The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-05-27

I tools of the sordid despotism of
wealth; to protect the people against
the brood of monopolies, trusts and
combines which have grown up uu-
der vicious laws badly administered;
to provide for the election of sena-
tors and Of all high government
officials by the people SO as to re-
duce the dangers of Federal pa
tronage in the hands of unscrupulous
presidents; to restore government of
the people, by the people and for
the people, We demand the calling
of a constitutional convention to form
an organic law suitable to the changed
conditions and the growth of the
country.
4. We demand more economical
administration of our national affairs
and that taxes shall be levied so as
to bear equally on all sections and all
classes. Labor should be lightly bur-
dened and by graduated income
tax wealth be made to pay for its
own protection.
5. A sound and just system of
finance is the most potent factor in a
nations prosperity and We demand
the restoration Of the money Of the
constitution by giving silver the came
rights and privileges now given to
| gold. We demand the full and un-
limited coinage of silver at ratio cf
16 to l regardless of the action of
any and all other nations and that
such coinage be legal tender for all
debts, public and private. Congress
alone has the power to coin and issue
money and President Jackson de-
clared that this power could not be
delegated to a corporation, therefore,
we demand the national banking
system be abolished.
6. The absorption Of wealth by
few, the consolidation of our leading
railroad systems, and the formation
Of trusts an pools require a stricter
control by the Federal government
of those arteries of commerce, there
fore We demand the enlargement of
the powers of the interstate COM
merce commission under constitu-
tional instructions and guarantees
which will protect the people from
robbery and oppression.
John S. Reynolds and J. w. Fergu-
son submitted a minority report
pledging the Democracy of this State
to abide the decision of the Chicago
convention, and demanding the re-
peal of the 10 per cent. tax on the
issue of State banks, etc. It also
provides that section 5 of the platform
be stricken out. Upon motion, the
minority report was promptly laid on
the table.
Then came the expected tilt be-
tween Tillman and Irby. Irby made
good speech and SO did Tillman;
but the sympathy of the convention
'-i=ss va overwhelmingly with Tillman,
and Irby was nnceremoneously rele-
gated to the rear.
There we're several more speecn1SS,,
and finally a vote was taken on the
question of adopting Irby's resolu-
tion, The resolution was defeated 253
to 67.
Delegates at large were elected as
follows: B. R. Tillman, w. H. Eller-
be, j. G. Evans, D. J. Braham. AL
ternates: C. NJ. Efrd, w. H. Maui
din, w. O. Tstum, J. C. Wilborn.
District delegates were then elected
as follows:
First-M. R. Cooper, of Colleton,
and Thomas Martin of Beaufort.
Alternates: J. D. Bivens, of Colleton
and Thomas Talbird, of Beaufort.
Second-M. B. McSweeney, of
Hamilton. and B: L.. Caughman, of
Saluda. Alternates: W. s. Bamberg,
of Barnwell, and j. II. Edwards, of
Saluda.
Third-I. H. Nc Gala, of Abbeville,
and J. B. Watson, of Anderson.
Alternates: J. T. Duncan, of New
berry, and: E. P. Earle, of Oconee.
Fourth G. Walling, Of Fairfield,
and J. D. M. Shaw, of Laurens.
Alternates: J. H. Latimer, of Green
vile, and J. c. Otis, of Union.
Fifth-W. F. Strait, of York, and
T. Y. Williams, of Lancaster. Alter
mates: T. J. Cunningham, of Chester,
and W. P. Pollock, of Chesterfield.
Sixth-W. D. Evans, of Marlboro,
and A. H. Williams, OF Williamsburg.
Alternates: G. P. Scarborough, of
Darlington and D. H. Traxler, of
Florence.
Seventh-O. r. Lowman, of
Orangeburg, and H. T. Abbott, of
C,,,,4.. +" nrohor