The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-10-13

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

UNWVVNnllV IuAlIVNWs
1. The Democracy Of Ohio, IN convention
assembled, hereby expresses its hearty
commendation Of the efficient, economi.
col and honest administration of Prcsi-
dent Cleveland.
O. We adhere to the declaration Of the
Democratic party In Its national platform
that protection Is fraud, and while wo
recognize the benefit Of the reduction OF
duties on imports just made by congress,
We favor such further reduction 40 can be
made having in view the revenues neces-
gary to be raised for the support OF the
government, to tho end that the injustice
OF purely protective duties be abolished.
We congratulate the country upon the re-
peal Of the Mckinley tariff and the enact
ment Of tariff law in Its stead, under the
operation Of which trade and business are
revivlng, and the country again becoming
prosperous. The Mckinley tariff. went
into operation less than four years ago,
YET in that short period the country
changed from prosperity to condition of
financial and industrial depression unpar-
alleled in our history as q nation. Under
| its operation the revenues derived from
duties on imports decreased to sum In
sufficient to meet the expenses Of the gov.
ernment, thereby noccssitating the sale OF
| bonds, and a consequent increase of the
interest bearing debt Of the government.
Under 1t more business failures occurred
than ever before In the history Of the
country in the same period Of time While
It was In operation. there were more peo-
pie out Of employment, more labor
etrihes, more bread riots, less employment
Tor labor and lower wages p9td than was
ever before known. Under its operation
4 the produce Of the farmer, especially
wheat and wool, brought the lowest prices
reached since the war. While IL was in
panics, moro business houses bankrupted,
more forced sales, and more distress and
destitution than was ever known in this
country in the same length of time. The
Republican pretense that these results
were caused by the change of administra-
tion is 80 unsupported by facts that de-
nial seems unnecessary; for 1t must not be
overlooked that until within the last 80
days every commodity bought or sold, in
Guiding every bushel Of grain and every
pound of wool in the market, was bought
and sold under the Mckinley tariff, which
was in full operation, doing its perfect
work; and that since its repeal, business
has revived and the market improved,
which is complete answer to the charge
The silver Plank.
8. We dissent from the presidents
views, construction and treatment Of the
silver question and therefore, believe that
silver should Be restored to the position it
occupied as money prior to its demoneti-
yation by the Republican party, and to
lhat end we favor the unlimited free coin.
age of silver at the legal ratio of 18 to
and with equal legal tender power.
I. We denounce the recent Republican
Legislature of Ohio as the most extrava-
CANT, venal and corrupt known to the his
tory Of this state. It adjourned at a time
when some Of its members charged their
fellow members with bribery and when
the people were clamorous for investiga-
tion. II would not suffer investigation,
Tor that meant conviction. Not to investi-
gate was to plead guilty. It chose the
latter alternative. Its appropriation OF
salary for two sessions, while holding but
one, was crime which merits the con-
domination and supreme contempt of every
taxpayer, being salary grab of the worst
character.
g. We denounce the administration Of
Governor Mckinley for being the most ex-
travagant known in the annals of our
Blate, supplemented by shameful, scan-
dalous and immoral conduct of his APP
pointees in the management of their offices,
some of whom are under indictments for
felonies, others dismissed from Office for
offenses too indelicate to name, while 9th
ers yet remain In Office though publicly
charged with grave and immoral conduct
and gross mismanagement of public at
fairs.
The A. r. A. Denouced.
6. The Democratic party has always
been the champion of equal rights and re-
ligious liberty. It has ever been hostile
to political prescription on account of re-
ligious opinion. We therefore denoupce
the American Protective association and
all organizations which make religious be-
lief test of political preferment.
z. We favor liberal pensions to worthy
soldiers, sailors and marines, their widows
and orphans.
8. Realizing the growing danger from
| the use of money In elections, we favor
law, limiting the amount of money to be
expended by candidates; requiring the
. publication after election by all candidates
and campaign committees of sworn item.
lied statements of all money expended,
aud fixing forfeiture Of Office and disfran-
, chisement az the penalty for violating its
provisions.
Q. The system Of giving passes to per.
sons In public Office which has been prao.
ticed by corporations has reached stage
which demands condemnation by the peo-
| plo. We therefore favor such legislation
~ will make IL a misdemeanor for any
person to accept. or for any railroad cor.
: poration or for any Of its officers or agents
any railroad in this state.