The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-06-30
THE PLATFORM.

The Democracy Of Pennsylvania, in
state convention assembled. renewing
their former pledges OF fidelity ANA de-
vOtiOn 20 the sacred rights of the people
and state. and true To the convictions
ana declarations Of the party upon ma
tional questions. realize that the issues in
the coming state campaign rclat" pecu-
liarly and trInSCCndHntIN to the rcurmp-
tuu of the state from Republican mis-
rule and corruption. and appealing to the
hOl est and patriotic citizens to unite IN
NiudiCatiug he honor of the common
wealth and redcC ming all its departments
from official abuses and corrupt practices
does declare that the paramount issues in
the campaign on which we have entered
are honest government home rule ana
clean politics, and hereby pledges itself
to wage unceasinE warfare against the
vicious system of political prOfligaCE and
corruption that pcrVadcS Olr entire sNS.
TEN Of state municipal affairs.
1t charges the Republican party. which
has had unbridlcd control of all branches
Of the state government during the past
four years, with faithlCsSncsS to every
pladgc made the people. 1t promised in
most solemn declaration reform IN leg
islation and the bCttCrmcnt Of municipal
government, and it has not only violated
these promises, but ii cndeavorCd to per-
petuate by most OhroNiouS statutes the
power of municipal rings ana COmbind-
tions of corrupt politicians to pass laws
for the enrichment of special interests.
and It has through the system of boss
ism, to which it has COmplaCcntly sub
mitted in the past elevated these self
constituted leaders to the highest nosi.
tiOnS of political honor ard public trust
within its power to confer.
1t has not only ncCdleSSly multiplied
Offices to make place for party-haCkS and
the subservient tools of party leade $.
thereby greatly onlarging the public cX
pCnditurcS and making Increased taxa
ton necessary to pay new salaries. but
has without Just cause recklrSSlv in
creased of al in,
all departments Of the state government
and so depleted the public funds that the
puhic charities of tho state have been
robbed of their necessary apDrODriations
II has not only tolerated the unjust
Withholding Of the public moneys apprO-
priatcd to the common schools and pub
lie charities, that favoritcs Of the treas
ury might be enriched and the funds for
CorruptinC the elections might be en-
larged, but its recognized leaders have
endeavored to thwart and defeat all leg
islauon and every movement to cor
TeCtiOn Of these abuses
For the purpose Of maintaining large
balances i'm the state treasury. and to use
them for corrupt political purposes, 1t
has withheld millions Of dollars Of per
Sonal property tax from the counties
of it.
1t has created n building commission
Tor the erection of a state caDitOl, whose
manifest purpose is To disregard the plain
mandate creating IT, 10 pcrpctuate for an
unnecessary length Of time its unfortu-
nate existence to benefit the faVoritc
contractors of some political boss and
me trult Of whose actions will be a large
lncrcas" Of the state Indebtedness,
Controlling by Il two-thirds vote both
the Stnat" and nou,t OF representatives
in the last legislative session, il exhibited
p reckless disregard Of the rights of the
taxpayers NJ the state. shameless sub
servicncy TO the dictates Of the party boss
ana a moSt plotiigato appropriations Of