The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-08-23
Address of the Executive Committee
OF the Democratic Society Of Pennsylvania

the United States and the control of
the House of Representatives. The
recovery of these branches of gov
ernment by the people at this criti-
cal time will prevent the early con-
summation and, as we hope, defeat
forever the gigantic conspiracy of
vast moneyed interests, foreign as
well as domestic, to subvert the
American Republic and to substi-
tute the despotic rule of the trusts
and their corrupt allies for the rule
of the plain people.
"The people have but one expe-
dent. They must organize il self
defence. 1t is only by pledging
themselves one to another and as
whole to stand together for mutual
encouragement and support that
they can offer effectual resistance
to the brutal assaults Of intimida-
ton and corruption which will be
made upon them.
Every Democrat should enroll
himself in a straight-out Democratic
club, to do continuous battle for the
cause of popular government until
the poles close. With such an or
ganization, covering every part of
our state, the imperial trust party's
alority, hitherto counted in Penn
svlvania, may, by the blessing of
Divine Providence, be wiped out.
| "All Democratic clubs should
unite with the Democratic Society
of Pennsylvania and with the Ma
tional Association of Democratic
clubs, and be represented in the
General Assembly of the one and
the National Convention of the
other.
"Our illustrious candidates for
President and Vice President
Bryan and Stevenson--present the
noblest types Of American citizen
ship and American craftsmanship.
They are of the people and for the
people. Their election will insure
the perpetuity of republican insti-
tutions. The election OF the trust
party's candidates would mean I'M
perialisn beyond seas and imperial
ism at home, great standing army,
oppressive taxation, multiplied
monopolies and the industrial slav-
cry of the masses.
In Our own State the one i'm
portant issue is equally plain and
grave. Elections here are utterly
corrupt and fraudulent. The ballot
boxes do not render the will of the
people. The election laws are
framed to encourage and protect
bribery and coercion, and bribery
and coercion are practised upon a
scale SO colossal that it is uncertain
whether some of our public author
tiles owe their commissions to the
people or to criminal assessors, bal
lot box suffers, repeaters and per-
jured election officers.
Eighty Thousand fraudulent
votes counted in a single city
means that the Executive, the Leg
islature, a large part OF the States
representation in Congress, as we'll
as the entire municipal government,
may easily enough be the products
of mere crime. The Democrats of
Pennsylvania, having suffered un-
der the corrupt and fraudulent ma
jorities rolled up by their opponents
under the infamous Baker Law,
demand a change, change which
will include all honest personal
registration Of citizens entitled to
vote, and put into the hands of ev-
cry elector so entitled a secret, free
and secure ballot, which will record
his independent will
"And since this radical change
can be effected only by complete
revision of the eighth article Of the
Constitution on suffrage and cleo
tions, the Democrats will earnestly
join with any group or class Of their
fellow citizens, or with any party
or faction of any party, which pro-
poses open and honest cooperation
for an immediate constitutional
convention for immediate ballot re
form. This is the reform compre-
hending all reforms, and it should
be the special care of Democrats in
| every district TO see that true men
are returned to the Legislature who
will aid in the early passage of "a
fair, non-partisan convention bill
like that of 1872" framed by that
great and good Pennsylvania, the
late Charles r. Buckalew."
| CHAUNcEY f. BLACK, President
JOHN d. WORKMAN, Secretary.
All Democratic Clubs will report
the names Of its officers and adj
dresses to the Secretary, No. 1885,
SVdenlam street (TiOpa) Phila