Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1881 — OHIO DEMOCRATS. [ARTICLE]

OHIO DEMOCRATS.

Vleetiaff «f the State Convention—A Laurgre and Enthueiawtic tJaUhcring —Strong Ticket Placed in Ute Field. The Ohio Democratic State Convention, which met at Columbus, July 13, was Ohe of the largest, finest and inost enthusiastic delegate political gatherings that ever assembled in the Buckeye State. Gen. Thomas E. Powell, the Chairman, spoke as follows, on taking the chair: Gentlemen of the Convention : It is with feelings of the deepest obligation that I thank yon for the honor just conferred on me. In return I promise to detain you only to congratulate you upon the auspicious manner in which we are about to enter upon the old struggle. We are about to enter upon the old fight. It is one in which we have been sometimes defrauded, often defeated, but never snbdued. The smoke of the last contest has just cleared away, and here we are on our feet again, fresh, fearless, and, in the coming contest, I trust, invincible. The very cause for which we fight gives ns additional assurances of success. It is the cause of civil liberty; it is the struggle to preserve free institutions ; it is the struggle to preserve the States and their vested rights against the proud spirit of centralization ; to protect individual rights against the encroachments of corporate power; it is the effort to reestablish the landmarks of the government of our fathers; to reaffirm their teachings and their principles; to replant the corner-stone of individual rights and individual liberty. To this cause we present to-day a united and determined party. Within our borders there are no factions and dissensions. Our rank and file are filled with enthusiasm and are full of hope and confidence.

We ask for a nice, able and faithful leader, and then we can and will go forth to take possession and govern the great State of Ohio. As agents of the people we now tmst not only the success of our party in this State, but its ultimate fortunes in the nation. Wise and right action here to-day will be seed received upon good ground, which in October will return a arvest of at least an hundred fold. I have but one word more. L»t us enter upon this campaign with new hope and new courage, and then, with union and firm faith and firm accord, we can carry it back to the ancient landmarks and principles, and send it forward upon a new course of greatness and glory.

John W. Bookwaiter, of Springfield, was nominated for Governor on the second ballot, amid great cheering and enthusiasm. Other nominations were made as follows: For Lieutenant Governor, Edgar M. Johnson, of Cincinnati; for Supreme Judge, E. F. Bingham, of for State Treasurer, A. F. Winslow, of Cleveland; for Attorney General, Frank C. Dougherty, of Highland county; for Public Works, John Crowe, of Defiance. Mr. Bookwaiter, the nominee for Governor, is a native of Fountain county, Ind., and is 43 years of age. He was known there in young manhood as “Saw-log John.” Being of an inventive turn of mind, he was brought to Springfield, Ohio, by the manufacturers of a water-wheel, and, by his inventions and improvements in machinery,. rapidly accumulated wealth. He is a millionaire, is extremely liberal to his employes, and very popular everywhere he is known. Edgar M. Johnson, the nominee for Lieutenant Governor, is a law partner of Judge George Hoadly, of Cincinnati. He is of English-Hebrew parentage, and is a man of superior ability and culture. The following platform was unanimously adopted : The Democrats of Ohio, proud of their citizenship in this great State, for the purpose of maintaining the prosperity of the commonwealth and to promote the welfare and happiness of the whole people, submit the following declaration of principles, upon which they ask the Kuftrages of the people : The equality of the people before the law. Equal taxation. Unpolitical legislation and a free and pure ballot as the corner-stone of free institutions. Opposition to monopolies and subsidies of all kinds. The strictest economy in national, State and local administrations, that labor may be lightly burdened.The maintenance and advancement of the common-school system. Hesolved, That the abuses of the present contract system in our State prison, by which the products of criminal labor are brought into a competition with the products of honest labor, to the great injury of the latter, is vicious and unwise and should be corrected. liesolved, That the course of the last Republican Legislature deserves the condemnation of the people for its incompetency and hypocrisy, its unnecessary and heavy increase ih the burdens of taxation, and for.the passage of unconstitutional acts, and for its reorganization of the benevolent institutions of the State solely for the purpose and as a medium for the distribution of spoils. Resolved, That, as the humanities are nonpartisan, and as the treatment of criminals should be non-political, the management of the charitable institutions of the State should be free from partisan change or appointments. Resolved, That we are in favor of a civil-ser-vice reform, whereby offices shall be held to be public trust, to be administered for the public good, not spoils, to be enjoyed as the reward of partisan zeal or service. Resolved, That the Democrats of Ohio, in ‘ this year, as in all years, xre in favor of the largest individual liberty consistent with the public order, and are opposed to legislation merely sumptuary. Resolved, That the recent discovery of enormous peculations in liigh Federal places, and the Republican attempt to purchase votes by corruption, should convince the country that Republican organization is not worthy of public confidence. Resolved, That the power delegated to the General Government “to regulate cotnmerce among the State*,’’ as well ah the power reserved to the States to regulate commerce within their own borders, should be bbin’ exercised to prevent unjust discrimination and unreasonable charges by our railroads. A tariff for revenue, levied and adjusted in its details with a view to equity in the public burdens and the encouragement of productive industries, without creating monopolies, aod we favor the appointment of a commission to suggest a method of revision which shall accomplish this recult . The following resolution w&s received with a tremendous burst of applause, and unanimously adopted: Resolve<l, That we deeply deplore the recent attempt upon the life of the President of the United States by an assassin, and denounce assassination m a republic as the highest and most revolting of crimes ; and we extend to the President and his family our deepest sympathies and our earnest hopes that a speedy recovery be vouchsafed, to him. Jonn G. Thompson was re-elected Chairman of the State Central Committee. . ■