Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-06-16
Ns ssMesssT;a CnYvSTTIsy'
The Platform Adopted and peIegssss 90 ths
chlcago Convention selscsta.

Chicngo convention Seiscsta.
Pursuant 10 adjournment, at $40 O'Clock
p. M, a much later hour than that appoint
ed, Chairman Crist sounded his gaveI and
called the Territorial democratic conven-
ton to order to hear the reports OF the
committees on credentials, resolutions and
permanent organization.
The nrst report was on credentials; the
second ON permanent organization and
rules; the third report on resolutions.
The report of the committee on creden-
tlals was received and adopted without
amendment and the delegates named In It
declared to be entitled to seats in tho con-
v~ention,
Next came the report Of tho committee
on permanent organization and rules.
Hon. Il. B. Ferguson was named as pres
ident of this convention, H. J. Hill as Sec
rotary, and as interpreters, Antonio Luz
cero and Manuel Sisneros. The report
| recommended the following: That the
committee on resolutions SHOULD report;
that six delegates and six a%lternates be
chosen to represent New Mexico at the
national democratic convention at
Chicago; that a free silver plank be in
serted In the platform.
The officers mentioned In the report
were then escorted to the platform and, as
well, a vice-president from each county,
who was selected by his delegation.
II. B. Ferguson was then introduced by
Chairman Crist and spoke at length on
the duty of all good democrats to obey the
will Of the majority and stand by the
party through all its battles for political
supremacy.
The next business of the convention was
receiving the report Of the committee on
resolutions and rules, which report was as
follows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN:-Your committee on
resolutions beg to submit the following:
| The democratic party OF the Territory
OF New Mexico, in convention assembled
at Las Vegas, New Mexico, June 10Th, 1896,
re- afirms its allegiance TO the time
honored principles of said party, and re-
solves as follows:
FIrst-That we are in favor of the free
and unlimited coinage of silver and gold.
independent of the action of foreign
nations, at the ratio of 16 to l, as the same
existed prior to its demonstration by the
republican party in 1873, and we hereby
instruct our delegates to the national con
~vention to support no man for president of
the United States, or any platform which
is not in faithful accord with these princi-
pies, and we further instruct said dele
gates to vote as a unit ON this proposition,
~Second.-It is the sense Of this convention
| that a proper and just method of raising q
portion of the revenue necessary for the
funning Of this rational government Ia by
an income tax, and IL our constitution as
IL now exists is not consistent with an in
come tax, that 10 are in favor OF such an
amendment to the same as VIII be con-
sistent with the legality OF such tax.
Third.-We are in favor of q tariff for
reyenue for the maintenance of our gov
eminent economically administered and
that in levying said tax 1t should be by
discriminating in favor OF taxing those
articles that will be In the interests Of the
masses of the people without the danger
of fostering m~onopolies.
Fourth. Recognizing his true democra-
cy, worth and faithful adherence under all
circumstances to the cause of the masses
and especially his courageous, consistent
and answering fight for the past twenty
years for the reconciliation OF silver, we
do hereby most heartily endorse Richard
p. Bland as q candidate fer president, at
the national democratic convention at
Chicago on July Tth, 1895.
Fifth We approve the able, active,
vigorous and incessant efforts of our Gov
error, Hon. w. 7. Thornton, and our Sec
retary, Lorion Miller, and our Chief Jus.
tice, Hon. Thomas Smith, and the Asso-
ciate justices, the Honorables N. B. Laugh
lin, N. g. Collier, HI. b. Hamilton aud &.
ID. Bantz, and all other executive officers
of this territory In the suppression of
crime and in the unfolding and maintain
ing of law and order in this territory.
Sirh.-we most strongly condemn
Thomas B. Catron. delegate to congress,
for the reason that by his actions as such
delegate, he has held up the people Of this
territory to the sc0rn and ridicule of the
nation; and especially do we denounce
him for his failure to do more as delegate
from this territory than to provide sine
cures for members of his own family.
Seventh THAT we denounce the repre-
bensible and cowardly evasion by the re-
publican party of New Mexico, iI the con-
vention assembled, of the silver question
and other vital issues before the people.
Eigbth.-That we are in favor of per-
sonal liberty and religious freedom and
believe that every citizen Of our republic
has an absolute right to any Office within
the gift of the people, and we condemn
and denounce as un-American and con-
tr airy to a democratic form of government
the secret organization known aa the A. p,
A., the members of which are pledged to
prevent the election to public Office of any
American citizen of the Catholic faith.
The motion made and seconded to adopt
the resolutions as read, provoked consider
able discussion, and much speech.making
was INDUCED in, but finally carried almost
unanimously, and the meeting then ad-
journed till 1880 o'clock.
At this point (6:10 o'clock) in the pro-
ceedings, THE Optic, containing a full
report Of the business of the convention,
up to the adjournment at 4 p. M, was
brought In, and eagerly sought by all
parties DESTROYS of reading the newsy |
sheet.
800 p. m.-Meeting called to order by
President II. B.. Ferguson, who stated that
nominations would now be In order for
delegates to the Chicago convention. The
following we're the nominees by counties:
Demetrio Chave s,of Dofa Ana; M. NJ. Sal
AGAR, of Colfax; W. 8. Hopewell,o of Sierra;
John Y. Hewitt, Of Lincoln; Antonio
Joseph, Of Rio Arriba A. A. Jones, Of
San Miguel.
On motion, made and carried unanimous
ly, that roll.call of counties be now
stopped, nominations closed, and that the
six gentlemen named be selected as dele
gates to the Chicago convention.
1t was now moved that a committee of
five be appointed by the chair to present
the names of six gentlemen as a~lternates
to the Chicago convention. and the altar
mates chosen by such committee were:
M. M Salazar, F.. 8. Crosson; for AL
A. Jones, j, W. Collars; for A. Josepb. 4R.I