Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1882 — THE POLITICAL FIELD. [ARTICLE]

THE POLITICAL FIELD.

Party State Conyentions, and What They Did. List of the Nominees, Platforms, Etc. VERMONT GREENBACKERB. The Vermont Greenback State Cenvention met at Waterbary on the 15th of August, 200 delegates being in attendance. L. S. Thompson presided. The convention nominated for Governor 0. C. Martin; for Lieutenant Governor, John Jenner; for Treasurer, Fletcher Tar bell Swainton. The following Congressional nominations were made : First district, D. R. Kidder; Second district, H. D. Dunbar. The Committee on Resolutions reported the follow ing platform, which was adopted: Whereas, The past and present condition of this country justifies the condnsion that the policies which have prevailed in the past have been both corrupt and inefficient, as plainly manifested from the existence of a continual contest between capital and labor, enormous frauds in the discharge of official duties, corrupt practices in metheis of conducting political campaigns, and gigantic and corrupt bank, railroad, land and other monopolies, whose policy is to enrich themselves at the expense of the wealth-producing classes of the country, and whose influence is to corrupt and destroy the very form of our Government; and Whereas, The Republican and Democratic parties, who have f urnishod the statesmanship and policy of the past, are proved justly responsible for such au unfavorable condition of public affairs; therefore, Resolved, That we arraign and hold responsible the old political parties, and especially the Republican party in power, for all evils which arise from the corrupt and incompetent administration of political affairs, the existence of labor strikes, stealing, bribery and callousness in the public service, assessing officials, corrupt practices iu national and State elections, maintaining sectional hatred between the different sections, opposition to the payment of the public debt by endeavoring to decrease the Government resources, persistent efforts to destroy our national paper currency, which, though imperfect, is still the best we ever had, fraudulent legislation in regard to silver, legislation in favor of large monopohes, for the hypocritical advocacy of a principle by placing prohibitory laws on the statute-book but never enforcing them, for claiming credit for national prosperity which is attributable to a bountiful Providence, a fertile country and an industrious people, and tbe incessant labors of the Greenback party. Resolved, That we indorse the platform of the National Greenback-Labor party, which points the way and faithfully labors in an almost hopeless eoutest for the adoption of principles that are honest, consistent, and iu keeping with the progress and spirit of the age. Resolved, That we favor the prompt payment of tue public debt, the substitution of Government money for national-bank currency, and the establishment of banks of discount and deposit whose existence shall not be contingent on the national debt, the adjustment of ihe tariff so as to protect home industries, unlimited coinage of gold aud silver so long as these metals are considered essential as money, a free ballot and a fair count in all sections of the country, and a general supervision by the national and State Governm nts over all corporations which derive their existence from legislative char ers, and which should be controlled for the public welfare. Resolved, That we demand of the Republican party of this State a prompt and thorough eu. forcemeat of the prohibitory laws, in order that thousands of misguided" citizens may lie relieved from the necessity of sustaining hordes of officials by the lines and costs which accrue from prosecutions under the prohibitory laws, which becomes a legalized system for extorting money from its victims. Resolved, That we demanded at the last election the passage of a law equalizing taxation, but what a failure ! What an amount of property still paying taxes twice, while much go s uutaxed at all! It is a consequence of the w.llful determination of that party to legislate to enrich the few and impoverish the many. lOWA DEMOCRATS. The lowa Democratic State Convention assembled at Marshaßtown, on Wednesday, Aug. 16. A temporary organization was effected, as follows : CbairmaD, Judge W. C. James, of Pottawattamie ; Secretary, CoL W. W. Garner, of Louisa ; Assistant Secretaries, L. W. Goodeff, Polk ;L. W. Goep, of Buchanan; A. B. Keith, of Crawford ; Reading Secretary, T. O. Walker, of Davis.. The report of the Committee on Credentials, showed a representation from seventy-two couuties fully represented without a contest. The Committee on Permanent Organization reported the following permanent officers - Chairman, John P. Irish, of Johnson ;Secretary, A. B. Keith, of Crawford. Tho other officers of the temporary organization were retained. T. O. Walker, of Davia, was nominated for Secretary of State by acclamation. John Foley, of Chickasaw, was nominated for Treasurer of Stato. Wm. Thompson, of Humboldt, was nominated for Auditor by acclamation. J. H. Bremmerman, of Des Moines, was nominated for Attorney General by acclamation. H. F. Bonorden, of Johnson, was nominated for Clerk of the Bupreme Court by acclamation. D. M. Bringolf, of Polk, was unanimously nominated for Supreme Court Reporter. Senator Charles E. Bronson, of Delaware, was nominated for Judge of the Supreme Court by acclamation. The nominee for Supreme Court Roportor having declined the honor, L. A. Palmer, of Henry, was nominated by acclamation iu his stead. After a prolonged and exciting struggle over the report of the Committee on Resolutions the following platform was adopted : I. The Democratic party, in convention assembled, reaffirm the great principles which are the foundation of free government, among which are equal rights to all, special privileges to none, protection of the weak against the encroachments of the strong, equal taxation, free speech, free schools, and, first of all, a free aud incorruptible ballot 2. That we favor reform in the civil serviee, and denounce the extortion of money from office-holders to corrupt the ballot aud control elections as most threatening as it is the most insidious danger that besets the Government 3. That we denounco the reckless extravagance of the ReDubhcan party and demand an Immediate reduction of taxes to the lowest figure which will enable the Government to meet all its obligations. 4. That no species of industry should be fostered to the injury of another ; that no class of men should be taxed directly or indirectly for the benefit of another ; that every descrip--tion of industry should stand or fall on its own merits ; that the existing protective tariff is an outrageous scheme of plunder, and in principle and detail violates every democratic principle of right and justice. 5. That the late amendment to the pharmacy law of the State has made the same burdensome and unjust, and we favor the repeal thereof. 6. That the Democracy of lowa are opposed to all sumptuary amendments. While we deSlore the passage of the prohibition amendment ) tho constitution, we are resolved by all legal means to eliminate the obnoxious measure from the constitution of the State. 7. That the right of the State to regulate the railways of the State in their charges for the transportation of freight and passengers having been fully established and declared by the courts, we demand the exercise of this right by our State Legislature, And we arraign the Republican party of this State for failure to give the people the relief the establishment of that principle entitles them to. The large amount of public lands and the subsidies these corporations have receive* from the Government and people demaud that . they should be regulated by law, that the constitution confers on Congress complete power to give the people redress on contracts for carrying from one State to another, and, possessing such power, it is the duty of Congress to compel these corporations to perform their duty to tbe public as common carriers for a reasonable consideration. 'James Conroy, of lowa county, offered the following additional resolution, which was adopted : Resolved,-That we tender our sympathy to tbe oppressed' of all nations, and to Ireland especially in her present struggle to attain her free lorn. The Hon. J. A. O. Yeoman, of Webster, offered the following additional resolution, which was adopted unanimously : Whereas, Ogr Chairman, the Hon. John P. Ins’-, is about to leave the Btate to go to CJallfora a, be it ftmlved, TU»t the Democracy of Jowa will

