The Portland daily press., 1900-02-20
Mr.. Connolly Draws Up q Platform
Which Is Adopted.
Women Nominated For
School Board.
Eloquent Grafton BY Levi Green
leaf On Subject.

| The Democrats of the oity met at Re-
ception hall last evening 10 nominate o
candidate for mayor and three women
for the school committee. The gather
ing was pretty small and tho affair was
very tame. In fact 10 was the dulless
| Demo0ratic con vention that hiss been
held In Portland tor many years. and
thsrs have bean some very dull ones.
Every ward reported Q Vacancy In its
list Of delegates and no representation
ut all Was reported from Ward 8.
| Al few minutes before O'Clock
Chairman Greenlsaf of the city commit
Tee advanced 70 the front Of the hall and
read the call for the meeting. He said
that hs had been asked to invite DIR.
Gordon to aot as the permanent chair
man, and Major Collins as the secretary.
DIR. Gordon came forward and TOOK his
seat, but as he did 90 there was not the
slightest manif sstation Of applause for the
old war horse. The doctor got right down
to business, refraining from making a
speech Of acoepsaBo,>or telling about the
trighs outlook which the party had for
| success.
j. Henry Bradley moved that the roll
call be taken. The motion was second
I'd aud carried and 10 was found that 80
our Of the 90 delegates were ON band.
The different wards were empowered to
| I'LL the vacancies. The proceedings ocou-
pied several minutes and then Council
man Connolly, who has been the real
thing In the Democratic politics Of Port
land for the lsst year, moved that the
chair appoint q COMMITTEES Of three 20
bring In "a set of resolutions. Ths chair
selected MIR. Connolly, Charles II. Scam
mon and Stephen u. Perry. Ths CON-
mittse retired and after an examination
OF the "resolutions," which Mr.. Connol-
ly had written out In his otfios during
| the aftsrnoon, returned TO the hall. The
convention Was awaiting the pleasure Of
Mr.. Connolly. who read the following
set Of declarations which, hs said. would
lie q platform for the local Demo craoy In
the municipal campaign.
1--WE demand that every contract made
by the city, where common laoorers are
to be employer, shall contain stipula-
tion that such laborers be tax payers
OF the city.
| 2-We believe that good oity hospital.
separate from the poor department, should
be establishsd and maintained by the
city, under the supervision of tine board
of health. or q special committee.
3-We believe that proper system Of
free public taths would bs beneficial 10
the health and morals of the oity.
4-The cxpe erisnce OF the past year has
demonstrated that reasonable oompe.
tition In supplying the city with eIeotri-
cal light and power is beneficial to It's
Inhabitants, and We believe that the
same competition should bs permitted
in granting rights, privileges and fran
chises to other public utilities, where i
monopoly exists.
fort Of the Inhabitants of the city demand
q larger and more efficient expenditure
Of money, In maintaining our streets
and highways, In u suitable and sanitary
condition.
6-Me demand that the Fire Depart
ment shall not be used for political pur-
poses; and recommend the establishment
of fire com mission, upon whose recon-
mendstion only members may be ap-
pointsd, after passing suitable examina-
tion.
| I've are In favor of referring all I'm
portapt questions Of Grantipg rights.
PRIVILEGES and other public franchises,
TO a direct vote of the people.
S-We believe that .one of the fundamen-
tai principles OF our form Of government
~ that every man should not only be
given the right to vote, but he should
also exercise that right; We therefore
recommend that a sufficient number OF
voting precincts be established In each
ward, In accordance with the provisions
of the Statutes In orisr that each voter
may be allowed the privilege Of voting
with the least expense and trouble.
We are also In fAvtr of amending the
present election law, to allow cities and
lsrger towns, the right to open the polls
as early s O o'clock, a. m.
| I'VE are opposed to the further grant.
ing Of valuable and remunsrative public
franchises. without imposing conditions
and r st ietsons that will protect the IT,
terssts Of the city and believe that Il 9
same rule should be applied In extend
ing or snisrsing exi,ting franchises ard
privileges.
We recommend that tae next city gov
srnment make an sffcrt to secure dollar
sss; to establish three-csnt car fares
before the hour of .. m. and between
the hours tf 8 and 7p. m.
| Owe dsnounos the ex rIvagant tx-
penditutss Of public money for political
purposes. and demand q frugal and eeo-
aamioal adm abstraction OF Affairs IN city.
county aud state, TO tha end that ths