Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1893 — DEMOCRATS OF OHIO. [ARTICLE]

DEMOCRATS OF OHIO.

THEY MEET IN CONVENTION AT CINCINNATI, Lawrence T. Neal Nominated for Governor on the First Ballot-Full Text of the Platform Adopted—No Discussion of the Silver Question. The Proceedings. The Ohio Democratic State Convention met at Music Hall, Cincinnati, and was called to order by State Chairman C. D. Crites. The delegates rose to their feet while the divine blessing was invoked by the Rev. Dr. George A. Thayer. As a preface to his address the State Chairman read a cablegram from James T. Neal, Consul at Liverpool, conveying his greetings to the Democracy of Ohio and saying that he felt that victory awaited the ticket nominated. This was received with applause which was renewed when the State Chairman made Ms valedictory address. The presentation of Gilbert H. Bargar as temporary chairman was the signal for a hearty reception. He said the theory of taxation for protection to enable the employer to pay higher wages to his employe is a delusion and a snare and that it is the duty of the Government to see that money is not lodged in the pockets of emDloyers or locked up in the Treasury for campaign purposes. Ho held the financial question, however, of greater importance than the subject of tariff reform, as it applies to the immediate wants of the people.

Hearty applause punctuated the salient portions of the speech, hut it was specially loud and prolong when the speaker declared that this country should no longer be dominated by European money standards or by American cities that financially owe too much allegiance to foreign nations. The report of the committee on credentials, seating the Neal contesting delegation from Rose County, went through by acclamation and so did the proposition that the temporary organization be made permanent. Chairman Bargar modestly declined to make a second speech on assuming the duties of permanent chairman, and the convention proceeded to cut off a prospective flood of oratory by adopting a resolution that all nominating speeches be kept within five minutes. The convention had barely been in session an hour when it was announced that the committe on resolutions was prepared to report. This was a welcome surprise, as the committee was supposed to be in a tangle on silver, and when the chairman, J. A. McMahon of Dayton, appeared upon the platform with a handful of manuscript and announced that a unanimous report had been reached, the applause was long and hearty. Clearly and deliberately Mr. McMahon read as follows: THE PLATFORM. We hereby approve the ptatform of the Democratic party adopted by its National Convention at Chicago, and especially those portions of it referring to the tariff and to currency legislation. Wo congratulate the country upon the early prospect of measures of relief as outlined by the President’s late message to Congress, and we have confidence that the Democratic Congress will devise laws to furnish snch relief. The financial situation is the unfortunate legacy of the Republican administration. It is the natural result of the McKinley tariff, the Sherman silver law, extravagance of the Republican party recently in power, and the creation and fostering of trusts and corrupt combinations by that party, all combining to shake credit, to create distrust in the money of tha country and to paralyze its business. We recommend that national bankß may be permitted to issue their currency to an amount equal to the par value of United States bonds which they mav deposit with the Treasurer ol the United States to the end that the volume of currency may be immediately increased. The interest of every true soldier and pensioner demands that the pension roll should be made and preserve 1 as a roll of honor. We believe in a just and liberal recognition of the claims of the veterans and favor granting them all that patriotism could ask, all that national gratitude would demand. But the granting oi pensions on fraudulent claims, or for partisan purposes, or department decisions in contravention of law, as practiced under tho last administiation, needs to be investigated and corrected, so that the unselfish va’or of the American soldier may remain untarnished. The Democratic party pledged itself that the rightful claims of no union soldier to a pension shall be denied, and the allowance of any worthy pensioner shall not he disturbed. We condemn the unbusinesslike administration of state affairß under Governor McKinley, deplore the official scandals and defalcations nnder it and denounce the condoning of official crimes which have brought humiliation upon our people. We denounce the reckless extravagance of the large republican majority in the seventieth general assembly which appropriated for current expenses abrut $(100,003 in excess of the current revenue and added almost @3 ,000,000 to the local bonded indebtedness of the State by laws in tho main unconstitutional. We demand that an end be put to such robbery of the taxpayers. The Democratic party expresses its confidence in the ability of Calvin S. Brice of the United States Senato, to materially assist the Democratic majority in the Coi gross of the United States to extricate the groat commercial interests of this country from their present distressed condition. The country has abiding faith In the integrity, the patriotism and exalted courage of President Cleveland. True to the people and watchful of their interests, he will enforce honest and eoqpomical methods in the conduct of public affairs and secure to every section of the country the blessing of good Government.

Close attention was paid to each succeeding paragraph by the convention, but there was no manifestation of approval until the eulogy of Grover Cleveland was reached. Then the delegates and spectators cheered until it seemed that they would never stop. At the first sign of a lull the Chair put the question of the adoption of the platform. There was a rousing “aye” and not a voice in the negative. Everybody seemed relieved that what might have been a long and heated debate on the silver question had been adroitly avoided by the diplomacy of the committee making no direct reference to the subject, but hiding it behind its indorsement of the Chicago platform. The convention then proceeded to ballot for Governor. The vote went smoothly on, showing several split delegations, however, until Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) was reached. This occasioned a long delay. She finally came out with 29 for Neal and 23 for Baker, 2 for Taylor, 7 scattering. The vote then ran steadily until Hamilton County plunked down 65 of its 77 votes for Neal. This was the death blow to Baker, as events proved. At the close of the callidg of the roll Neal had 408$ votes. Then followed a wild scramble for the band wagon, county after county changing its vote to Neal amid the wildest confusion and loud yells. A motion was then made that the rules be suspended and Neal’s nomination be made by acclamation. This was done amid the wildest scenes of delight and enthusiasm on the part of the' convention. Result of ballot for Governor: Neal, 887$; Taylor 575; Baker, 169; Clarke, 62; Lentz, _ 27. Necessary to a choice, 405. William A. Taylor of Columbus, was nominated by acclamation for Lieutenant Governor. John W. Sater of Darke, was nominated for Supreme Judge. B._ C. Blackburn of Coshocton, was nominated for State Treasurer, and John P. Bailey of Putnam County, for Attorney General, both by acclamation. Member Board of Public Works— Louis D. Wilhelm of Akron. Food and Dairy Commissioner —P. K. McKeon of Cincinnati.