Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-08-29

caught the delegates and was greeted
with yells of approval and a general
demonstration, during which Il dozen
men moved to declare Bohmrich the
nominee by reclamation. This was
done with another great yell The can
dldate appeared before the convention
few minutes later and made 4 speech of
acceptance, after which the convention
adjourned to meet again at O'clock.
Hood Talks Free Silver.
The convention was very slow in get
ting to work, owing to the failure of the
committee on resolutions to report on
time. Patrick Martin Of Oshkosh was
named as permanent chairman in place
of G. L. Hood. He took a bold stand on
the silver question and declared bluntly
for l6 to l. He devoted great deal of
time to reviewing financial legislation.
aud promised that the Democrats would
Institute money reforms in the present
financial system if Bryan were elected.
ht was free-silver speech. After the
noon adjournment it was decided that
Hood must be retired and Patrick Mar
tin was selected in his place Martin
was prepared with a speech on the other
paramount issue, Imperialism He deIiy-
cred it we'll. speaking for more than half
an hour. He was followed by Baron Won
Cotzhausen Of this city. who also made
Il long and eloquent address, directing
his attack against imperialism and mill
tarism.
Platform Denounces NIilitarism.
The platform as reported by the COM
mittee was adopted without a dissenting
vote 1t indorses the Kansas City plat
form and then at great length assails the
foreign policy of the present administrl
tion and denounces militarism. The plat
form is as follows:
The Democrats of Wisconsin, in conyen-
tion assembled, realizing the Importance of
the political battle about to be waged in
the state and nation, and that upon its out
come depends the settlement of momentOuS
issues Hereby make the following declara-
ton of principles
We affirm the principles as set forth in
the platform adopted by the Democratic
party in convention assembled at Kansas
City, and hereby pledge ourselves to give
outmost support by voice and vote to
the furtherance of the candidates. of our
inatchless leaders, William Jennings Bryan
and Adlai E. Stevenson.
The constitution of our country provides
for government based upon the broad and
humane principle of a government by con-
sent of the governed.
That under this constitution and under
these principles have founded and main
tanned the most enlightened, the most hui
nane, the best government the world has
ever seen.
We denounce, therefore, the abandon
ment of this principle by the Mckinley ad-
ministration, and the substitution in its
stead of the monaIchical system of a gov
We expressly declare our opposition to
ahe Mckinley policy of establishing colon
ial dependencies as adjuncts to our repub-
lie We denounce that policy as rev0lu-
tionary, destructive of the fundamental
principles of free government and the
abandonment of that splendid system upon
which was founded our free institutions.
We will fight to the last ditch every at
tempt to establish a military system which
necessarily leads to compulsory military
service as an obligation of citizenship, and
will strenuously oppose the maintenance of
n large standing army, unnecessarily, with
all its attendant burdens of oppressive tax
alton.
We denounce the attitude which the Nc
Kinley administration has assumed to-
wards the gigantic aggregations OF capital,
commonly known as trusts. We believe
that these are Il menace to Industrial free
dom; that they destroy competition, de-
crease production, increase prices and have
thrown large army of men out of EN-
We believe that the declaration of the
Republican party on this question is not
sincere as is evidenced by the fac that
during four years of control OF the leglsla-
tive machinery, no effective steps have
been taken to control regulate or prevent
the organization of trusts. and for the
further reason that many of the leaders OF
the Republican party are themselves pro
motors and organizers of these destructive
combinations
We favor legislation equaiizing the tax
laws of the state upon the basis OF constr
laws relating to transportation rates and
license fees of quasi-publc corporations
We declare our opposition to the present
system of double taxation and demand that
taxes be Justly and equitably levied upon
all property within the state. whether
owned by corporations Or individual, with
out discrimination or favor, excepting such
property of religious, fraternal and benev
client associations as is now expressly ex
empt by law.
we are opposed to joint resolution No
1G. proposing an amendment to Section I