Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-06-22
T1e Democratic Platform.

I-quirer. 1t might on a pinch do
for a sOphmoric essay, but it bears
all the earmarks OF the workman
ship of ten-year-old boy. 1t
carries, of course, the endorsement
OF the Great Guffey, but if the
Great Gutfey cannot command a
better set OF carpenters and shout
ers we fear that his days are num-
bered.
The platform is fearfully and
wonderfully made-out OF nothing.
The document which was handed
60 ex-State Chirman Garman for
his ornamental committee to put
5hrOugh does not touch upon a real
issue. 1t makes a few infantile
remarks. and ends business with
Bhese remarks. 1t is constructed
OF fifteen planks, and not one of
them is worth the time required to
read it. Let us see what these
planks are:
The first obliterates every prin-
ciple and theory for which the
Democratic party has fought. 1t
proclaims It's pride in Bryan, "the
mutchless leader" and then drops
him like a hot potato. 1t has
nothing to say on National issues,
but thinks that 'honest govern
ment" is the proper line upon
which to wage fight. But what
does the platform mean by ''honest
government |>
Well, it declares that there is a
deficit OF 50, 800, 900, which is due
to the "wholly unnecessary in
crease of public officials and petty
clerkships and the increase of
salaries" This declaration con-
only answer to it is that it is bare
faced falsehood. 4 lie requires no
argument TO relute. The third
plank places the cause Of the
poor and afflicted above the crea-
ton Of new offices, which is sensi-
Die enough, but it so happens that
new offices have not been created
and the plank is misleading and
false.
1t was but natural that Governor
Stone should be denounced, but
how rjdiculously weak is the de-
nunciation The criticism rests
On three points-the appointment
.0f Senator Quay, the reduction of
Jbe public school funds and the
veto Of a resolution suggesting a
constitutional amendment. All
this is contained in the fourth
plank, which declares that the
Governor has violated the consti-
tuition. Well, so far as Quay is
concerned the Senate of the United
States, not an irresponsible con-
yontion OF Guffeyites, will settle
that question. As to the reduction
Of the school funds, the Governor
simply tried to save the State from
adding very largely to its debt,
and ne was forced to it by the atti-
tude of the Democrats and their
assistants, the Flinn-M Martin insur-
gents, who placed the interests of
Finn and Martin above those of
the State. 1t will be noticed that
the denunciation Is extremely mild,
proof sufficient that the Democrats
are not sure Of their ground. This
plank, then, Is miserable d1iyel.
The fifth plank is absolutely
meaningless, and the sixth, which
promises a clean and business-like
administration Of the State Treas
ury, is just as meaningless. for The
present conduct of the Treasury is
clean and business-like The sew
cnth commits the party to the
purging OF the lists Of employees,
clerks and officials, which has al
ready been attempted to the limit,
while the eighth favors the revision
Of the tax laws. Why, it may be
asked, did not the Democrats, with
the aid Of the insurgents, purge
the tax laws at the recent session :
Simply because they held up legis-
lation and plunged the Legislature
into chaos The Legislature was
Inore interested in destroying ma
iority rule than in beneiitting the
State. The next plank opposes
che further grant of municipal and
other franchises in perpetuity. We
are glad to see the Democrats
catching up with the band wagon
shia cue ton. It IS municipal
matter entirely, and Brother Guf-
fey's carpenters apparently have
been going over The files Of The
Inquirer for inspiration. The