Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1894 — INDIANA DEMOCRATS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INDIANA DEMOCRATS.

State Convention at Indianapolis. Gov. Mstthewt Is thoaen Chairmanaiid Makes a Speech—The Platform— The Ticket—Notes. THE TICKET. Judge of Supreme Court, First District —George F. Reinhard. Judge of Supreme Court, Fourth District —Joseph S. Dailey. Secretary of State—William R. Myers. Auditor of State—Joseph T. Fanning. Treasurer of State—Morgan Chandler.. Attorney-General- Francis M. Griffiths; Clerk of Supreme Court—C. W. Well -. . man.. . Superintendent of Public Instruction— Charles W. Thomas. State Geologist—Eli T. Jordan. The Indiana Democratic State convention met at Tomlinson Hall, Indianapolis, Aug. 15, at 9:30 a. m. .Seventeen hundred and forty-seven delegates were present. — L= €halrmanT'aggart~toel< u pTTro"gavetatt= twenty minutes past 10 o’clock, and asked that the delegates be seated. The convention stood while Dr. O. P. H. Abbott, of Indianapolis, prayed. He thanked the Almighty for free speech,a free press and a —free ballot. Win, A. Peellc, acting as

temporary secretary, called the roll of counties' Every eGunty answered "here'’ except Warren. Mr. Taggart announced that every county was represented, and told the delegates that if they would keep their coats off un-til November the party would carry the State. The report of the committee on organisation was read by John McGregor, of Madison county, and it announced the following officers for the convention: Permanent Chairman—Claude Matihtws • Vice Presidents—First district, W. B. McDonald, Gibson county; Second, Andrew Humphrey, Greene; Third, John H. Stotsenherg; Fourth, George H. Pleasmts. Switzerland; Fifth, James J. Smiley, Putnam; Sixth, James Brown. Henry; Seventh. Morgan Chandler, Hancock;; Eighth. E. Scott Booth, Fountain; Ninth, R. C. Huston, Clinton: Tenth, Adam E. Ebert. Lake; Eleventh. Jerome Herff, Miami; Twelfth. W. S. Goudy, Whitley; Thirteenth, L. E. Benrethy, Starke. Permanent Secretary S. M. Briscoe, Miami. Sergeant-at-Arins —J. F. Hennessy, Marion. Gov. Matthews came forward at once. The convention received him heartily. Some of the delegates stood up and waved their hats, and the women in the galleries participated in the applause. GOV. MATTHEWS’ SPEECH.

The Governor read his speech. His utterances were frequently applauded. There were great bursts of enthusiasm whenever the referred to President Cleveland. He said: Gentlemen, Delegates of the State Convention—Once again a great party assembles in convention, to deliberate upon those questions that concern the welfare of a people, the good of government, and make appeal to the public for a renewal of its support and confidence. It is gratifying to see so many gathered together from all the walks of life, and your enthusiasm giv<?§ hopeful sign of coming success, burdly the gloomy forebodings and presages of defeat heralded in the opposition papers has had but little effect. We arc met under peculiar conditions, still fighting the battle of the people to relieve them from the burdens of tax and system of taxation created one generation ago through the necessities of war. Burdens then placed under the promise that so soon as peace was restored relief ■hould.bo given. A party for over thirty years carrying on that policy which was enriching the few at the expense of the rnanv - heaping up fabulous wealth in the hands of one class, and sapping the strength and resources of ail others to maintain it, begetting extravagances that invaded the administration of government. until it v as impoverishing the millions to pay tribute to the privileged few. The people at last revolted and for the first time since 1857 placed all departments of the government in the hands of the Democratic partv to free them from these evils, and reform'the injustice of the past. We camo into possession of the Government, but with a depleted and empty treasury, made so by the recklessness and profligacy of Republican administration. Not alone was this onr Inheritance, but crippled and -rmbamooed through tip: entallure of extravagant appropriations, reaching beyond the close of Republican control of public affairs, and forcing upon their successors the passage of deficiency bills, and issuance of bonds to maintain the credit and honor of the Government. These strange and unn tural conditions resulting from their ruinogs policy, deceptive teachings and juggling with the financial and public debt statements of the country, introduced by Mr. Harrison's Secretary of the Treasury, could not but sooner or later seriously affect the prosperity of the people. Deceptive and corrupt policies, and reckless extravagance in the administration of Government through public officials. serlouslv affect the morals and integrity of a people, and encourage like conditions in the management of private business affairs of the citizen. The results have been witnessed in the widespread financial and commercial depression that swept over our country, In assuming control of the Government no party over encountered such stupendous difficulties as met the Democratic party, and no greater struggle to fulfill the promises and redeem the pledges it had made in Its declaration of principles of 189?. One by one those pledges are being redeemed through the heroic efforts of onr representatives in Congress. The iniquitous and unjust Federal election law has fallen boheath our sturdy blows; the promise to repeal the silver purchasing clause of the Sherman act has been fulfilled, and the belief enacted into law that no special or privileged class of property shall escape its just share of the nurden of tax,even thoughthat be the .hitherto hoarded and sacred greenback or national currency. There must be no backward step; the cry Is forward. We may not In the presA

