Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-05-11

ton for electing him National com
mitteeman.
The Seaboard Air Line Band dis
coursed popular airs bile the con-
vention was assembling.
THE PLATFORM.
The Committee on Resolutions.
through its Chairman, Hon. Eugene
Wlthers, presented the following:
BRYAN AND the CHICAGO PLATFORM.
CD We hereby endorse the principles
OF Democracy as enunciated in the ma
tional platform Of the party, adopted at
Chicago in 1896. We heartily endorse
William Jennings Bryan as the logical
Democratic candidate for the Presidency
of the United States, and we instruct our
delegates to the National Democratic
Convention to he held at Kansas City to
vote accordingly.
IMPERIALIsM
%l We denounce the Republican
policy of imperialism as undemocratic.
unAmerican and unconstitutional. Vir-
ginia has ever been foremost in battling
for the republic against the empire. and
1t is with an unfaltering confidence i'm
the patriotism of her sous that we call
upon them TO again stand against the
empire and for the republic We declare
that there can be no government by the
republic of our fathers, except that
which is dominated by the Constitution
OF the United States, ana that neither in
the promotion of our welfare, nor in ac-
cordance with the Constitution, can the
United States acquire and govern anv
territory whatsoever as subject prov
ince, nor deny to the people of any tor
ritory to be retained under our control
the blessings of constitutional liberty;
nor can we hope to raise the level of
American citizenship by pouring into il
horde of Asiatics.
Therefore, in the interest of the
American people and American ins,itu-
tions, and in harmony with the teachings
of our wisest statesmen of all parties.
and as "a PLAIN duty" we demand that
the Philippine Islands be turned over as
soon as practicable to their own iphabi-
tants; that the people Of Porto Rico be
given a just territorial government
before their substance is stolen by car |
pot-baggers, and that we promptly and
honorsbly make good our solemn
declarations conceraing Cuba.
We, the Democrats of Virginia, are
opposed to militarism, and regard great
standing armies as the worst enemies of |
the republic.
TRUSTS DENOUNCED.
(3). We declare unalterable opposition |
to criminal trusts and to every other ille- |
gal combination OF capital. We denounce |
such trusts as serious menace TO the |
public welfare, restricting the oppor-
tunities, and absorbing the substance of
the people. They are the direct product /
OF partial and unjust legislation, and |
the reckless multiplication Of corpora- |
tions without suitable provisions for
their control. The rights of American |
freemen must not be sacrificed i'm the
interest of corporations banded together
for their destruction.
We arraign the Republican party both
Tor It's failure TO enforce existing laws,
and to enact others against the trusts.
H). WHEREAS, there is pending in Con-
gress bill forbidding contractors doing
work for the United States Government
similar TO the work done by the govern
ment in its own shops, requiring laborers
on such work to work for a greater
number of hours per day than the
laborers employed in the government
shops are required to work,
BE IL ReSolced, That we endorse the
principle of said bill as being Just and
commendable.
(5). The Democrats of Virginia, in con-
vention assembled, do hereby endorse
the clean and honest administration of
j. Hoge Tyler, Governor of Virgins,
and we congratulate our people upon
the liberal support of our public free
schools and of our disabled Confederate
soldiers and Confederate widows, which
has been so generously afforded by said
administration.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
(6). WHEREAS, the General Assembly
ofNirginia has submitted to vote of the
people the question of the calling of a
constitutional convention, and whereas
1t is the evident desire of the white peo.
pie of Virginia to amend and revise the
present Constitution,
Resolccd, That the Democratic party
of Virginia, in convention assembled.
endorses the action of the General AS.
sembly, and earnestly urges the people
OF virginia 10 vote on the fourth Thurs
day in May for calling a constitutional
Resotsed, That it is the sense of this
convention that in framing a new con-
stitution no effort should be madeto dis.
franchise any citizen of Virginia who
had right to vote prior to 1861. nor
the descendant of any such person. and
that when such constitution shall have
been framed it shall be submitted TO q
vote of the people for ratification or
rejection, and the Democratic party
pledges that the expenses incident to a
constitutional convention shall be kent
down to the lowest possible figures.
MINORITY RESOLUTIONS.
Hon. b. b. Munford came forward
ana presented the following resolu-
tlon as a substitute for the first sec
tion OF the platform reported by a
vote of the majority of the committee:
The Democratic party of Virginia, in
convention assembled, hereby reafirms
It's allegiance to the fundamental princi-
pies Oh the party, and pledges its support
10 the candidate fn no oar,oa - - |