Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-09-04

and half dollars Of the peoples money
have been stolen and squandered.
Sixth-We arraign and condemn the Re-
publican Auditor General for having per-
mitted John Bardsley, the Republican
Treasurer of Philadelphia city and county
to embezzle half million dollars of State
tax collected by him, by which he was per-
mitted to retain for long period after the
same was due and payable.
Seventh-We arraign and condemn the
Republican Auditor General for having
permitted John Bardsley, the Republican
Treasurer Of Philadelphia city and county
to embezzle more than three hundred and
sixty thousand dollars Of State license
moneys collected by him which he was per-
mitted to retain for long period after the
same was due and payable.
Eighth-We srraign and condemn the
Republican Auditor General for having
cOnspired with John Bardsley, the Repub
lican Treasurer Of Philadelphia city and
county, to appoint and retain corrupt mer-
camille appraisers, who abused their office
for their own private pecuniary advantage.
robbed the State of It's Just revenues and
imposed upon the commonwealth hundreds
of thousands of dollars OF needless costs,
and we demand the dismissal Of the mer-
camille appraisers 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,
to speculate in public advertising, and for
having received from the publishers of the
same bri6es to influence their official con-
duct in placing such advertisement
Tenth-We arraign and condemn the
Republican Auditor General for having
failed TO collect the taxes and claims OF the
commonwealth against delinquent ana de-
faulting public and private corporations.
Eleventh We arraign and condemn the
Republican State Treasurer for willfully
and knowingly permitting John Bardsiey
10 retain in his possession over million DOL
lars Of money collected for and owing 70
the Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania, oy
reason OF which derelection large portion
of the money has been lost to the people.
Twelye-We arraign and condemn the
Republican State Treasurer for having
conspired with John Bardsley, the Repuo-
/ lican Treasurer of Philadelphia, to secure
| the payment of S425, 900 of thepublic school
/ funds long in advance OF the usual time, ana
when Bardsley was already known to the
! State Treasurer to be q defaulter Tor over
J a half million dollars, which sum thus i'm
nrovidentlv paid TO Bardsley was by him
/ embezzled 10 the loss of Philadelphia City
I and the shame and scandal of the State.
| Thirteen-We arraign and condemn the
| Republican State Treasurer and the he
nnblican Auditor General for having con-
/ spired 70 paw John Bardsley, the Repu0n-
can Treasurer of Philadelphia, city and
/ county, on December 80, 1870, one hundreo
/ and fifty thousand dollars out OF the state
/ Treasury, ostersibly on account OF Phlla-
/ delphia county's share of the personal
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 10 the
amount of $622.0l3u.
mFourteenth-We arraign and condemn
| the Republican party of Pennsylvania 1or
having fostered, encouraged, protected
! and continued reckless system OF oulcial
| sDeculation with public moneys, WHEREBY
| State and city treasurers have enriched
themselves corrupted the public morals
| opd rohhed tho taY PAYERS. The nracLlce
political advantage is to be condemned and
should De completely and thoroughly eraol-
Gated
Fifteenth-We arraign and condemn the
Republican State convention, recently as
sembled, for its condonatiOn and defense Of
faithless Republican State officials, guilty
Of these derelections, some Of whom sat in
its councils, influenced its action and dictat-
ed and controlled its utterances.
Sixteenth-We pledge the candidates this
day nominated TO correct these abuses, to
reform these practices, and opunish those
guilty of them, and we pledge our support
10 the State administration in all its efforts
TO accomplish these ends.
Seventeenth-We denounce the corrupt
and shameless domination of Senator Mat
| thew y. QUAY in the politics of State and
arraign and condemn the Republican party
! for its servlle acquiesence in the leader
| shin of man who has utterly failed to de-
/ fend himself from grave charges against
his official conduct and political record.
Eiphteenth-We heartily endorse the
wise, stateSmanlike and patriotic admins
/ tratiOn of Governor Pattison; we applaud
| and approve his fearless vetoes OF partisan,
vicious and lll-considered legislation, his
recommendation OF salutary laws, his rig
/ orous investigation and wholesome correc-
| ton of public abuses, and his determine
/ tiOn to enforce the constitution, punish
offenders and secure public reform.
Nineteenth-We sympathize with the
inst demands OF wOrkingmen for all such
| legislation as will protect their interests,
and for such speedy amendment OF the
| constitution as will secure them free and
secret ballot
Twenty-Five oppose the repeal Of mer-
camille taxes, and insist that they shall be
/ fairly and equitably laid, honestly collected
and that the money arising from them
shall be paid into the State Treasury and
not stolen by its agents. We favor the re-
peal of such provisions as law as require
/ advertisements of these taxes and the IN
curing cost Of collection where there can
be no recovery. We favor the abolition OF
the Office Of Mercantile Appraisers and the
substitution of some certain, economical
and expeditious method OF assessing and
collecting these taxes.
Twentv.one-W approve all legislation
looking TO an honest registry of voters to
the end that every qualified voter may be
secured the exercise of his franchise and
that the lists may be purged OF all names
not rightly thereon.
Twenty-two-We believe that the right
of free, honest and secret ballot is the right
preservative of all political rights. Weap-
prove the largest measure OF ballot reform,
and believe the whole advantages OF the
Australian ballot system should be secured
to the electors sofPennsylvania. The ballot
bill enacted by the last General Assembly
was a step in the right direction, but IT
needs 70 be supplemented by measures TO
protect the secrecy of the ballot and TO Sc
cure reform in registration. To this end
and for this purpose only we favor the as
semblug of a constitutional convention
Each plank Of the platform was
cheered as il was read and its adoption
was unanimous.
The nomination of candidates for
Auditor General and State Treasurer
was next begun. Hon. Walter E. Ritter,
Of Lycoming, presented the name OF
Robert E. Wright, of Allentown. The
nomination was seconded by Frank
Fitzsimmons, Of Lackawana. George
Tile. of Lancaster, nominated James u.
McSharran, of Lancaster. d. c. Dewitt,
of Bradford, seconded the nomination.