ent measure and through the present Congress secure all that may be desired, but it is just as sure as that night shall follow day. all legislation that may give relief in the direction of true tariff reform, is to remain upon the statutes, fixed and secure. It may be added to and advanced, but it will never more be taken from or moved backward, it matters not whether the Republican or the Democratic party may be in the ascendency. True tariff reform, a broad commercial freedom, a revenue taxation based upon economic expenditure has come to set its seal upon all future legislation of the Government. Through storm and through sunshine the Democratic party has been the persistent friend, able advocate and brave defender of silver. I do not believe the day has come when we propose or can afford in the interests of the people to turn ouribacks upon this metal. There is another subject that demands the thoughtful consideration of the public at this time. The Democratic party tsrtoday. as it ever has been, the true andtried friend of American labor. Peculiarly a party of and for the people, it has been quick to respond in sympathy with the distress of labor from cruel and unjust law, protect it from the selfish greed of wealth and exacting corporate power; sacredly guard its good name from the illconsidered acts of lawless violence, of false or so-called friends, and secure for 4t those measures that shalFTrnsl—meet_ worthy needs andHionest demands. Continuing, the Governor spoke at length on State questions and challenged the opposition to successsully_jnipeach_.. Democratic'administration of State affairs. In conclusion Gov. Matthews said there was nothing to discourage Indiana Democrats and urged earnest co-opera-tion in support of the ticket to be nominated. The report of the committee on credentials was presented and adopted. The committee on resolutions, through RobcrtC. Bell, of Ft. Wayne, submitted the platform as, follows: THE PLATFORM. The Democratic party in Indiana take just pride in the strength of the record it has made in the legislative and executive departments of this commonwealth, by the enactment and enforcement of wise .and beneticient laws in the interests of the people, and in the fulfillment of its pledges. It passed the mechanics' lien law, and the law giving laborers a lien upon the product of their labor for wages and material furnished; the law protecting labor organizations; the law providing for the safety of miners and the proper ventilation of mines; constituting eight hours a day's labor in public employment; prohibiting the blacklisting of employes; prohibiting pluck-me-stores; the employes’ liability law; forbidding the importation of Pinkerton detectives, and the law against the importation of alienor foreign laborers; —-—— It enacted the school book law, saving large sums to the people, bearing down an oppressive monopoly, and placing the instruments of education within the reach of the poorest and humblest citizens. It enacted our laws purifying elections; giving an untrammeled ballot to the voter by the Australian system. It framed and passed our present tax law thus adding millions of property to our tax duplicates. It passed the present fee and salary law; it enacted the Barrett improvement law which has proven a blessing wherever used. We congratulate the people of Indiana upon the upholding of the tax law of 1891, upon which more than one hundred millions of dollars of corporate property lias been added to the tax duplicates, and we especially commend the action of the State officers in charge in prosecuting and enforcing to a successful conclusion the provisions of that law. We affirm our opposition to the vicious system of class legislation, miscalled protection, and pledge ourselves to continue the battle against it until every species of extortion and robbery fostered by the McKinley act shall be obliterated from our re venue system an d people e njoy ail theblessings of commercial liberty. The protective system has built up the great monopolies and trusts which control absolutely so many industries and have done so much to debauch the politics of the country and corrupt the legislativedepartment of the Government. We denounce tariff protection of every kind as a fraud and a robbery of the great majority of the American people for the bene tit of the few.

