Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-08-21

the Peoples Convention entered the
hall and was escorted to the platform
Mays, their spokesman, announced
that he had been delegated to an
nounce that the Peoples Convention
would wait one hour to receive any
proposition that the Democrats might
desire to make. He was followed by
t. J. Miller, another of the committee
who spoke strongly in favor Of union
After the committee had withdrawn
Mr.. Warner moved as a substitute fol
the White resolution, that the matter
be resubmitted to the Conference Com
mittee without instructions. The sub.
stitute was adopted.
The Convention took recess until
one o'clock. AT the afternoon session
Mr.. Fenton, from the Platform Com
mittee, submitted the following resolu'
tons, which were adopted unanimous
ly. The platform is as follows:
Section I. The representatives of the Demo
cratic party of the state Of Washington, in con
vention assembled do hereby reaffrm our al
legiance TO the principles of the party a. formu
lated by Thomas jefferson and firmly main
tanned by Andrew Jackson. We believe that .
constant recurrence to those Fundamental
principles of free and popular government
based upon individual liberty and the consent
| of the governed. is necessary. especially when
the control of this government threatens to fal
| into the hands OF aristocracy, monopoly anC
| depotism.
Sec. . We greet with hearty approval the
new declaration of independence enunciated by
| the Democracy of the United states of Amerlcs
at the recent convention in Chicago; indorst
every principle of its platform, and pledge our
united support to the candidates there selected
Of liar
| Jennings Bryan and Arthur Sewall an inspra
ton from the Supreme Ruler of Nations, by
whose favor our country has passed through
every hour of trial and of peril and has eyel
found leaders equal to the occasion, grand al
the opportunity, sufficient to the struggle, great
as the greater need required.
| See. g. We demand the free and unlimited
coinage OF silver and gold at the ratio of I6 to
without waiting for the consent of any Other
nation on earth. We denounce the pretense Of
| Republican international bimetallism as
subterfuge; an attempt to establish 4 gold
aristocracy with the aid of those who may b,
duped by meaningless phrase.
| Sec. 4. We denOunce the present Republican
administration of our state as extrayagant
corrupt, scandal breeding and willful abuse OF
| the peoples rights. With pretense of honor
! ing the memory of the great names Of champions
| Of the people, it now bows down to political
bosses and has not enrolled upon its banner the
name of any man unsubservent to the dictate,
| of the money power.
| Sec 5. We call the attention of the common
people TO the perpetuatOn in our State of the
| gigantic Republican ring, which uses the public
patronage to control future elections to
| perpetu.te itself in the control Of the pu Bile
purse; uses the gigantic earning of corporations
| (by the methods of Federal receivership) to die
tate the election of our Representatives in Con
gress and the Senate; abuses the franchise OF
! the publi press by opening the columns of its
newspapers to but one side ofpublic discussions;
demands Of and re ceives from its votaries alb
solute prostitution of individual liberty to the
dictates of machine politicians.
! See. 6. We invite the serious attention of the
laboring classes in our State to the attempte
control of the elective franchise BY threats on the
part of the Republican leader, They do moi
hesitate to threaten their employees with dis
charge unless they submit To a sale of the free
ton. Nor will they stop at threats, but will
! openly carry out the shameful abuse of power
unless checked by the righteous indignation OF
free people
Sec. We pledge the people of this srea,
State that when given the control of its govern
ment we will reduce the burden of State taxa
tion to the lowest limit consistent with just
and careful administration Of the governmental
| functions. We Will stop the present squander-
ing of the great public domain. We will, SO far
as now remains possible, use the public lands
| for the purpose of pulling the pursestrinGs OF
private corporations. We will reduce the bur
dens laid upon production by the greed Of trans
portation companies, aided by Legislation pur'
chased from Republican legislatures To this
end favor law providing for freight rates
| not exceeding those Of the Helm bill, and we
favor 3-cent per mile passenger fare. We will
| euutaNOT 10 make pObhlOle the carrying out VI
cur system Of public schools. now closed as the
| result of Republican extravaganza. Free COM
mon schools are the nursery of good govern
ment" and they should, when necessity de.
| mands, be preserved even at the expense Of
| every other function of government. The Re-
publ lean control ofthe towns, cities, counties
and State has resulted in the bankruptcy Of our
school districts, and we demand the overthrow
| of such control.
| Sec s. We condemn the refusal of the Re
publican party of this State to divide it Into
afrt.,f 1nlsr
a fair division of the same.
Sec o. We condemn our present election
laws. contrived to throttle opposition to the
ditional repeal, and the enactment of such law 9
| as will enable each voter to vote as he pleases
| and have such vote counted.
See. 10. Whereas, the railroad companies of
this State have from time to time issued free
passes to legislators and other public officers.
thereby. influencing their action. We demand
that the legislators shall promptly pass
adequate laws to enforce the constitutional
provision against the granting of free passes to
public officers and the use of same by such Of
fcers
Sec. II. We demand better laws in relation to
mortgage foreclosurers; the abolition of
deficiency judgments, and that the possession
during the full period Of redemption. Provided:
That such laws shall not interfere with the OBJ
legation OF existing contracts.
the people amendments to the constitution re-
forming the present extravagant judicial system
and system OF state commissions.
We recognize in the coming election q crisis
in the affairs of government. Free government
Is self government We are threatened with a
destruction of the principles OF self government.
The national banks the transportation and
manufacturing corporations, the gold manipulate
Ors of Wall street and Lombard street claim the
right t. govern US. Democracy wears no collar;
II serves no master; 1t has on its side the plain
everyday people of the country and State and
to them we appeal with au unQuestioniug belief
that in this hour of trial and tribulati0n right
..,stl
controlling masses will overthrow classes, the
people will again assume authority and
prosperity return, hcraded by the announce
ment of government OF the people, by the
people and for the people,"
The Conference Committee came in
at 3 :l5. Gilman, Chairman, took the
stand and made an oral report. He
stated that it had been impossible to
get the whole committee together, but
seventeen of them had accompanied
him into q conference with the Silver
Republican cOnferees. They came to
an agreement to visit the Populist Con.
vention and ask that Congressman
be given to each of the old parties.
The committees waited on the Peoples
party with this proposition, but they
refused to accede to it, and proceeded
to adopt the report of the committee
as read. He hoped that no precipi-
tate action would be taken. 1t was
simple courtesy to await the action of
the Silver Convention. The conven.
ton might concede what their com.
mittee refused. He moved that COM
mittee of three be appointed to wait
upon the Silver Convention, which
motion was adopted and Messrs. Gil.
man, Snively and Warner were ap.