The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-06
DEMOCRATIC :
CONVENTIONS.
CONTINUED from Page one)

| Sweeney. Samuel Grafton, John r..
| Donahue, John Minnehan, Alfred Poi
| rier, Frank l.. Henley, John O'Connell.
Joseph A. Banks, J. j. Dockery. Joseph
| 4. O'Brlen. Thomas r. Mallaney, Thos.
| McSoiey, Thos. Doyle
Mr.. Comstock said that. inasmuch as
the number OF delegates was 40 small,
he would suggest that the appointment
OF committee on. platform be dis
pensed with. and he offered the draft
of "A platform for the First district.
which was read by the secretary, and
was substantially as follows:
The platform presented in behalf of
the Democrats OF the First district de-
clared that IL demanded tAat the gross
incompetency of the war department be
punished, but as this punishment would
never be inflicted by the Republican
party, IL was necessary 10 elect Demo-
Gratis to congress to do the work with
ont fear or favor. The platform de-
mands that the faith of this country
given TO the Cubans shall be inviolably
kept. and that the Cubans be given
every chance TO establish stable gov
ernment OF their own. An appeal is
made to the Democrats of the First dis
trict To bestir themselves and TO see
that the candidate they nominate is
well worthy of the support of the party
Mr. Conley opposed the adoption of a
one-man platform and asked that
committee Of Ave be appointed by the
chair to take the draft under considera-
tion, and IL was so voted.
Mr.. Conaty objected 10 each district
having a platform. and said that the
committee should be appointed for the
entire state. Two platforms differing
i'm expression would cause confusion TO
the party.
Mr. Comstock held that the First dis
trict, and only the First district. had
fiy IN
should do.
The chair appointed as committee
on platform Messrs. Conley Comstock.
Todd, Banks and O'Connor. and the
convention took a recess while the COM
mittee retired.
= When the committee returned Mr..
Conley stated that with one exception
the committee was unanimously i'm fa-
vor of the adoption of the platform
presented by Mr.. Comstock, with an
amendment to il, which declares that
the convention Is unalterably opposed
to the adoption OF the proposed change
in the state constitution.
Mr.. Comstock moved that the amend
ment be stricken from the platforms and
to this Mr.. Conley made answer that
the people OF the state were opposed to
the proposed change in the constitu-
ton, and that the amendment made by
the committee to the platform present
ed should be allowed to stand He held
that If the constitutional change should
be made the people would have no
chance to hold "A constitutional con-
vention. He considered the constitu-
tion question was the most important
issue OF the Democratic party i'm Rhode
Island today. and, i'm fact. IL was the
only issue.
Mr.. Comstock made an impassoned
reply. i'm which he declared that the
people had a perfect right TO express
themselves on the constitution ques-
tion as they pleased. and he believed
that It's adoption would prove To be the
entering wedge for what the Democrats
of the state have so long demanded III
the proposed change in the constitu-
ton was not made the Democrats
would make a great mistake.
Mr.. Banks endorsed the amendment
To the platform, while Mr.. Conaty en-
dorsed the views Of Mr.. Comstock
The question was then put and. on a
roll call, the amendment TO the plat
form opposing the constitutional
amendment was adopted by vote of |
tot.
Mr.. Comstock then placed I'm nomina-
tion as the candidate for Congress in
the First district. John w. Hogan of
Providence. and. as there was no |
counter nomination, he was unani- |
mously nominated.
Messrs. Conley, Comstock and Con- |
atty were appointed a committee to no |
tify Mr.. Hogan of his nomination
After "A vote of thanks had been ten |
dered to the chairman and secretary, |
and they had been empowered to fill |
any vacancies. the First district con- |
vention was adjourned. |