The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-01
SAWYER FOR GOVERNOR
WISCONSIN DEMOCRATS NOM
MATE HIM ON FIRST BALLOT

Attended - Committee COnfers
With POpuIists on the Question of
FusiOn-PIatfOrm Adopted Prais-
es Soldiers and Sailors of the
Late War.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, Aug. 31.-The
Democratic state convention for the Sc
lection of a complete ticket, which was
called to order IN the Lyceum theater
shortly before noon by eX-Gov. George
w. Peck, chairman of the state central
committee, before adjournment tonight
had adopted platform and nominated
Hiram Sawyer for governor. The ticket
will be completed tomorrow.
In calling the convention to order
Gov. Peck congratulated the DemOc-
racy and people of Wisconsin on the
interest taken in public affairs, and
predicted that the ticket to be NOM
mated on this occasion would carry
the state by a large majority. He then
announced that the state central COM
mittee had selected James L. O'ConnOr
as temporary chairman of the cOnVen-
ton. Chairman OCOnnor was received
with a storm of applause. In his
speech Mr.. O'Connor scored the present
Republican administration Of the state
and characterized the platform recently
adopted as IAN admission of diShon-
esty, incompetency and guilt" He at
tackled the Republicans In the state for
being lax in legislation against railroad
corporations, express and telegraph
companies on the line Of taxation,
passes and franks, and accused the
administration of being extravaganza
and careless with the public funds;
that the Democratic administration
from 1891 to 1894 was IAN opone book
and needed no Defense
The convention took a recess to per-
nit a committee appointed for that
purpose to confer with Populists on
the question of fusion.
On the reassembling of the conven-
ton the temporary organization was
made permanent.
The report Of the committee on reso-
lutiOns was then read and adopted. The
chairman Of the committee on resolu-
lions reported that that committee
would not be ready to report until $50
o'clock this evening, whereupon the
convention took a recess until that
hour.
1t was o'clock when the delegates
got together for the third time today.
The first business taken up tonight was
the report of the committee on resolu-
lions, which was unanimously adopted
The report in part is as follows:
PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLES.
THAT Democrats of the state of Wisconsin
in state convention assembled do affirm our
allegiance to the Democratic principles-jus-
tice, liberty and equality, upon which our in
situations are founded which the Democratic
party has advocated from Jeferson's time to
our own, and we declare our firm devotion
to the Democratic principles as enunciated In
the Chicago platform of 1885,
I'VE congratulate the citizens Of the ma
ton on their loyalty and ardent patriotism
displayed In the vigorous prosecution of the
late war and we especially honor the Amer-
can army and navy for their valor and in
trepid bravery on land and sea, and we con-
denim in unstinted measure the war depart
ment for the blunders and crimes committed
against the brave boys in blue in camp and
on foreign battle fields, by selfish contractors,
incompetent surgeons and vain, heartless
army officers, appointed for political pur-
poses, and we hereby pledge to our brave
soldiers and sailors who survive this war, our
earnest ana loyal support TO secure the pun
ishment of the guilty parties"
Eve are in favor of primary election law
to replace the present method OF nominating
candidates for Office to the end that all nom
nations shall be made by direct vote of the
people. ~,
I'VE declare that 1t Is wrong against
public interests and morals for a public Of
fcer to receive a gift or favor from a person
or corporation. We therefore pledge our
selves to the enactment at the first oppor-
tunity of a law prohibiting the issue of
passes by railroads, express, telephone, teie-
graph, sleeping and street railway COM
panies to all public officials and delegates to
political conventions, with provisions impos-
ing severe penalties upon both giver and re-
ceiver for the violation thereof. And that as
soon as possible it be made a constitutional
provision that tie we promise an economical
administration Of the business of the state
and reduction Of the state taxes to the low
est rate consistent herewith
ITO the full discharge of the pledges here
in made in letter and in spirit and 10 cor
rect one of the abuses herein complained
of, we pledge the candidates nominated by
this convention.
I'VE believe in the referendum, the sub
mission of all laws to the vote of the peo-
pie, as the best and only means of safe
guarding both the Interests and liberties Of
III.
garchic tendencies.
I'VE favor honest legislation, state and ma
tional, and to the end that capital and cor
poration property shall bear It's full share
Of the burden of taxation.
I'VE are in favor Of good road system
and shall encourage the Improvements Of the
pubic highways Of the state.
1T is a notorious and unchallenged fact
that large sums of money have been drawn
from the treasury by state officials and their
favorites to the great scandal of the state
and in direct violation of law. We promise
rigid public investigation of these acts,
| and the prosecution of al persons implicated
therein.
1--WE most emphatically declare against the
blighting evil of the lobby in legislative halls
and pledge ourselves 10 the enactment of such
legislation will make it a penal offense
for corporations and individuals either to
employ or engage in improperly influencing
legislation by methods of the lobby
The names of Hiram Sawyer, of
Hartford; Timothy E. Ryan, Of Wau-
kesha, and W. H. Rogers were then
placed in nomination for governor
The informal ballot for governor re-
suited: Sawyer, 1868; Ryan, 256; Rogers.
| 81; Smith, 10. On motion the ballot
was made formal, and Sawyer declar-
| ed the unanimous choice OF the conven-
ton. The convention then adjourned
until 8 o'clock tomorrow morning with
out receiving the report Of the commit
| tee on conference with the Populists.
SENATOR'S WILL DICTATE.