We approve of the efforts of President Cleveland and his administration and of the Democratic House, of Representatives. and of a large majority of the Democratic Senators, and particularly our distinguished Senators from Indiana, the Hon. D. W. Voorhees and the Hon. David Turpio. and onr entire Democratic delegation in Congress. to redeem the pledges made to the country by the last Democratic convention.

We condemn the Republican party for its persistent effort to prevent the execution of this unmistakably popular verdict, and we especially condemn a small coterie of Senators who, masquerading as Democrats, by threats to defeat all tariff legislation, have temporarily prevented the Democratic party from carrying out all of its pledges to the people for tariff reform, as announced in the Democratic platform of 189.3. We congratulate the Democratic party upon the fact that, notwithstanding tli<s open opposition of the Republican party and the conduct of a few pretended Democrats, a substantial measure of reform has been effected. We approve the action of the House of Representatives in foliowing the enactment of this law with the passage of separate acts, placing sugar, coal, iron ore, and barbed wire on the free list, and we demand that the Senate shall concur in these righteous measures at the earliest possible moment. Wo especially indorse the. income tax as a wise and equitable measure, designed to place a fair share of the burdens of the Government upon the property of the country for-the benefit of which the expenses of the Government aae so largely incurred. * We Indorse the law passed by a Democratic Congress authorizing the taxation of greenbacks as other money is taxed, as a great measure of reform, and wo take pride in the fact that the demand for such reform was first formulated by the Democracy of Indiana, and that it is duo to the persistent and intelligent efforts of a Democratic Representative from Indiana that this reform has been carried out. Wo are in favor of a constitutional amendment providing for the election of United States Senators by a direct vote of the people. We are also In favor of constitutional and other changes as may be necessary in order that Congress may assemble as soon after its election as is practicable, and to the end that the will of the people as expressed at the polls may receive prompt and full legislative expression. We believe and declare that the policy and principles of what is called the American Protective Association are illiberal, unwise.* unpatriotic, un-Democratic and un-American. The Democratic party of Indiana is, as ft has always been, the friend of the laboring man, of whom its membership is largely composed. It is tn hearty sympathy with every lawful effort to secure for those who earn the|r livelihood by their daily toil for protection, which is their rights as American citizens, to better the conditions of their lives; to secure for them full and fair compensation for their labor and to afford them every possible opportunity for moral, social and material advancement. We are opposed to every manifestation of Violence and mob spirit and stand

