The San Francisco call., 1898-08-18
PLATFORM AND RESOLUTIONS
Congressman Mcguire Asks to Be Advised as to the Party's Po-
 sition on the Spanish War.

CALL HEADQUARTERS, SACRA- MENTO, Aug. 1.-The committee on platform and resolutions met at o'clock, with Seth Mann of Alameda In the chair. Ben H. Maddox was unanimously chosen to act as secretary.
 Congressman Mcguire was present and the chairman asked him if he had any suggestions to offer concerning the plat form to be presented to the convention for its adoption.
 "I would not presume to draft plat form,' replied Mcguire, but there are matters of grave importance to be consid- cred. I have secured copies of the former platforms of the Democratic party, so that gentlemen may have them at hand in the event of your wishing to refer to them There is one thing I would say, however, and that Is that the platform should be so drawn that it will not conflict with the platform already drawn by one of the great reform parties"
 Have you any suggestions to offer on international Questions?" asked Chairman Mann.
 You refer to the present war;"
 Yes" replied the chairman.
 T would like very much to consult either with the whole committee or a sub committed said Mcguire, lon the blanks referring to international and Federal legislation"
 T then move,' said Walker c. Graves, that a subcommittee of three be ap- pointed on lnIeT1aIlOldI anu II cuSI al questions, to confer with Judge Mcguire" :"
 The motion prevailed and Judge Harris of Fresno, Thomas l.. Ford and |. L. Boone of san Diego were appointed to serve on the committee.
 The matter of appointing sub-comm1t- tees to consider the blanks to be put In the platform on questions or state ana national importance was then taken up. It was the general opinion that the Work of looking over resolutions and sugges- tions sent to the committee be segregated on hoo 1Tl1it foRS tate the work
 Joseph Leggett said that it would be advisable to at once appoint a suo-com- mittee to look into the blanks concerning railroads and other highways. George 5. Patton, Joseph Leggett and J. J. DWyer were accordingly appointed to serve on that committee.
 Walker C. Graves, M. T. Dooling and M c. Hassett were appointed to draw up preamble to the platform ana 10 Maddox, Veuve and Rust was delegated ts the work of outlining plan to bring the warning San Francisco factions together
 J. F. tarraker, G. W. Hamilton ana Thomas L.. Ford were appointed to frame the blanks on mines and mining; The committee then proceeded to read the res olutions and written suggestions sent 10 the chairman and secretary.
 Among the suggestions was one present. ed by franklin K. Lane, advising the party to protest against the return or inc Philippine Islands to Spain and con graduating the people on the arTasent. IaEt tr1.
  ing the Manufacturers and ProqucerS Association, forwarded a resolution pro pro testing against the sale Of the ProuuCrs P,o of convict labor. Milk Inspector Dockery of San Francisco was also present 10 ad- vocate the insertion of a plank pleuglns the legislative nominees 10 pass tl, tl, 6Iedped the Democratic Legislature eject ed next fall to work for the passage or tne Fitzgerald labor bills, that were o9lea.eu at the last session of the Les1sIat9ire- gre Tbese resolutions together with the 1ol- lowing communications from the Halroao Employes Association or CanIoIIId "SaS s referred to the proper sup-coiii'iii consideration.
 ro the Committee on Platform and Resolu- lions of the Democratic State Convention. sac ramento. Cal.-Gentlemen; We, the l,es of California. appear before your honorable body for the purpose of respectfully submitting TOT your consideration matter or vital concern 'o the railway employees of this state
 For several years it has been the custom or political parties in this state to asltaeS th question of reduction In the earnings of the railroad properties by inserting blanks in their platforms advocating and piedging candidates in the event of election, to erect certain HI , bitrarv reductions in the rates of fares and freights. which reductions men of experience in such matters declare to be impracticahle, and If accomplished would be highly disastrous to those great interests from which we derive employment. and could only result olsas- trously to ourselves
 We cannot believe that 1t Is the intention or desire of the Democratic party to bring about
  ship to the railway employees of California and those dependent upon them for support. We, as railway employees, deeply concerned In the maintenance of the present standard of wages and would greatly deplore and deprecate any action political or otherwise, which might tend to make such a reduction therein re- mote probability.
 We the representatives of the organization of railway employees referred to. appear before this honorable body solely on our own account and of our own motion. impelled to do so from motives of seh-protection; There are upward of 20 GOO railway employees in California who to- day have their thoughts centered on the pro- ceedings of this convention. hoping that they, through the interest they represent, may ceive at the hands of this convention just. fair and considerate treatment. to the end that they need not be filled with apprehension lest their personal welfare be jeopardized by any hostile attitude the part of this great party toward the interests whose prosperity Is our prospe-ity and whose diversity would be our diversity.
 We earnestly hope and pray that further agitation of the transportation question, which Is go injurious and disquleting in It's effects. may be omitted in the coming campaign and