the democrat.
press fell under the influence of Quay and
lie corporations and stutihed itself by doing
leir bidding. In our county the Sentine
as the only paper that dared advocate the
,terests of the people, while all the rest took
ler cue from Quay and the corporations.
We are more than pleased with the result in
his county. Although the corporation ring
'fthis county backed by the whole republi.