The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-08-31

planted itself upon a broad and endur-
ing foundation. 1t appealed to the judg-
ment and good sense Of men and not to
their prejudices and passions 1t taught
the doctrine of common honesty and
fair dealing as against the pernicious
theories of partial population and fl
nancial heresy. 1t said to the busi-
ness men of the nation confidence
must be restored in the marts of trade
by providing a sound currency to meas
ure the value of all products. 1t said to
the Iaboring men throughout the coun-
try that the wheels of industry must
once again be set in motion by the adop-
tion of an industrial policy that win
protect our wage earners and manu-
facturers from ruinous competition
with the poorly fed and underpaid labor
of the old world.
Pitted against us in that memorable
controversy was an aggregation of dis
cordant and dissatisfied people calling
itself the Democratic party. This ag-
gregation was defiant and confident. 1t
announced a declaration of principles
in the nature of a platform, the success
of which would have disturbed and de-
stroyed the business interests of the
{ t.
1t unblushingly proclaimed on the
stump the doctrine of the scaling down
of debts and its orators piously preach
ed political socialism on the hustings.
It's candidate for the high office of
president advocated all these fallacies
and vagaries with a devotion worthy
Of a better cause. For three months
and more he traversed the length and
breadth Of this great land, sowing the
seeds of hatred in an attempt to array
class against class and pit labor against
capital.
At the beginning of that campaign
uncertainty filled the minds of con-
servative people Stout hearts doubted
and strong heads viewed with alarm
the veXed political situation. The rap
idly shifting Kaleidoscope on the po-
litical horizon made capital nervous
and sensitive, while labor was dis
couraged and fretful. 1t was a time
when Republicans everywhere looked
to Pennsylvania for hope and encour-
agement. They did not look in vain.
When other states wavered in their
allegiance to the ST. Louis platform
Pennsylvania remained as steadfast as
her mountains. When the swelling tide
of the free silver propaganda was
sweeping other states from their po-
litical moorings Pennsylvania proudly
proclaimed to the world that she would
lead the column in the contest for
sound money and good government.
And 80 she did. Every ante election
pledge was redeemed and every prom
ise was justified when on the evening
Of the third day of November last 1t
was officially announced that Mckinley
and Hobart had carried the keystone
state by more than 100000 plurality.
In that campaign there were state as
we'll as national issues. 1t is true that
| the issues raised in the state platform
of that year were overshadowed by the
currency and industrial questions. II
will be remembered, however, that the
platforms Of the Republican party in
this state during the years 1895 and 1896
declared in favor of certain reforms
in state and municipal affairs. Let me
briefly review the situation in respect
to these Measures, so that the con-
vention may be fully informed in ref.
erence to the same.
In order that these abstract plat.
form declarations should assume NOR,
] utlullt buhptB a. CDllhlllNGG W as hp
pointed by the state organization L
draft the necessary bills to carry tht
proposed legislation into effect. Thi.
committee understood the work fol
which II was created and prepared foul
bills which substantially covered tn,
reforms pledged in the platform of tn,
party of 1895. One of these bills made Il
a misdemeanor for political parties t
pay the poll taxes of electors without
authority duly granted. The practice OF
purchasing tax receipts indiscrlminate
ly by political parties was thought tC
be an evil Of such proportions that Il
should be curtailed. Another of the bills
I provided that campaign assessments
could not be made by political organi-
cations and municipal officers, COMPEL
ing employees 70 pay tribute for par
usan purposes. The best interests o.
good luzenshib demanded that EN-
ployes should not be required to pal
political assessments against their wisl
and VIII Another Of the bills made It
misdemeanor TOP corporations AM
municipal officers % interfere with tn
free exercise Of the right Of suffrage. l
was the intention of this act to proven
any interference by corporations ant
municipal officers with the free eXer
else Of the right OF suffrage by EN-
ployes. The fourth and last OF thes