Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-04-30


Allegheny, stated that the views express
ed by Mr.. Magee were endorsed by them.
With these exceptions the platform as
presented went through The resolution
concerning the improvement of the Dele
ware River had no opposition.
The resolution submitting the selection
of a United STAGES Senator directly to a
vots of the people was hotly contested.
W. l. Sehaffer was its especial chsm-
pion.
on the ground that it wss an interference
with the rights of the people in the varl-
GUS Senatorial and legislative districts.
1t was an unwarrantable interference with
purely local affairs of the party. DE sug-
pested that the resolution be so modihed
that it would not be mandatory, but sug-
gestive. ~ ,,.o
Senator Penrose agreed with Mr.. Magee
that until Congress passed q general law
for submitting the choice OF Senators 70
the people, there was no reason why such
action should be taken. The local organ
cation in the State are sovereign IN this
matter, he said, and 1t would be an expert
meut to sttemp. TO interfere with the per-
III duell IiSutc VI 1AC iOS"' Va g
adopt such a resolution.
Mr.. Schaffer took issue with Senator
Peurose. He urged that it was no more
impertinbnt on the part of the State con-
yention so suggest this than 1t was Tor the
cor vention to recommend legislation for
the next Legislature to act upon. A vote
was taken on a motion TO lnCehnltely
POSTPONE the resolution AMI ii was carrl-
ed bv the close vote of % to 81, as announ-
ced by the chair.
C l.. Magee Immediately offered the
same resolution IN odifie1 to make 1t sug-
gestive instead of mandatory. In adYocat
ing the adoption of the amended resolu-
tons, Mr.. Nagee said:-
Il am in favor of this resolution for the
reason that it will give the people OF IN
State an opportunity to say directly VINO
shall represent them in the United states
Senate This State is represented IN the
Senate to-day by gentleman with whom
| have held intimate personal relations
aud whose friendship hold as an honor,
but who nevertheless has for years per
sistently misrepresented the people OF THIS
State on the vital question of sound cur
rency.
II refer to ]. Donald Cameron CAP
plause) If Mr.. Cameron or any other
man were to go before the people of TINS
State upon the basis OF the hnanclal views
h-ld by Mr. Cameron he would have not
the slightest show OF election.
Senator Penrose in reply said that no
matter whether the resolution was lhliu
duced for uuhcombc or TO subserve some
personal interest, he regarded it as an act
in which the party il convention would
violate the rights and prerogations OF the
party which had full power to act i0- thom-
selv es on the subject.
Itwas time to come nut i'll open, said
Mr.. Schaff,r, III reply. The people had a
right tC say who should he United states
Senator. Now was the time. The issue
is now AT hand. and it was folly To wait
until next Winter, when the Legislature
had assembled aud then have some man
come here TO b harrisburg whom the people
did not want and be elected their repre-
sentative in Congress (Applause
c. Strart Patterson, from modest rear
seat. stated that be was heartily IN iav"r
OF a constitutional amendment which
would accomp plish the result aimed al 10
the resolution. But until Congress acted,
or a constitutional amendment provided
for il. every legislator had a right to vote
for whom he pleased for United States
Senator.
Haven't the people right to say who
their representatives shall vote tori" asked
Mr.. Schaffer.
mo" responded Mr.. Patterson. "Be-
cause their representatives in the Leelsla-
turb are clothed with discretionary power
as representatives of the people"
Colonel Harry Hall cited the precedent
of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A
Douglass, and thought that Pennsylvania
Republicans could not 60 far aStray IN
following such an illustrious example.
To this Mr. Patterson replied That this
was an argument in favor Of his view.
In the case cited the candidates had ap-
pealed TO the people there was nothing to
prevent him A vote was then taken on
motion to indefinitely postpone, and 1t
was carried by vote Of 2l1 to l93. the
half vote being cast by the divided Alleg-
heny representatives.
Mr.. Schaffer immediately served notice
that he would present minority report on
the resolution TO the convention.
The resolution indorsing Major KcKinley
as second choice of the Pennsylvania dele
CATION was then taken up. Senator Pen
Rsse spoke emphstically against 1t. The
Platform, he said had given Senator Quay
a handsome send off as Pennsylvania's
favorite son and he was opposed 10 ipdors-
ing another States son even as second
CublCb.
1t would weaken the Endorsement given
to Senator Quay before the people, and he
hoped that no partisan purpose would in-
flpence any body to lend their support to
the resolution. There was practically no
ieIate on tho question half dozen scatter
ing ayes only being heard in the chamber.
When the proposition TO recommend to
the Legislature the passage OF reform bills
submitted by the State Committee in con
formity with Mr.. Quay's ideas came up,
MIR Nagee called attention to the incon-
sistency Of the committees action IN refus-
ing To pass the resolution that the people
vote directly on their Senatorial preference,
though it was ready enough to request the
Legislature to enact legislation v hich was
entirely outside oil the State Committees 5
province The Finn bills were indorsed
In line added To the general reform pl .ns
and the committee adjourned.