always remember the valuable services of John P. Irish, and wherever he goes their best wishes attend him. MASSACHUSETTS OREEHBACKEB& The Massachusetts Greenback State Convention assembled at Boston on the 18th of August, and nominated Gen. Benjamin F. Butler for Governor on the second ballot Other nominations were made as follows : Lieutenant Governor, George Dutton, Bpringfield; Secretary of State, John Howes, Worcester ; Treasurer, George Foster, Lynn; Attorney General, E. A. Snow, Athol; Auditor, Augustus F. Merchant, Leverett The following platform was adopted : While tbe representatives of other parties hr the field may point with satisfaction to the victories won at ihe ballot dox, we, the representatives of the National party of Massachusetts, review with equal satisfaction the many concessions which these parties have been compelled to ofTer to our principles, and that from rid cule they have progressed surely to the adoption of many of them. The policy of destroying the greenback has been changed to reissuing it. Silver, which was demonetized secretly, has been publicly restored to its former place. Our declaration that the only weakness of the greenback was because of the exceptions placed upon its back by the friends or the dupes of the money power have been Droved true by the action of John Sherman, Secretary of the Treasury, who upon his own authority removed tbe greatest of those exceptions and brought the greenback to premium over gold and silver coin. Our position that the Government should retain for itself the option of paying its bonded debt whenever it had money to do so, instead of funding it into long-time bonds, is rapidly becoming the position of the intelligent masse iof our people. These and similar evidences of progress which have been made Ihrough the force of public opinion, educated by our agitations, show that our labors have met with a good measure of success. Resolved, That a check should be placed upon the power of wealth.and its unjust accumulation, and a system be adopted which will secure to ttie laborer the profits of his toil; that we demand that the national debt shall be paid as rapidly as the revenues will allow, and, if refunded, shall be made payable at the option of the Government alone; that the General Government should coin aud issue all the money, whether metallic or paper ; make it a full legal tender for all debt, without any exception, and receive it in payment of all taxes, and that it shall abolish tho national banks as banks of issue; that no one should be allowed lo monopolize land, air, light and water; that all citizens bo allowed to use the ballot on equal terms ; that all property should be equitably taxed for the support of the Government, but the right of suffrage should not be dependent thereon ; that we are in favor of legislation which shall lighten the exhaustiveness of the toi l , hours of labor, and secure universal education among the people ; that we are in favor of weekly payments to labor; that eight hours should constitute a legal day’s work ; that we are in favor of the passage of laws for the incorporation of organizations under the laws of the State, and for the appointment of the State Board of Arbitration, to be composed of an equal number of workingmen and of employers—for the settlement of the labor troubles; that our platform is presented without intending any evasion and with no mental reservations; that we protest against the iniquitous system of contract convict labor, that places the honest mechanic in direct competition in the labor market with criminals; that as Americans we deplore the arbitrary imprisonment and illegal detention of our citizens in British B istiles, and deplore our continued misrepresentation at the Court of St. James by a Minister who sanctions the illegal conduct of the British Government «