The San Francisco call., 1896-05-13
the tariff issue had been forced upon the

tariff; that was the issue between the
Democratic and Republican parties. All
we propose to do is to stand where they
stand; that tariff is necessary to sustain
the Government; but we shall leave the
question of high or low to them"
The father OF the resolution then again
took up the defense of the plank. He as
serted that 1t was primarily intended as a
device to get the tariff out of the way
without trouble and discussion. SO as to
better bring the great and, as he termed
1t, the prime question of finance before
the people.
THE point" he exclaimed, "is how
shall we best put ourselves in a position to
make this financial question the para
mount one and where we shall not be
bothered with it at ali. No one doubts
that the financial question is the sole is
sue and that the tariff is simply a fraud
ana blind to thwart the efforts of the
Popuhsts.''
Mr.: Murphy moved that the clause re-
ferring TO the tariff tribunal be stricken
out. On rollcall the motion was lost by
vote of ayes to ID noes.
The resolution was then adopted and
this action was greeted with enthusiastic
applause.
Judge Dillon took the floor and stated
he had plank to offer, the first on State
matters, which he hoped would not be
hoodooed because it was in his hands.
He then read the following on woman
suffrage:
''We demand the enfranchisement OF
women upon the same terms now enjoyed
By men, and to that end pledge our votes
and most earnest efforts to procure the
adoption by the people of this State at the
next general election OF the eleventh
amendment to the constitution
This was promptly adopted.
Gator was to the front again with the
following economic and drastic measure:
1--WE demand that salaries of public Off
~ n OF
high as in times of prosperity, shall be re-
ouced in the proportion that prices of
products and property have fallen We
promise TO conduct the government of this
State efficiently upon a tax of so cents
upon the 500, and we condemn both Re-
publican and Democratic administrations
in this State for having broken their plat
form pledges in this respect and for an ex-
travagance whereby almost as much
money is levied 10 carry on the affairs of
this State as is levied to conduct the State
government of New York"
Judge Dillon suggested that the resolu-
tion include demand that county offices
be consolidated wherever practicable. The
suggestion was accepted by Mr.. Gator, and
the resolution as amended was adopted.
n. J. Manson declared it was time to get
at the Supreme Court of the United States
and then offered the following revolution
ary resolution:
WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson held the view
lndl Ile NnOle people alone were the sole de-
positors OF the ultimate powers of society and
that with the corruptions OF time and party a
non-elective and hfe-tenure judiciary, with
power TO declare void the laws of the people
must inevitably resultin despotism; therefore,
be it
Resolged That an amendment to be known
as amendment 16 (XVD, be added to the con-
stitution OF the United States, which shall
plainly declare that neither the judiciary of
the United states nor any State shall have the
power to declare any law of Congress to be un-
constitutional and void, but such law shall be
subject only to the challenge and veto of the
whole people in accordance with the refer
endum or referring to the peoples principle.
Gator seconded the resolution in an elo-
quent address, declaring that the poor
man had to accept the Justice of the
Peace as his final arbiter, while the pluto
crat in order to knock out the income tax
could evade the will OF the people by ap-
peaing to the few Justices of the Supreme
Court of the United States.
Dryden compared the Supreme Court to
the Parliament OF Louis XVI, which made
such laws as the King desired and then
enforced them. 1t was this, he asserted,
that brought on the reign OF terror. In
concluding he said:
''It is time, when II is known that man
gave $50, 900 to the campaign fund with the
understanding that he was TO go upon the
Supreme bench, for US to have a change in
the manner OF selecting the Justices of the
Supreme Court OF the United States.''
Judge Dillon pleaded for respect to the
courts OF the country.
Waterhouse of Fresno declared he would
render respect to the courts as they de-
served, and not one whit more. He re-
ferred to what he denounced as the trial of
Eugene V. Debs by injunction, the annul-
ling of the income tax and the action of
the Supreme Court in recently reversing
its own decision, and added:
i want now to enter our protest against
the court which attempts to do away with
Congress and makes that Congress moth
ing more than delusion, snare and
fraud upon the people,.
Mr.. Welch introduced the following as q
substitute;
we view with apprehension the en-
croachments of the Federal judiciary upon
the liberties of the people as evidenced by
the decisions in the recent contempt and
income-tax cases, and are in favor of an
amendment to the National constitution
prohibiting that tribunal or any other
court from annulling any congressional
act"
Further discussion resulted in the
adoption of the WEIGH substitute.
b. 6. Haskell introduced the following:
Resolued, That we condemn the dishonest
action OF such Assessors in this State as habitu-
ally and corruptly underestimate the values
of the banks, corporations and wealthy classes
OF the comm onwealth.
ReSoLged, That we pledge the Peoples party
10 nominate Assessors who Will obey the law,
observe their oaths and assess such properties
In the manner required by the constitution.
We furthermore protest against the collec-
ton OF the poor mans taxes on personal prop
erty in this State by force, levy and sale with
out process OF court; and we pledge ourselves
to repeal the iniquitous statute that permits it,
at the next meeting OF the Legislature.
This was adopted and Mr.. Gator then
presented the following:
We favor good roads. The Peoples party is
pre-eminently the party of public improve
ments, and were its financial demands in
operation all roads would be made good,
The following additional resolutions
were adopted:
We favor the support of the free public
school system and oppose public moneys being
used for any sectarian school.
Resolved That we favor q union of reform
forces at ST. Louis on July D. provided that il
can be benetcially effected without the sacri-
fee OF the principles OF the Peoples party; we
oppose any proceedings by which the Peoples
party convention shall sit with or join any
other convention or admit any but the dele