The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-09-02
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.

1 ne Democratic state Convention
met in Reading on Tuesday, and
nominated Walter f. Ritter of Ly-
coming for Auditor General, and Nj.
Z. Brown of Blair, for Treasurer.
VIM. F. Har.ity YVES ousted from the
position of member of the National
Committee by vote of 400 to I34,
and James NJ. Guffey was recommend
ed tor the place. Congressman En-
mentrout was made temporary chair
man. and r. w. Irwin, of Washing
ton, permanent chairman. Both made
ringing speeches.
THE PLATFORM.
Following is the full text OF the platform
We, the Democracy of Pennsylvania, in
convention assembled, heartily reaffirm and
reiterate the principles Of the Democratic
party as expressed in the platform adopted
by the national convention at Chicago in
1896 and approved by f, 500, 900 free and
independent voters. We are firmly and un.
alteraby opposed to the single gold stand.
ard, which has been the direct cause of the
financial distress that has followed upon our
/
vor of complete and immediate return to
our original specie basis as it existed prior to
the demonstration act of 1873
We congratulate William !. Bryan, the
glorious champion OF a righteous cause, for
his mastery leadership in support Of these
principles.
We denounce the Dingley tariff law as
measure designed and passed in answer TO
the demands of trusts and monopolies, every
important feature OF which is refuge for the
protection of some trust or combination ex.
isting in opposition to the public good and
in violation of the common law. The
schedule is in brief an assessment upon the
individual citizens Of the country for the ben.
eft of trusts in return for money advan ced TO
carry the recent election and add enormously
to the burdens of labor by increasing the
costs Of the necessaries of life without en-.
hancing in the least respect wages Of labor
We abhor the character of the warfare
waged by the government of Spain against
the inhabitants of the hapess Island of Cuba,
in which the humane methods of civilized
warfare have to savage atrocities committed
upon unarmed civilians and defenseless
women and children. The ruthless nature of
the conflict waged, as we'll as the danger to
our own peace, inevitably resulting from the
further continuance of such a system Of an
archy SO near our borders, renders immedi.
ate armed intervention by our government
imperative.
We ask the honest people Of this common.
wealth to examine the legislative and other
records OF Republican action in Pennsylva-
MIA since the assumption of un limited power
conferred at the last election, the gross ex-
travagance, the fragrant corruption, the total
neglect of every public interest, the abiect
servity TO monopolies and every form and
species of jobbery, the utter disregard of
constitutional mandates, the reckless tamper.
ug with finance and taxation, the exhaustion
of the treasury by profigate expenditures,
the consequent suffe ring of public schools,
charities and other objects of wise public
care together with the scandalous fury of the
factions enraged over the spoils of the pros.
trate commonwealth and of its several ring
ruled cities.
We especially call attention to the man.
agement of the state treasury department,
and demand an investigation of the books
and accounts of the state treasurer, full
statement Of the receipts and expenditures,
a complete explanation of the deposits of tn e
state funds, securities held, bondsmen there.
on as required by statute, and an itemized
report OF securities held by such favoreI
banks for said funds and the amount of con-
tributions made in consideration of such de.
posits to the campaign fund of the party in
power.
The late shameful exposure of the unaw.
full practice Of the State Treasurer of paying
out the funds of the people to state officers
and private individuals, without warrant, for
the sole purpose of favoring political friends
discloses one of the many Infamous schemes
of the dominant party and has our severest
condemnation.
We desire that the taxpayers inquire of
themselves whether such party, self ac.
cused, self-convicted, everywhere derelict,
false and corrupt can be safely re-entrusted
with the power thus abused until it has un-
dergone purgation and reformation from top
to bottom, and all its boss rings and ma.
chimes have been cut out
We sympathize with the miners of the
commonwealth in their unequal struggle to
obtain fair compensation for their daily toll
and declare that the ancient and Anglo. Saxon
right of trial by jury ought to be preserved,
and we deplore the tendency of certain fed
eral and state courts to detract from this
| right by an unwarranted extension and abuse
OF the remedy of injunction in differences
between capital and labor.
We hereby ratify the selection by the Dem.
ocratic state central committee of James NJ.
Guffey, of Pittsburg, who so Loyalty supported
Hon. William J. Bryan for the presidency,
to fill the position Of national committeeman
from Pennsylvania on the National Demo.
cratic Committee. We desire here to record
our appreciation of the efficient performance
ct his duties by our state chairman, John NJ.
Garman. His fidelity to his party and its
principles his frequent. forceful and fearless
expression on the platform of his political
views have infused the party with new vigor
and warmed it to higher resolves.
In accordance with the recommendation of
the National Democratic Committee, the
Democratic State, County and City Commit
tees are advised and directed to further by
every means in their power the organization
of regular Democratic societies in every dis.
trict, and the union of such societies in the
Democratic Society Of Pennsylvania and the
National Association of Democratic clubs.
THAT NEW LAW.
The new law with reoard to tho