Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-09-04
JOHNSON
SUPREME
Continuad from Lei Page.


Institutions have been wastefully and in
efficiently managed and in them scandal
GUS and cruel wrongs have been prdctlced
upon the defenseless wards of the stare:
the farmers and small shippers continue
IL suffer from unjust discrimination at
the hands of unregulated monopoly: the
entire system of municipal government has
been wrecked and the credit of cities de-
stroyed. thereby producing spirit of in
security aud unrest in ali public affairs.
The pcople can no longer TRUST the admin
iStration of their affairs to a party thus
feckleSsiy devoted TO interests adverse to
The public welfare. AS more specific
statement IF our principles upon these
and other questions declare:
First-That all taxable property should
h. appraised by assessing boards, which
Gilould be in session for at least part of
ll0eratons should be open to the public,
ulat power be given 10 employ a repre-
sentative 10 present the Interests of the
public in hearings before these boards.
and that in making assessments all nrop
elty should he appraised at not less than
rs Sallble value.
Second That the present laws for as
seSsirg the property of steam railroads
aud other public service corporations
shorld he 50 changed as to compel the as
>esSment IF those properties at not less
than their saiabe value as going con-
Germs aud TO prevent their evasion CT just
taxation
Third That to prevent evasion of state
taxes ~ discriminating valuations, n sep
nratlon Of the sources of state and local
revenues should be made. And to that
end we heartily endorse the constitutional
amendment now pending before the peop!s
?nd TO be voted on next year, which VIA
prmit classification of taxable property
Fourth--That all public service corpora
tons shonld be requested by law to make
sworn public reports and that the power
cf visitation and examination over such
corporations should be given to the proper
auditing officers. to the end that the true
alue. of the privileges had by such cor
N""1tions may be made plain to the Deo-
pie.
.fth-That the acceptance Of free passes
or other favOrs from railroads by public
officers or employees should be adequate
ground for their removal from office.
Sixth-That the denial Of the right or
peaceab!e persuasion in times IF labor dis
turbance is denial OF the right of free
speech and that government by injunc-
ton, if persisted IN, will wreck the liber-
tics of the people.
Seventh-That we demand the enactment
iule for municipalities. which shall in
clude the right to establish the merit sys-
tenn with civil service, under which that
system now In use IN fre and ponce
perfected and be extended to other mu-
nicipal departments, particularly to water
and lighting plants now operated by mu-
inequalities and to street car and all pub
lie service plants as they may hereafter
be established under municipal owner
ship and operation.
and corrupt bargain between the boss of
Cincinnati and Ohio's United States SEN
ators, to force through the legislature a
code that will fOist upon the municipali-
ties of Ohio. Cincinnati's form of govern
G6nt in order that the power of the boss
may be preserved on the one hand and on
the other will perpetuate existing street
railway franchises which Ohio'S United
States senator's represent
Ninth-That the municipal code should
protect the public against all clauses which
h. ia IL ,Nlno n
the spirit of public service mOnopolies, by
requiring that all ordinances granting, re-
newing. eXtendin. or modifying franchises
shall be imperative until confirmed by
majority vote of the people of the munich
pality; and we are unalterably opposed to
the granting of any perpetual franchise.
Tenth-Th4t until United States senator's
are required by amendment to the fed
Pral constitution to be elected by DOpu-
lar vote nominations of candidates for
United States senator should be made by
state conventions. And we hereby direct
mat in the official cali for the next Demo-
cratic state convention of Ohio there be
embodied clause providing for the NOM
nation at that convention of the Demo
cratic candidate for United States senator,
ard a clause providing for action by said
convention upon all the amendments to-
the state constitution then pending before
the people
Upon these principles Of home rule and
Just taxation, and to the accomplishment
of these purposes in municipal and state
citizens of Ohio. regardless of their party
affiliations on national questions, hereby
solemnly pledging our candidates to the
faithful observance of this declaration,
both in letter and spirit.
The convention was principally the
occasion of booming its presiding of
icer, Mayor Tom L. Johnson, for the
presidency and of introducing into
Ohio politics Rev. Herbert S. Bigelow
pastor of the Vine Street Congrega
tional church at Cincinnati. The
former has been conspicuously before
the public as congressman and dele
gate to national and other conventions
for years, but the latter was not SC
we'll known until he was yesterday
made the standard-bearer Of his party
and made a speech of acceptance that
vas received with unusual enthUsi.
asm. Bigelow Is 80 years old. indie.
pendent in his creed and has become
-rominent as a lecturer as we'll as a
popular preacher.
The convention was held with the
most pleasant surroundings, with d
sreat bathing beach on one side Of
tie pavilion and garden attractions
en- the other side
Only One Ballot.
The proceedings were in accord
With the rounds Of pleasure" The
session lasted less than three hours
and had only one ballot. most of the
time being devoted to speeches. ana
that Of Rev. Bigelow was conceded to
be the feature of the occasion. In
presenting the names of candidates
and in seconding the same and in &C
cepting nominations, over a score Of
orators were heard, but none of them
commanded more attention, not ex
cepting the keynote speech of Chair
ran Johnson, than the young minis
ter.
1t was a Johnson convention
throughout, although Mr.. Johnson
| himself was more conciliatory yester
day than at the preliminary meetings
Of the past two days. The platform
was adopted as it came from him