TpT V
Mw
HI
The Commoner.
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 13
It"
4
' -
HI
SOME DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTIONS
NORTH DAKOTA
The democratic state convention for North
Dakota was held at Grand Forks March 26. Tho
Associated Press report o tho convention
follows:
'After almost three hours of oratory this
afternoon the committee on resolutions in tho
North Dakota democratic convention reported
resolutions, tho chief purpose of which was the
endorsement of William J. Bryan as the nom
lnoo of the national democratic convention at
Denver. Tho resolutions instructed tho dele
gates of tho North Dakota convention to vote
for Mr. Bryan. Up to the time of tho assembling
of tho afternoon session the Johnson men said
they would introduce a second choice resolution,
but tho resolution was not forthcoming.
That part of tho resolution relating to W.
J. Bryan says:
"Tho democrats of North Dakota, in con
vention assembled, believing that William Jen
nings Bryan represents the truest type of Amer
ican citizenship and is the natural leader of tho
reform forces of tho United States of America,
"Resolved, That tho delegates from this
convontion to tho national democratic conven
tion to bo held at Denver arc hereby instructed
to vote as a unit for the nomination of William
J. Bryan."
William Collins was chosen national com
mitteeman. Govornor John Burke was chosen as dele-gate-at-largo
by acclamation.
Delegates to tho national convention at
Denver wero olected by tho state convontion
from each of tho eight judicial districts of tho
stato except tho Eighth, where Governor John
Burke resides. As ho was elected to represent
the state-at-largo, no dologato was chosen to rep
resent his district.
IOWA DEMOCRATS
The Iowa democratic convention met at
Cedar Rapids March 26. Delegates selected to
the national convention are as follows:
At large Claude Portor, Centervillo; Jerry
Sullivan, Des Moines; E. O. Dunn, Mason City,
and C. P. Duncombo, Fort Dodge.
First District John P. Cruikshank, Lee
county; E. A. Lipponcolt, Van Buron county.
Second district A. Brandt, Jackson coun
ty; E. M. Sharon, Scott county.
Third District -II. C. Liggett, Franklin
county and William M. Hlgbee, Buchanan county.
Fourth District John McCook, Howard
county, and M. B. Dorsoy, Mitchell county.
Fifth District Doublo delegation R. J. Wil
liamson, Grundy county; R. P. Fitzgerald, Tama
county; John D. Fraley, Marshall county and
C. H. Plattonburg, Benton county.
Sixth District S. B. Reynolds, Mahaska
county and Claude M. Meyers, Wapello county.
Seventh DistrictJohn T. Mulvaney, Polk
county, and J. A. O'Malley, Dallas county;
Eighth District E. H. Sankey, Decatur
county, and John Donnigan, Page county.
Ninth District John Balko, Cass county,
and W. C. Campbell, Shelby county.
Tenth District D. L. Caswell, Crawford
county, and J. A. Menton, Boone county.
Eleventh District W. F. Hutton, Ida coun
ty, and Charles 0. Cannon, O'Brien county.
To preserve harmony the Fifth district sent
a doublo delegation with a half vote for each
man.
A Cedar Rapids dispatch to the Omaha
World-Herald says:
Tho resolutions adopted by the democrats
contained the sontiment of the Nebraska plat
form, but couched in more elaborate language
They declare for holding foreign corpora
tions to answer controversies in the stato courts
whero such arise; for electing United States sen
ators by direct vote; enforcement of criminal
laws against trusts; favor removal of tariff from
all trust mado articles; condemn the deceit of
tho republican party in promising tariff reform
and not fulfilling it; favor enlarging powers of
stato and national railway commissions; favor
arbitration in contests between capital and
labor; favor eight hour day; favor income tax
favor claiming arid lands, improving waterl
wfos and international arbitration; condemn ex
periment in imperialism; favor protection of for-
S?iKEn iUnl5ed SJatGS but' opPSQ admission
? Ai K? lmmsrontB who can never bo assimi
lated with our people; favor public grain storage
warehouses to eliminate gambling in farm pro
ducts. On tho financial question they say-
"The present financial stringency, occur
ring after twelve years of absolute republican
supremacy, shows the incompetency or unwill
ingness of the leaders of tho republican party
to afford the people any relief further than to
loan the gamblers of Wall Street the money of
the people needed to handle the commerce of
the country and market the crops of real things
in which honest men deal. We favor the issue
and control, by the general government only,
of emergency currency in times of financial
stress and strain, to be loaned upon adequate
security without discrimination at such rate
of interest as will insure its retirement when
necessity for its issuance hasi passed. We con
demn the attempt of the leaders of the repub
lican party to pass the Aldrich bill or the Fowler
bill as an effort to take the constitutional pre
rogative of issuing money from the general gov
ernment where it belongs and placing it in the
hands of individuals or classes and where it
does not belong and where, its exercise means
renewed danger to popular liberty."
Of Mr. Bryan it says: "Firmly believing
in these principles, we declare that an adminis
tration should be chosen that will put them into
effect, not under the whip and spur of public
sentiment but with the enthusiasm of earnest
desire to have them incorporated into the policy
of this nation; therefore, we favor for president
of tho United States the man who above all
others is the very embodiment of these princi
ples, with the determination to adhere to them
and the ability to administer them with lasting
credit to himself and honor to the American
people; therefore we hereby instruct the dele
gates from Iowa to tho national convention at
Denver to vote as a unit on all questions coming
to the said convention, and to report for the
nomination for president of the United States
first, last and all the time, that typical citizen,
exalted patriot and incorruptible democrat, Wil
liam Jennings Bryan."