squarely for the maintenance of law under all circumstances and upon all occasions. We favor the enactment and enforcement of such laws regulating emigration from other countries as shall exchide the pauper and vicious classes who are unfitted to become American citizens, and whose presence in this country wii! furnish a slanding menace to the prder and prosperity of our land. We denounce the unprincipled and cowardly effort of the Republican party toeseape the responsibility for the existing depress2d condition for the business affairs of the country. This condition is the natural, logical and inevitable remit of the infamously corrupt system of taxation known as McKinley ism, combined with the vicious financial legislation and the profligate extravagance of the Republican party. The Democratic party is, as it has ever been, .opposed to all sumptuary laws as contrary to the principles of free government and favor the largest individual liberty of the citizen consistent with good government. ..... We indorse the repeal of the purchasing clause of that cowardly Republican makeshift known as the Sherman silver act of 1890. We reaffirm our belief that both gold and silver should be used as the standard of money of the country, and that both should bo, coined without discrimination . between cither metal, and without charge We believe it absolutely necessary to the welfare and prosperity of the great producing masses that silver should be restored to the place it occupied m the currency systemsof the world a quarter of a century ago, and we shall hail with delight the many signs of a revolution in public opinion in the great commercial nations of a restoration of the bimetallic system. We pledge our hearty effort to secure the adoption of every measure for the complete restoration of silver in our monetary system. We heartily indorse the able, fearless and patriotic administration of Grover Cleveland, and especially his course in maintaining law and order. We heartily indorse the wise and patriotic administration of Governor Matthews, whose condnct as a public servant has called forth' the commendation of people of every State of the Union and placed our State in the foremost rank for good government, and we cordially commend the action and conduct of our several State officers. We remember with gratitude the patriotic services of the soldiers and sailors of the late war, and recognize The fact that after a lapse of thirty years, by reason of the hardships, privations and exposure of army life, many are passing away and others becoming more helpless. We. therefore, demand that Congress, in the matter of pensions, shall not only deal generously but bountifully with the aged veterans. We also reiterate the declaration of our convention of 1893, that the State should provide by liberal appropriations for a home for our disabled veterans, where they may be supported without sending them to the poor houses. The resolutions were received with applause and unanimously adopted. When the paragraph condemning Senators for standing in the way of tariff reform was read the cheering was interspersed with cries of “Name them.” ‘•Brice,” etc., from all parts of the hall. Nominations were next in order. For Judge of the Supreme Court from the First District. George F. Reinhard, of Spencer county, was proposed. He was the only candidate and was nominated by acclamation. He thanked the convention for the nomination. For Judge of the Supreme Court from the Fourth district there was only one candidate. Joseph S. Dailey, of Wells county. He was nominated by acclamation. He said to the convention that he would endeavor to do his duty as a member of the Supreme Court. A half dozen delegates tried to put William R. Myers in nomination for Secretary of State. There was no other candidate and amid loud applause Mr. Myers

was declared thenominee by acclamation. Mr. Myers made a neat speech expressing appreciation of the honor. Mr. Myers is the present incumbent of the office to which ho seeks election and is a citizen of Andersen. John W.-Kern put in nomination for Auditor of State Joseph T. Fanning, of Marion county. John F. Quinn, of Marion county, seconded the nomination. Mr. Fanning was the only candidate, and his nomination by acclamation was made. He went to the stage and said to the convention that he believed the Democrats would win in Indiana this year. The first contest was over the nomination for Treasurer of State. Three candidates were proposed—Morgan Chandler, of Hancock county; Frank A. Mull, of Rush county, and John L. Goben, g)l Montgomery. Mr. Chandler was nominated on the first ballot. Francis M. Griffiths, of Vevay, Switzerland county, was the only person proposed as a candidate for Attorney General. A Switzerland county delegate nominated him. and forthwith the convention voted to make the nomination unanimous. Mr. Griffiths said to the convention that he was thankful for the nomination, There was a contest for the nomination f.»r Clerk of thp Supreme Court. The-can-didates were </. W. Wellman, of Sullivan, and Elwood Avery, of Clinton. Mr. Wellman had been a candidate for the nomination for several months. Mr. Wellman was nominated. The vote was: Wellman, LOl7>f: Avery, 729 - - There was another contest when the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction was reached. Tho candidates were Charles W. Thomas, of Harrison county, and J. H. Gardner, of Cass counts Mr. Thomas was nominated by the following vote; Thomas, 901; Gardner. 8(6. For the office of State Statistician foui names were placed In nomination: William A. Hamilton, of Union county: J. C Laughlin, of Bartholomew; Alexandei Fulton, of Wabash; Felix S. Thornton. Clay county. Mr, Fulton was nominated . an the second balloL It was 2:30 o’cldck when the conven •] lion passed to the last nomination It had to make -State Geologist. The candidates were Eli T. Jordan, of Shoibj county, and George 8. Harney, of Montgomery. Mr. Jordan was nominated on the first ballot. I At 3 o’clock the convention adjourned, having been in session thre-e-aud hours.

GOVERNOR MATTHEWS.

W. R. MYERS.