The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-06-15
Democratic State Convention.

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platform was adopted:
First-The Democracy of Pennsylvania in
convention assembled again renewing our
pledges of hnelity and devotion to the sacred |
rights of the people; true to the faith and
principles OF our party as declared in the !
platforms OF our several national conventions
and proud of our matchess leader, William
Jennings Bryan, realize that the issues in.
volved in the coming campaign i'll Pennsyl
vania are honest government, clean politics
and the redemption Of our State from Re
publican mlsrule and corruption.
! Second-We denounce the wholly unneces.
sary increase of public officials and petty
clerkships in the several departments of the
State government, and the unjustifable and
unwarranted increase of salaries. The pay
ment of political obligations in this manner
out of the State Treasury has already created
a deficit of over 80, 500, 600, crippled the
public charities, robbed the public schools
and enormously increased the burdens of the
individual tax payers.
Third-We believe that the most careful
provision should be made for the care of the
unfortunate insane of our State, and contend
that the cause of the poor and the afflicted is
Of far greater Importance to the welfare of
the Commonwealth than is the creation of
new offices and the increase of official SAL
aries.
Fourth--We denounce the indecent haste
displayed in the disrespect shown the people
by the Governor of the State in the appoint
ment to the vacancy i'll the United States
Senate of NJ. S. Quay, who, to prevent full
investigation before Jury Of his country
pleaded the statute of limitations against the
most serious charges of crime, in this APP
pointment, in the unwarranted reduction of
the appropriation TO public schools and his
unauthorized veto of the constitutional
amendment resolution he has violated the
Constitution, usurped authority nowhere
granted him, and perpetrated wrongs against
the people and the State that demand his
condemnation.
Fifth--We heartily approve Of the course
pursued by those members of the Democratic
party in the House and Senate in the last
Legislative session who contended for purity
and honesty in the conduct Of affairs and
against corruption and public jobbery, and
commend their devotion ITO duty and the
high standard of reform to which they have
: committed the Democratic party.
=, Sxth--As political organization we are
committed to thorough reform and promise
It if entrusted by the people with the opportun.
l. ity and power, to administer the State Treas
II. ury after clean and simple business methods;
|. State, and prompt payment Of school and
IS charitable appropriations, as well as the
d moneys due the counties, and not to withhold
=. them in the banks for the enrichment OF
u politicians.
Seventh--We are committed to a thorough
purgng OF the list of employees, clerks and
is officials in the several departments and the
&c elimination of all unnecessary employees, the
I. reduction Of salaries and the expenses of the
III departments which have so enormously in
y creased since the administration of Governor
Of Pattison.
"A Eighth--We favor a revision of the ia,
laws Of the State in the interests of the peopl,
to the end that corporate property may pay
s. its due share, that municipal franchises may
of be valued and assessed as any other form o
,t property, and that no interest shall be favor
=, =, ed but that all shall stand on an equality.
IL Ninth--We favor the adoption of sucl
is statutes as will prevent the further grant o
ID municipal and other franchises, in perpetuity
to and will enable the people of the municipal
W tiles to derive Just benefit and income from
this form of public property commensurate
with the value thereof
Tenth-We favor ID revision of the ballo
law, maintaining its secrecy, simplifying tn
III method OF voting and protecting the vote
ts against fraud and coercion. We also favo
ta the amendment of the constitution SO as {
'~ require personal registration Of the voter
ur in the cities, and we denounce Governo
i'll Stone for attempting, by his veto, to intel
d fere without right or justification, with III
- legislative act passed for that purpose, an
''' thus attempting 10 prevent the people froi
wv passing upon this important matter.
ch Eleventh We demand the immediate pro-
do ecuton of those found guilty of briber,
nj ed in ale Of
=. United States Senator by committee az
~ pointed to investigate the charges made (; an
ed if found guilty by trial before a jury, W
demand their sentence to the full penalty a
wa lowed by law.
avn Twelfth-We are oppos ed to all combin
:" tons of capital calculated to produce mono
Gil oily, or restrain trade, as being inconsistel
,re with the spirit of free institutions and
k their establishment cannot be constitutions
IN ly prevented, we hold that they should be
II, regulated and limited by proper Legislation
no that individual effort and opportunity sha
nd not be impaired.
On Thirteenth Democratic party pied
yer ing itself and its candidates to a faithf
T., obedience to the constitution and the law
liz TO the support Of all measures intended
ley secure free, fair and honest election to pr
elf mote honest, efficient and economical a
ministration IN State and municipal affair
.,x and to prevent the use of public money, lie
ns isa,ion or patronage, for private profit, cal
ey tupon all good citizens 10 lay aside all 9th
lite questions and unite with it in an effort
,at save the State
len Fourteenth-We hereby express our ear
. est admiration for and devotion TO our pre-
Wy ent representative on the National Comm
-he tee, the Honorable James M. Gufey, wi
the has, through his cautious, wise and prude
one 1--WE, ao anu preem'heht SKILL energy a.
ers out hope of reward has as spent M his tin time "a, a,
ad, substance for the welfare of our State, f
are which our party should hold him in gratef
=, remembrance.
feet Fifteenth-We glory and rejoice in t