INDIANA DEMOCRATS
Indiana democrats in session at Indianapolis
March 26 nominated the following state ticket:
For Governor Thomas R. Marshall, Colum
bus City.
For Lieutenant Governor Frank J. Hall,
Rushville.
For Secretary of State James F. Fox,
Columbus.
. For Auditor of State Marion Bailey,
Lizton. ' ,
State Treasurer John Isenbarger, North
Manchester,
For Attorney General Walter J. Lotz,'
Muncie.
For Supreme Court Judge F. W. Felt
Greenfield. '
For Reporter of the Supreme Court Burt
New, North Vernon.
For State Statistician Frederick J. Kele
her, Indianapolis.
For Superintendent of Public School In
struction Robert J. Aley, Bloomington.
The Associated Press report of the pro
ceedings says:
The platform as read included a declara
tion for laws executed in the interests of the
whole people. It denounced the republican
party for alleged failure during twelve years
of absolute control of all the departments of
government to rectify evils whereby "colossal
combinations of capital have dominated the peo
ple and illegal perversions of corporate laws
have stifled competition," with no honest effort
by republican legislators to cure or eradicate
the evils.
"The unfair features of the so-called nro
tectlve tariff," said the platform, "have made
these things possible. We therefore demand the
tariff be revised and that the tariff shall be fo?
revenue only. Articles entering into competi
tion with articles controlled by trusts shm,ni
lie placed on the free list." Sh0uld
The platform declared for an income tix
postal savings banks, better regulation of hn'S'
abolishment of favoritism in the deposit ot the
treasury funds and that surplus revenues shaU
be deposited at competitive rates upon Sclent
security and fairly distributed throughout the
country. It also favored election of United
States senators by direct vote of the peonle
Opposition was declared to the Aldrich and
the Fowler currency bills, and an emereencv
currency favored instead. The platLmfso Tn
posed tho ship subsidy bill. It declared itrongfy
against indiscriminate use of injunctions by fed
eral courts without notice to defendants, with
out a hearing and a trial by jury in proceedings
arising out of indirect contempt of such in
junctions. Efforts of tho president of the United Statos
to dictate the nomination of his successor wero
disapproved as dangerous to our form of gov
ernment; also the fact that the last congress
expended nearly two billion dollars, which is
condemned as a "profligate waste of the people's
money."
The present financial stringency is declared
to furnish additional proof that the republican
leaders are either unwilling or incompetent to
protect the interests of the public.
"Democracy enters on the presidential cam
paign with a leader already chosen. Called to
command when but a young man, combatted in
two successive campaigns by the unreasoning
assault of his adversaries and a debauched suf
frage corrupted by contributions made by preda
tory wealth, this great leader, by force of his
splendid intellect, his noble manhood, his match
less eloquence, his purity of life, .has not only
become easily the greatest private citizen of the
republic, but an absolute moral force in the
world. In honoring him the democracy of In
diana honors itself. The democracy of the
United States with one accord delivers its banner
to Nebraska's favorite son, William J. Bryan.
"The Indiana democracy, having a justifi
able faith in the high character, the proved
ability, the distinguished party service and the
aggressive patriotism of our beloved fellow citi
zen, John W. Kern, do hereby commend him
to the democracy of the nation as a most fit
and desirable nominee for the vice presidency
of the TJnited States."
A ward or township unit local option plank
was also Inserted. The platform was unanimous
ly adopted as read.
The action of the credentials committee
gave National Chairman Taggart and his fol
lowing eighty-seven out of 115 delegates in In
dianapolis and Marion county.
Thomas Taggart was re-elected' qs demo
cratic national committeeman from 'In'dl'&nKy
the newly elected delegates" to the natioriaVcon-vention.
OHIO DEMOCRATS
An Associated Press report under date of
Columbus, March 25, says:
More than three hundred leading'demoQrats
from all parts of the state assembled here to
night by invitation of a committee named by
General P. B. Finley of Bucyrus, and unani
mously adopted resolutions "commending to the
democrats in all the counties of Ohio a course
of action calculated to preserve the unity of the
party, to eliminate factionalism and promote un
selfish co-operation."
The resolution declared the firm conviction
of the democrats assembled that victory can
readily be achieved for the democratic ticket,'
both state and national, providing the party is '
united.
The meeting was a stormy one and the
proceedings were attended by much confusion.
John I. Zimmerman of Springfield presided. The
harmony resolution was presented by General
Finley, and a supplemental resolution was im
mediately offered by Sloan Gordan of Hamilton,
indorsing the candidacy of William J. Bryan for
the presidency and favoring a free primary for
the nomination of candidates for governor and
United States senator. This supplemental reso
lution was ruled out of order. H. H. McFad
den of Steubenville attempted to speak on the
Bryan resolution, despite the ruling of the chair,
and finally shouted for everyone who was for
Bryan to rise, and practically the entire as
semblage was on its feet in an instant.
A letter from State Chairman Harvey Gar
ber was read, in which he declared himself in
favor of harmonious party action, but urged that
nothing be done that would not tend to preserve
;,! s of hQ victory gained by the party
under the leadership of the late Governor Pat-
twVi He said. tbat the Idea had eone abroad
rL prefent controversy in the ranks of the
party was due to "conflicting ambitions." To
oS J?0 minds of a11 on this subct he de
ufhat he WM a candidate for national
committeeman or for delegate at large to the
SiST conveIltlon r r another term as stato
chairman or for any state office.