The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-25
Course Pursued by Ohio Demo-
crats Is NOncOmmittaI.
Matter of Principles Referred to
st. Louis Convention.
VOTE AS THEY PLEASE.
Delegates viii Be Unfettered BIZ
IntructiOns.
Majority of Delegation EmpOw-
cred to Enforce Unit Rule.

Columbus, O., May 25-Previous to
the assembling of the Democratic state
convention today the conversation had
won in the preliminary meetings. All
the 2O8 contested seats were given to
the conservatives. The radicals insist
ed that they would present minority re-
ports if defeated in the convention to-
day, they would carry the contests to
st. Louis. When the convention was
called to order, Chairman Finlay of the
state central committee, introduced R.
L. Starr, who in part said:
I'VE are met here, not to destroy by
personal chickering's, but to preserve the
harmony of our best Judgment"
He arraigned Republican rule in Ohio
and the nation and held that it was toll
Grated by 1.-The spirit of unreconcilable
dissension in the Democratic party
Where is the Democrat whose cheek
has not burned with anger, or whose
head has hung in shame as he reads.
or listens to words of vitLs s,erative Wilt
hcation, libel and slander banded be-
tween warning factions, whether they
be OF Hearst, Parker, Cleveland. Bryan
or otherwise Is the mere preference
of a man a crime? Is it a greater
crime for a Democrat 10 have a pre-
ference for Parker, for Hearst, for
Cleveland, for Bryan, than it is for Uni
ted States senators 10 sell the influence
of their Office 1al gain2 Or for the
administration to suppress the investi-
cation of postofice scandals lest it
should iuJure the party, or for the pres
ident ef the United States to disrupt
the republic of Colombia in the inter
est of the Panama canal grafters?
'sYe want the yeoman service of Par
keT aad his friends in the coming cam
paign, we want the energy and dash
Of Hearst and his friends in the COM
ing battle; we wart the oratory of
Bryan and Cochran, the political man
agement of Hill and German and the
mature judgment of Cleveland in the
impending struggle.
"A common danger and calamity, a
should make brotlsrrs OF US all, and
here in Ohio We want the united
efforts of Johnson, Mclean, Lentz,
Kilbourne and the great Democratic
party to join in one gigantic effort
to turn back the flood OF Republican
corruption that threatens to over
whelm the state.
Democrats, cease your envying
and contention and stand shoulder to
shoulder in our common cause against
this fearful, StupendOus and appalling
state of public debauchery and cor
ruption.
Democrats, let US here resolve that
by the aid of Cleveland, Bryan, Hill
German, Parker, Hearst, Johnson,
Mclean, without reference to pre-
vious conditions of political belief,
financial doctrines or tariff dogma,
that Republican misrule shall cease,
and that the rascals in high and low
places shall be turned out and that
a government of, for and by the peo-
pie be restored"
The following platform was
adopted:
The Democratic party of Ohio, while
formally adhering to all living Demo-
cratic principles as time and again de-
clared by Democratic conventions rec
ommend that the formal annunciation
Of purely national questions be refer
red to the national convention soon to
convene at St. Louis.
"On state affairs the Democratic
party of Ohio offers the people relief
from the political trust which has long
controlled every department of the
state government. 1t promises if en-
trusted with authority to reduce public
expenses and taxation to save the
property of the state and restore gov
ernment by the people as designed by
the founders. The Ohio delegation is
directed to cast the entire 46 votes in
the national convention as the major
ity of those present and voting shall
decide when such majority shall deter
rpiua that course TO be adViSa bile