Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-07

Assembling Of the State Convention
at Trenton.
CALLED TO ORDER BY SENATOR SMITH
Address by the Temporary Chair
man, Ex-Speaker Bergen.
POINTS IN THE PLATFORM


of the state. The Essex county delegation
marched from the depot in a body, headed
by Winters Seventh Regiment Band, and
serenaded United States Senator Smith,
who made a speech from the balcony of
the Trenton House.
Senator Smith was besieged by callers
this morning who came to pay their re-
spects and to congratulate him upon his
assumption Of the party leadership.
The leaders got together this morning
and prevailed upon ex-Assembyman Wm
J. Thompson 20 withdraw as candidate
at-large Judge Albert Tallman of Glou-
cester was agreed upon in Thompson's
place, but this did not take into conside11l-
ton eXJudge Howard Carrow Of Camden,
who decided to stay in the contest as a
candidate to go to the Chicago convention
The four delegates at-large agreed upon
by the leaders comprise Senator Smith,
Allen McDermott of Hudson. ex-United
States Senator Rufus Bodgett of Mon
mouth and ex-Judge Tallman.
The Hudson delegates decided this morn
lEg to mt Ike n fight for Assemblyman John
w. Queen for permanent chairman, and
counted on winning.
There was a conference this morning by
number of the leaders relative to the
wisdom of indorsng Cleveland for a
nomination. 1t was finally decided not to
press the Cleveland Instructions, but this
conclusion was prompted principally be-
cause Of uncertainty as to whether Mr..
Cleveland would accept third term nom
iEation.
The convention to select four delegates-at-
large and sixteen district delegates to the
Chicago convention met in the opera house
today.
United States Senator Smith, the new
chairman of the state committee, called
the convention to order making a short
speech. IN which he said the present Con-
sress will so down into history as having
failed to do anything whatever for the
good of the country, and predicting that
with platform and candidates such as the
democrats will put before the people they
will elect the next President by a greater
majority than was given Cleveland four
years ago.
Ex-Speaker Bergen was introduced as
temporary chairman.
Chairman Bcrsen's Address.
Nearly Iour years ago, in this building.
the enthusiastic democratic party of this
state announced in more emphatic words
their BELIEF that pledge to the people to
repeal unjust tariff law, reinforced by
the nomination of Grover Cleveland. would
be Endorsed by them.' said Mr.. Bergen, in
opening. THE result of the elections in
November. 1892, Justified the soundness of
that belief.
I'VE meet again to perform a similar
duty, and l trust that the resolution which
you may adopt will be written in plain and
urmst akatle English and SO expressed as
| to leave no doubt as to the convictions Of
| the New Jersey democracy on all important
| questions now being agitated and discussed
and upon which the American people will
soon pass their solemn Judgments. Far in
| the van is the question, shall we have an
honest stable currency represented by the
! single standard recognized by the leading
! commercial EationS OF the world, or, on the
| other hand, two standards, rendering bust
| ness transa ctionS uncertain, inducing tim
| idity in investments, instead of the conf
| dence that leads to prosperity?
| Let us declare IN favor of honest money,
| with gold, not coin, as the standard 1nfia-
| ton is not prosperity; it is merely drunk
| en- spree-while debauch is on the victim
| thinks he is happy, but when 1t is over he
| realizes his mistake. 1emporizing with an
| evil only encourages it, and a great part II
| not all, of the trouble We are now having
| with the silver heresy is due to the lack Of
courage evinoed by some OF our leaders IN IN
not meeting the issue and overcoming 1t
! when it first arose. Threats of boiling
| should not deter nor drive Us from do
| ing right An honorable defeat is greatly
| to be preferred to a dshcnorable victory:
| the latter would be the beginning of decay
| and result in the speedy humiliation of the
| party.
| Another evil that is a constant menace
| is TIE EIge, non-intereSt- bearing, forced
| loan, made necessary by the war. which
| ended thirty years ago, and Is represented
| by government notes Que on demand, com
| monty called greenbacks. These should all
|
| is needed, by some other method which
| does not require the maintenance Of a
| large gold reserve, now rendered necessary
| for that purpose, and which Is kept ld!e In
| the treasury without active use or in any
way conserving the prosperity Of the coun-
| try.
1.-THE present tariff laws are substantially
| right and greatly superior to any we may
expect from the apostle Of high protection.
| We should earnestly oppose any radical
| change, but pledge ourselves to correct any
| unjust inequalities ii such exist, without
| uIsettling the business interests of the
| country by general revision. The ques-
| ton was settled in favor Of modified tariff
| by an overwhelming vote of the people and
| the constantly increasing growth of our eX-
port Of manufactured articles demonstrates
| that we can compete with the world in
price and quality, and with the currency
question properly settled labor will be en-
ployed to it's utmost capacity, and If it re-
ceives its wages in gold, admittedly the
hest kind Of money the prosperity of t this
! country will reach its highest level. The
business depression began under the high
est probib!tory tariff this country has ever
known, coupled with the silver purchasing
| act passed by a republican Congress. Two
years of it brought four years of untold
suffering to the workmen, farmers and
mechanics of this country, and, we are
now Just recovering from it's baleful infiu-
cree, should strive to prevent it's re-
| crrrence and show the people the error of
! legislating for class against the rights Of
| the great body of our citizens. An earnest
| energetic, educational campaign will. bring
| hack to us that army of tariff reformers
| who stood with four years ago. The
| people are not ignorant and the truth will
| prevail. We should declare in favor of a
| strict adherence to the Monroe doctrine
| laid down by Mr.. Monroe, and accepted
| since its PRONUNCIATION as a principle to be
| maintained by the United States. We should
always insist upon it's observance, and re-
| auire all foreign powers to respect it, ever
| consenting to submit all doubtful questions
| to impartial arbitration, and at the same
| time be ever ready to defend our rights
| when improperly assailed, and to maintain
the dignity. of the government, by force if
| pecessary.'' .
The rest of the address was devoted to
| local issues. -
Mr.. Bergen, at the conclusion of his
| speech. announced that he desired that his
| friends would not press his name for per
| manent chairman. and further expressed a
| wish that the honor might 90 to Assembly
| man John w. Queen.
After the announcement of the commit
tees on resolutions, permanent organiza ton
| and credentials. the nvention, at 1850,
| took recess until pm.
! On reassembling the platform was adopt-
| ed.
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