Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-24
DEMOCRATS OF NEW YORK
Their State Convention Was Held Last
Week.
ROCKWELL ELECTED CHAIRMAN
Endorsement of the Chicago
Platform.


perfecting the work of the platform
| committee was the reason assigned for
| the lapse of an hour after the time set
for the reassembling Of the Democratic
| State Convention before that body was
called to order to-day. Business then
proceeded with expedition.
| The report of the committee on cre-
| dentials having been adopted the COM
| mittee on permanent organization re-
| ported, naming ex-Congressman Hosea
| II. Rockwell of Chemung for permanent
chairman. The report was accepted
without dissent. Mr.. Rockwell was
greeted with much applause when he
appeared upon the platform. He was
| introduced by Temporary Chairman
| Grady.
Senator Grady announced that W.
| #. Sheehan had telegraphed him that
he has forwarded his resignation as
national committeeman to Senator
| Jones.
The following platform was presented
to the convention:
| THE Democratic party of tho State
OF New York, in convention assembled,
unreservedly endorses the platform
adopted by the Democratic party at
the National Convention held in Chi
cago duly 7th, 1896, cordially approves
the nominations there made, pledges
to William j. Bryan and Arthur
Sevall it's hearty and active support,
and declares as its deliberate Judgment
that never in the history OF the Demo-
cratic party has platform been
written which embodied more COM
pletely the interests of the whole
people, as distinguished from those
who seek Legislation for private benefit,
than that given to the country by the
National Democratic Convention of
F! 1896. -
1--WE renounce those provisions
of the Raines Liquor Law which
| deprive municipalities of the right to
restrict and regulate the liquor traffic
within reasonable limits prescribed by
law; which divert excise moneys from
local treasures, whore they properly
belong, into the State treasury, ia
order to make good deficiencies in
State revenues, caused By the extraya-
gance of Republican legislatures, that
otherwise would need to he supplied
by additional direct taxation; which
fastens upon the people gigantic
State political machine. breeding cor
ruption and intimidation; which COM
| pei the granting of licenses to persons
or places of VIGOROUSLY bad character.
If entrusted with power, we pledge our
representatives TO enact just and rea-
sonatIle excise law, restoring the prin-
ciple OF local supervision and regula-
tlon, cconferring upon each locality tho
control and use of its own excise
revenue with which to reduce it's
local taxation and guaranteeing to each
municipality the determination of it's
own excise regulations within proper
| limitations prescribed by general law.
We arraign the administration of Gov.
Morton and recent Republican legisa-
lures for their extravagant legislation,
whereby the State taxes have been
largely increased and the burdens of
the people augmented. Instead of re-
forms, which were promised, there
have been fragrant corruption and mis-
rule Instead of economy there has
been prodigality. Instead of retrench-
ment there has been increased expendi-
ture. Instead of education for the
people there has been protection and
favorism for trust nd monopolies.
We reaiiirm adherence to the
principle of hul. .osfor municipaIi.
ties. We especially depounce the Re-
publican policy which sanctioned one
kind of legislation for Democratic
cities and another kind for Republican
cities, and we insist upon substantially
uniform legislation for all cities, re-
gardless of partisan considerations.
| I'VE protest against the repeated
violation by Republican State officials
of the Constitution and laws which
guarantee preference in the public
service to honorably discharged soldiers
and sailors of the Union army and
navy, whereby, under various pretences
and excuses, veterans have been re-
moved from positions without cause in
order to make room for political.
fayorites We demand the strict and
honest enforcement of the laws in
that behalf.
| 1--WE recommend the building and
maintenance of uniform system of
good roads throughout the State, tho
| expense thereof to be equitably divided
between the State and respective locai-
ties.
Upon these principles and policies,
applicable TO State affairs, we invite
the cooperation of all good citizens to
the end that a better administration
OF the affairs of our State may be
obtained, that local self government
may be established, that the princi-
pie of home rule for cities may be
| enforced, that fair and honest legisla-
tion may be enacted, that lower tax
rates may be secured and that the true
welfare, prosperity and happiness of the
people may be promoted. ="
After much confusion the platform
was adopted.
A full list of Presidential electors was
renorted and the report was adopted.
The chair announced that nomina-
tions were in order and Albany county
| presented the name of John BOYD
| Thatcher for Governor and Allegheny
county presented Congressman Sulzer's
| name.
The New York Democratic State con-
yention carried out the slated pro.
| gramme, nominating for Governor John
| Boyd Thatcher of Albany, who is said
to he gold man, upon platform
unreservedly endorsing the Chicago
ticket and principles.
| X
-Four Powder Mills Destroyed.
Springfield, Mass. Sept. 19..-Four
powder mills at Hazardville, Conn,
exploded to-day. Lightning struck
one mill and the explosion set fire to
the other three. No one was killed or
injured. Thousands of panes of glass
were broken in the buildings of the
town aud the shock was so great even at
the distance Of Snriutield, that it was
supposed at first TO be AN earthnuako