Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-24

uOtaDle DbAtb convention at lover on
Thursday. 1t met in caucus. first, at IL
o'clock in the morning, and at H. 80
o'clock took recess until 2. Then the
caucus was resumed and continued
until 4 o'clock. when the convention
opened, continuing until 6. And the
only business accomplished during all
this time was the nomination of cam
didate for Governor and the adoption
OF platform, the electoral and Con-
gressional nominations being referred
to the State committee. The rest of
the time was devoted to discussion.
1t was talk, talk, nothing but talk,
from beginning to end.
About l60 delegates attended the con-
vention, OF whom 100 were from New
Castle county. The appearance of the
delegates was good. They looked like
sound business men, and gave no SUR
face indications of the great volumes of
4 windy oratory that nearly all Of them
possessed. But when they started their
deliberations, behind closed doors, the
pent-up flood of words broke loose, and
continued in an unceasing stream. The
applause was frequent and vigorous.
The delegates first assembled in eau
GUS, with Prof. W. M. Willis of Dover as
II
Z this city secretary. A long discussion
ensued, as to whether it would bs
better to nominate a straightout
Single Tax ticket, or to take up such
4 Republican or Democratic candidates
rs would endorse the Single Tax move
ment This point was discussed up to
the hour OF the assembling Of the con-
4 vention, in the most vigorous manner,
but no conclusion was reached.
The convention promptly organized,
I with Rev. Jesse G. Taylor of Lewes as
perm anent chairman, and Mr.. Camp
bell secretary. Tie committee on reso-
lutions made the following report,
which was unanimously adopted:
We, tae Single Takers OF Delaware,
In State convention assembled, pro-
claim as our fundamental doctrine the
equal right of all men to the use Of the
earth, and as the Single Tax is the
simplest plan proposed to establish
this right. We demand that all taxes in
the State of Delaware, except tax
upon the rental value of land, be at
once and forever abolished.
We would thus do away with the cor
ruption and gross inequality INSOFAR
able from our present tax system, and
relieve the farmer, the workmen, and
the manufacturer from those taxes by
which they are now unjustly burdened.
Such system OF taxation would make
1t Impossible for spectators to hold
land idle, and would thus open un-
limited opportunities for the employ
ment of labor and capital.
We extend our sympathy to the Re-
form Democracy of the nation, and hail
with pleasure the nomination of William
Jennings Bryan as the representative
of the common people in the battle
against plutocracy. We agree with
him that "He who aids In increasing
landlordism in this country, hastens
the overthrow of the Republic" and
We pledge him our support. We, how
ever, do not believe that any mere
change OF the monetary system can
have any permanent beneficial effect
on the condition of The masses of the
people SO long as land monopoly exists.
We oenounce the Republican and
Democratic. parties of this State for
bribery and corruption at the polls.
K This evil is SO widespread that it is
evidently largely caused by unjust
social conditions, and the present sys.
tenn of taxation by concentrating
wealth in the hands of the few and
pauperizing the many, is, We hold,
the main cause of such corruption.
The poll tax system and its manipu-
lation by the dominant party is an
efficient instrument Of political trick
cry. and we demand its reduction to
the lowest possible point, and its repeal
by the Constitutional Convention.
We denounce the agents of landlord
ism who control the Democratic
machine in Delaware, and who have
used their political power for the sup
preston of free speech, and to defeat
the will'of the majority at the primary
elections. They are not really ID
sympathy with the Democratic caudi
date for President, do not believe ir
Jeffersonian principles, and as in the
past, are simply using their power t.
aid the landed aristocracy of Delaware
to impoverish the working people.
Nominations for Governor were next
In order. and Delegate White of Will
mington nominated Rev. jesse G.
Taylor. II am not in the least afrait
to be put up to be knocked down., )
cheerfully announced Chairman Taylor
Charles Beadenkopf and DIR. Lewis N
Slaughter of this city were also PLACED
in nomination. Then Chairman Taylo
surprised the convention by Withdraw
. ing. and Mr.. Beadenkopf's name wa
taken down after which DR. Slaughte
was nominated by reclamation.
The party name of Single Tax wa
adopted, and the earth was selected a
the device to go upon the otiicia
ballot.
Then came the great fight of th
convention, over nominees for Presi
Dental electors. John H. Rodney
John Harrington and Paynter Frame
the Democratic candidates, were place.
in nomination, and after q deal O
wraDgling,. Arthur Stevenson Of Phila
delphia cut them out with motion
that none but straightout Single Taxer
be nominated for office. This motion
was adopted by vote of 81 to 49, Ii
the discussion, Delegate Hogan of Viii
min9ton referred to the convention
endorsement of Bryan, and pointed on
that il they voted for him in an,
other manner than by the Democratic
candidates for electors, they would b.
throwing away their votes.
Thomas Mullen and Preston w
Yeager of Wilmington, Charles A
Smith OF Kent, and Rev. Jesse G. g'ay
lor aud A. W. Robinson of Sussex, wer,
successfully placed in nomination TO
electors, but finally the subject wa
disposed of by motion to refer thu
nomination of electors to the Stat,
committee, which was adopted by I
rising vote OF 81 to so.
A similar fight. though more spirited
grew out of motion to nominate