Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1883 — POLITICAL AFFAIRS. [ARTICLE]

POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

Greenback and Republican Conventurns in lova and Pennsylvania. ' Gen. Weaver Bamed for Governor— The Resolutions. Im OnoibMken. TSie lows Greenback State Convention met at Dee Moines, and was called to order by the Hon. R H. Gillette, and, after prayer by Rev. Dr. & Hunting, of Des Moines, Mr. Gillette delivered a short speech, in which he declared that the' end and arm of the Greenback party was the overthrow of every system which opposes the right of every person to do as he pleases; to enforoe -the doctrine of the Declaration of Independence, “That all men are created free and equal” and further the enfranchisement of -women. It is a hard task, he said, for opposed to the movement is every form of railroad corporations, 'usurers, and everything representing capital. He also declared that the party was tar prohibition & Kenwarthy, of Mahaska was ■called as Temporary Chairman, and a Davis ■county man was appointed Temporary Secretary. The Committee on Credentials reported .sixty-six counties represented, two-thirds of the counties of the State. The Committee on Permanent Organization recommended the following: Chairman—W. S. Kenworthy, of Mahaska. Vice President—T. Q. Lee, of Hamilton Secretary—J. Burke, of Jasper. Assistant Secretary—W. H. Robb, of Union. Reading Secretary—J. W. Muffly, of Polk. The report was adopted. A motion was made to refer to the Committee on Resolutions, without debate, all resolutions offered in the convention, which, after considerable discussion, prevailed: The following Committee on Resolutions wai appointed: First district, M L. Edwards; Second, L. Hoops; Third, M. S. Hitchcock; Fourth, L. H. "Weller; Fifth, George Carter; Sixth, Gen J. K Weaver; Seventh, I. Brownell; Eighth, J. L. Brown; Ninth, W. Wolllcker; Tenth, F. H. Lee; Eleventh, Daniel Campbell. Gen Weaver,Chairman of the Committtee •on Resolutions presented the following report, which was adopted with but little opposition: The National Greenback Labor party of lowa, In convention assembled, doclare: 1. The right to Issue mo*y and control the ■volume thereof belongs to the people, therefore we demand the abolition of all banks of issue and the substitution of legal tender currency in lieu of bank currency, the volume to be strictly regulated by Congress. 2. We favor the unrestricted coinage of gold and silver. 3. We are opposed to all refunding of the i»-•terest-bearing national debt which places it beyond the power of the Government to pay at will, and we demand that said debt be paid as -rapidly as possible. - 4. We demand a graduated income tax whereby capital shall bear its just share of the public burden. 6. All men have a natural right to a portion of the soil, and, as the use of the soil is indispensable to life, the right of all men to the soil is sacred as life itself; all public lands granted to corporations and forfeited by reason of non-, performance of the conditions of said grants should be immediately reclaimed by,the Government, and all pnblic lands should by held for homes toy actual settlers. 6. The Patent law Should be so amended as to protect inventors, give the people the benefits to be derived, and prevent the formation of monopolies which rob the inventor and the people. I. We favor civil-service reform, and to that end hold that all public officials, as far as practicable, including the President and Vice President, shall be elected by a direct vote of thef ■people. 8. We favor a low tariff and a revision of the present tariff laws, to be adjusted in the interest of labor and not in the interest of monopolies. 9. We demand the abolition of the Railroad Commission and the passage of laws regulating railroad and telegraph charges upon an equitable basis and the establishment of a postal telegraph system. 10. For the purpose of protecting the people from harassing and tedious litigation In courts remote from their homes, all railroad companies and other corporations doing business within this State, should be required by law to incorporate under the laws of lowa. That said corporations be required to litigate their causes in the State courts in common with all other citizens. 11. We demand that each party having a State organization shall have a representative on each election board.

