The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-25
THEIOWA DEMOCRATS
Girding on the Armor for
Battle at the Polls.
IT IS A PIVOTAL STATE NOW.
Governor Boies Renominated - The
Platform Denounces Prohibition
and the Tariff.

OTTUxwA, Ia, June 24-The Democratic state
convention assembled here this morning at 10
o'clock. Chairman Fuller called the convention
TO order. The coming campaign is decisive,
because il is conceded by both political parties
that as Iowa goes in the next cleo ton Will IL
probably go in the presidential election OF 1892.
Should the Democrats carry the day and re-elect
Governor Boies, the claim of Iowa as pivotal
state in the great national campaign OF next
year will be too well established to be disputed,
and the voice of the Hawkeye state will conse-
quently be power in the coming national con-
yentons
Walter r. Butler, temporary chairman, made
an eloquent address in which he eulogized Gov
ernor Boies. He said that the work of the DEM
ocratic party in Iowa will not be fully done
until the prohibition farce had been swept from
the code
The members of the new state central COM
mittee were then announced, and the conyen-
ton took recess until 1:90 p. m. Immediately
after adjournment the committee on resolutions
met TO prepare platform. Great progress was
made, and except upon two or three disputed
questions the platform was substantially agreed
upon before TIE afternoon meeting 1t leads
Off by indorsing Governor Boies and his admin
istration. The anti prohibition plank of the plat
form of 1890 is reafirmed, and the party pledged
to the legislative enactment of the Australian
ballot or ballot reform system. The Mckinley
tariff law is denounced and the principle OF
tariff tor revenue only re-endorsed. State ana
national control OF railroads is recommended,
and liberal pensions for disabled ex-Union SOL
ders are favored. The Worlds fair OF 1898 comes
in for plank, and an ample and liberal appro-
priation is recommended. Upon the silver
question there was long dispute, but the COM
mittee finally decided not to recede from the plat
form of year ago and merely favor the free
coinage OF silver upon just ratio, making IL
full legal tender for all debts, public and pr1-
vate.
Immediately after the meeting of the conven-
ton in the afternoon, w. H. PuZy, OF Council
Bluffs, was selected as permanent chairman.
He made speech and the formal reports OF the
committees were received and adopted, and the
nomination of state officers declared in order.
Colonel Clark, of Cedar Rapids, nominated
Boies for a second gubernatorial term. His
speech was an eloquent one and was loudly
cheered throughout. The convention then by
reclamation declared Boies the nominee. There
was the widest excitement and enthusiasm for
the time. Other nominations were: For lieu
tenant governor, L. Bestow; supreme judge, l..
G. Kline; superintendent of public instruction,
J. B. Knoepler; railroad commissioner, Peter A.
Day.
The platform as finally presented contained
the silver clause OF last year, and was unan1-
mously adopted without discussion. The plat
form demands repeal OF the prohibitory liquor
law, and in the interest OF true temperance
such changes in laws as will insure full and
equal taxation OF every species OF property, after
allowing the present exemptions; favors the
Australian ballot system, and denounces the Re-
publican party "for defeat of this salutary re-
form in the twenty-third general assembly,"
reaffirms adherence to the doctrine of control
and regulation of railroads as now enacted into
law, with such changes as experience may show
to be necessary to protect the people from
evasions of the law; calls for statutes
which provide stringent safeguards in the Or
people from fraudulent concerns, and demands
that when any such artificial creature of the
law is found engaged in harmful practices the
law shall promptly put an end to its existence;
denounces all trusts, pools and combines and IA
yors such action. state and national, will for
felt to the public all franchises especially made
use of by corporations or Others to form trusts in
manufactures, trade or commerce to the injury
and spoliation OF the people, end also to insure
conspiring against the public veal.
the division of the products Of
labor and capital, labor does not receive fair
On behalf of the laboring and producing
masses the platform renews that devotion TO
their interests and rights which has al WAYS been
fundamental doctrine of the Democratic
party, and favors all fair and lawful methods by
which labor may secure laws establis hing free
public employment agencies and adequate COM
pensation. undiminished by any device for the
enrichment of the few at the expense of the
many; condemns the practice OF importing con-
elseWnere,
favors the election of United States senators by
direct vote OF the people, and holds in detesta-
ton the alarming corruption so widespread in
senatorial elections by legislatures
On the silver question the platform saws: ave
reiterate our demand of year ago for free coin
age OF silver and that it be made full legal ten
der for all debts, public and private. and de-
nounce as unjust and dishonest the provision of
the law recently enacted allowing parties to
stipulate against payment in silver and silver
certificates, thus setting up one standard for the
creditor and another for the debtor one for the
poor and another for the rich
The platform favors liberal and equitable pen
sions; denounces the Mckinley bill the motives
OF Its authors and defenders, and the theory I'M
der which it is submitted for the approval of
the American people; insists that every oppres-
sive feature of tariff be repealed to the end that
our merchant marine shall be restored TO the
sea and the markets of the world opened to the
producing classes. The sugar bounty Is not
tariff 1t is spoliation of the treasury for special
classes and interests which are no more entitled
to be aided by the government than farmers in
their hardships and sufferings as the vanguard
of civilization.
The platform denounces the "wasteful and
lavish appropriations" of the last congress; de-
elares unalterable opposition to nonresident
alien ownership of land and OF foreign syndi-
cate ownership of our industries and demands
that all unearned land grants be reclaimed and
held for actual settlers. sympathy is expressed
with the Irish in their struggle for home rule.
Adherence is expressed of Russian persecution
of the Jews, and belief that all civilized
nations should protest A liberal appropriation
for the Iowa exhibit at the Worlds fair Is
recommended.