The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-23

 PRINCIPLES Ohio Democracy in Bat tic Line. |lo:l OPTION DEFEATED
 n Johnson's Crushing Turn Down Still Live Topic. The Platform Roasts Republican Ad-
 ministratien, the Last Congress and Cordially Greets and En- derses William Jennings
Johnson's Crushing Turn
 Down Still Live Topic.


 l Columbus. Ohio. August 22.--samuel
 A. Hoskins. for Secretary of State; I Charles W. Haupert. for State School
 Commissioner: Rodney J. Diegie. fcr I State Dairy and Food Commissioner
 and George D. Wyswonger. constitu- ted the ticket named by the Ohio Dem | ocrats here today in a session sorne- what fervid in temperature. in ora I tory and in methods of voting.
 The day was close and sultry few delegates wore coats and many sought cooler places outside the nall before final adjournment. this last fact mak- | ing possible the casting of the votes of several delegations by unauthorized l persons during the last few ballots. A number of counties were chal- 1 lenged and several persons put out of the hall for such improper voting, but I 1t did not seem to affect the result materially in any case.
 | During the first hour and q half of I today,s session, the question of an
 endorsement of county option in tenn
 perance legislation was under discus-
 sion, an attempt by W. I. Finley to \ amend the platform and give such an
 endorsement being defeated on roll
 cali
 The discussion developed opposition | to the general idea Of county option.
 while some delegates insisted that in
 having "approved unqualifediy Gov ernor Pattison's policies" the platform l already was strong enough on the
 very point for which Mr. Finley con- i tended
 Aside from these features. the de- l feat of Mayor Tom l. Johnson in the
 State central committee. a feature of
 vesterdav. was still the subject of
 comment
 The committee on resolutions Of the Democratic State Convention came | near having an alI-ntght session of Fit in their attempt at bringing on the ! floor of the convention the differences that had kept them go long In ses- sion. However. final adjournment was taken just before half past two o'clock without having reached any agree ment and with tho understanding that W. l. Finley intended to bring
 in minority report in favor of coun- l ty option and endeavor to secure the
 vote of the convention h it's favor.
 Finley Stood Firm. The arguments had been protracted and pointed and compromise had at one time seemed in sight, but MT.
 Finley insisted that he stod for Pat | tison's policies and no compromise.
 such as suggested conld be accepted Rev. Herbert Bigeiow. of Cincinnati, sought to have the matter of county option brought in as a part a the ini- tiative and referendum planE but it
 was still unacceptable to the two l opinions and then the committee adopted all that could meet with the | approval of all the members present | and left out the plank of contention. This brought Mr- Finley to his feet with the final statement that he re- | gretted to say that this meant that he
 must bring in minority report. There
 seemed to be nothing further to do l and the committee adjourned. The proposition of Mir. Finley fot | local option by counties, the present | laws providing only for township and residence district option, came before | the convention as an amendment to the report of the platform cor6mittee. MT. Finley of hose with him on the county option proposition voted for the balance of the platfor mand there was no dissent from It's views. The proposal made by Mir Finley to the committee and rejected was as fol- lows:
 we urge the necessary legisiatjon ar constitutional amendment which will give the people of the State, county or city, by petition of five peF cent of the votes. the right to bring any question to a popular vote thereby voting. if they choose, any
 act of their representatives or enact ing by popular initiative any legisla- | ton which may meet with the ap-
 nroyal of the mapority. We believe l that under the provisions the people | of any community could solve all questions of temperance or other leg
 Islatlon to their own satisfaction"
 This same plank was submitted by
 him as an amendment to the report ef
 the committee on resolutions, when
 that was presented to the convention
 Thomas E. Powell, chairman of the
 nlatform committee. read the report, | inc reading being followed with close attention, frequent applause greeting
 PIatform of ohio Democrats.
 The report of the resolutions as presented was as follows;
 ''The Democracy of Ohio in oonven-
 tion assembled. announce the follow nir declaration of principles:
 "we declare that the present laws
 for assessing the property of rail-
 roads and other public service cor
 norations should be so changed as to
 non,ne1 inc assessment of those prop erties at not less than their saleable value as going concerns. and to pre-
 vent their evasion or just taxation.
 we believe in free and unquaIlned
 home rule, free from State interrer-
 ence Each city, town 01d village should be allowed to decide for itself | all matters of local policy. especially
 as between public or private owner | ship of all public utilities, including
 streat railwaye az well aR water
 works and lighting systems. and that ] nrovision should be made for sub hitting such questions to the people, ., non request from reasonable num- A - of voters and at such elections the .,o,. po, of a majority shall decide. Such pubii. . ownership should be safeguard ed b, the merit system of appoint veant 2, nd tenure of office. so as to rraa,art the building up of political .pnechines s1nd the perpetuation of boss rule. ,. os ,,-...s stotss Senators by direct vote of the psople and suggest the adoption of the so-eailed oregon Ian to this end. We direct the state ceL'tral Committee to include in the eau for the next state Convention provA t,nS 'or the nomins-