IX We hold that the representatives of labor liave the right to combine to protect all their constitutional rights and they should be protected by law In the exercise of that right, and -we demand legislative action whereby all differences between mine owners and laborers may be equitably adjusted. 13. We demand equal political rights for all men and women. H. The manufacture and ssle of intoxicating liquors as a beverage should be prohibited, and the will of the people as expressed at the nonpartisan election of June 27, 1882, be respected and carried out, and we arraign the present executive of the State for permitting the will of the people to be overthrown. 15. The claims of the bondholders have been xegarded by the party *in power as more sacred than the claims of the soldiers of the Union. We declare such distinctions to be humiliating and wrong, and we demand that Congress shall immediately pass such laws as will place the soldiers upon an equal footing with the bondholders. We also favor the passage of a law by the State Legislature exempting pension money and the homesteads purchased therewith from •execution and attachment. 16. We point, to tue acts of our last Congress in renewing national-bank charters, in reducing bank taxes $12,000,000 per annum, and to their failure to reclaim forfeited fond grants; also, to the escape of the star-route thieves, some of whom confessed their guilt, and to the development of fa,.id in the Tr "usury Department, as •exposed by the Hon. F. H Murch, as evidence •of the unprecedented corruption of the party in . power, and to show that public moneys and public interests omnot longer safely be Intrusted to their hands. ‘ The Hon. J. B Weaver was nominated for ■Governor; Sanford Kirkpatrick, of Wapello, for Lieutenant Governor; D. W. Church, of Adair, for Supreme Judge, and Miss Abbie ■O. Canfield, of Des Moines county, for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Gen. Weaver thanked the convention in a meat speech. CoL Harper, of Illinois, made a short speech, which was extremely moderate and •conciliatory in its tone. The following State ■Central Committee was chosen; First district, R C. Brown; Second, J. L Enos; Third, M 8. Hitchcock; Forth, L H. Weller; Fifth, B. 0. Henderson; Sixth, W. 8. Kenworthy; SeventßE. H. Gillette' Eighth, W. H. Rogg; Ninth, Thomas Benedict; Tenth, not chosen; Eleventh, J. R Somers. Pennsylvania Republicans. The Republicans of Pennsylvania held their State Convention at Harrisburg. s lt was a very quiet affair. There were no contesting delegations. John Cessna presided^ and the business in hand was rapidly disposed of. Williany livesey was nominated for State Treasurer on the sixth ballot, and Jerome B. Niles was declared the nominee for Anditor after the fourth ballot The following platform Was adopted: The Republican party of Pennsylvania makes declaration dt Its principles as follows: I. We unqualifiedly approve and demand a continuance of that system of protection to home industry whioh has proved itself to be the basis of National independence, an incentive to industrial skill and development, and a guarantee of a just and adequate scale of wages for labor; and we denounoe all attempts to rednoe the rates of the tariff below a level whioh will accomplish these objects.

S. Hat aay ampins to the public 1 mangy arising fraßLaredundant .revenue should, after ns I Inn ilinfisfliiiisl debt as fast as its conditions permlt. be distributed from time to time to the several States upon the basis of population to reUeve them from the burdens of local taxation sad ptvnde means tor tbs edocattan of their people. S. That, as the depredated trade dollar Ja largely to the hands of our laboring people, and is a disturbing element to the business of the country, we declare it to be the duty of Congress to adopt snch legislation as will insure its full redemption and conversion into other coin for circulation. , A That we prates* against the practice of foreign Governments-to aiding or enforcing the emigration of thfir pauper and criminal classes to this country, and we call upon the Geneial Government to take proper steps to prevent the , same. A The Republicans of Bgansylvaaia most heartily indorse tfye wise and conservative administration of President Arthur, and believe his administrative policy has, under the circumstances, done much to secure the pres nt happy and prosperous condition of the country, and thus we recognize in him a faithful and worthy supporter of our lamented martyr, President James A. Garfield. A We heartily approve of the provision made by the Republicans In Congress for giving the patriot soldiers of the late war a preference according to qualifications for positions under the Government. Soldiers and sailors, their widows and orphans have a first claim on the care, protection and gratitude of the American people. 7. We commend every effort to hikngnrate a thorough and correct civil-service reform to all the departments of the national and State administrations? • 8. We require that all offioes bestowed within the party shall be upon the sole basis of fitness; that competent and faithfnl officers shall not be removed except for cause, and that the ascerta ned popular will shall be faithfully carried ont by those holding office by favor of the ■TW tne Republican party is unequivocally committed to the economical administration of the affairs of the commonwealth, the abolition of all taxes not required for the necessities of the State Government; that all laws t< prevent fraud and waste should be rigidly enforced and faithfnl care given to the multifarious interests intrnsted to the State Department of the Government. 10. That the Republican party of Pennsylvania hereby pledges itself to secure the passage of snch legislation as will tend to a reform of the government of the State and Its municipalities, and more particularly pledges itself to provide for cities snch reform charters as will correct existing abuses and promote good and economical government. 11. That the Democratic party in the Legislature of Pennsylvania is responsible for retarding the legitimate and necessary business of the Legislature, or using the calling of an extra session at an expense of more than $209,000, and preventing a fair and just apportionment of the State and Congressional, Legislative and Judicial districts, and we hereby heartily commend the action of the Republican Senate on these measures. Whebeas, It is the sense of the convention that the freest and fullest expression of Republican sentiment should be encourged and sought in primary meetings, which are the fountain of party action and source of fibpnlar rule, and that this object be promoted by holding primaries for the election of delegates to the conventkm, throughout the State as . far as practicable, on some convenient day not remote from the convention; therefore. Resolved, That the State Committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of fixing a uniform-day throughout the State for bolding primaries for the election of delegates to State conventions.