USA > Iowa > Tama County > History of Tama County, Iowa, together with sketches of their towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 27
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and no diversion of the school fund from the public schools.
6. That we cordially invite immigration from all civilized countries, guaranteeing to emigrants the same political privileges and social and re- ligious freedom we ourselves enjoy, and favor- ing a free and unsectarian system of common schools for their children with ours.
7. That in James G. Blaine we recognize a pure Republican and patriot, and one well worthy to be chosen as the standard-bearer of the Republican party in the coming campaign.
The Democrats, in convention at Des Moines, August 30th, adopted the follow- ing:
Resolved, By the Liberal Democratic party of the State of Iowa, in convention assembled, that we adopt as our platform of principles the reso- lutions and declarations of the National Con- vention at St. Louis, and earnestly approve the sentiments of the eminent statesmen of the party, Hon. Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A. Hendricks, so ably presented in their letters of acceptance of the nominations at said conven- tion.
The following is the Democratic ticket: Secretary of State, J. II. Stubeuranch; Treasurer of State, W. Jones; Auditor of State, W. Growneweg; Register of State Land Office, H. C. Ridernour; Attorney- General, J. C. Cook; Judges of Supreme Court, W. I. Hayes, W. Graham. The vote on Secretary of State was as follows:
J. T. Young, Rep. 172,171
J. H. Stubenrauch, Dem. 112,115
A. Macready, Gr. 9,436
Young's majority over all -50,620
In the campaign of 1877 the Republi- cans met first in convention at Des Moines, June 28, where they nominated the following ticket: Governor, John HI. Gear; Lieutenant - Governor, Frank T. Campbell; Supreme Judge, James G. Day;
Supt. of Public Instruction, Carl W. Vou Coello. The following is the platform:
Acting for the Republicans of Iowa, by its authority and its name, this convention declares:
1. The United States of America is a nation, and not a league, by the combined workings of the national and State governments under their respective institutions. The rights of every citizen should be secured at home and protected abroad, and the common welfare promoted. Any failure on the part of eitber national or State governments to use every possible consti- tutional power to afford ample protection to their citizens, both at home and abroad, is a criminal neglect of their highest duty.
2. The Republican party has preserved the government in the commencement of the second century of the nation's existence, and its prin- ciples are embodied in the great truths spoken at its cradle-that all men are created as equals; that they are endowed by the Creator with cer- tain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that for the attainment of these ends governments have been instituted among men deriving their justice from the consent of the governed, which con- sent is evidenced by a majority of the lawful suffrages of citizens, determined in the pursu- ance of the law. Until these truths are univers- ally recognized and carefully obeyed, the work of the Republican party is nnfinished, and the Republican party of lowa will stand by its colors and fight the good fight to the cnd.
3. The permanent pacification of the sonthern section of the Union, and the complete protec- tion of all citizens in the free enjoyment of all their rights, is a duty to which the Republican party stands sacredly pledged. The power to provide for the enforcement of the principles embodied in the recent constitutional amend- ments, is vested by these amendments in the constitution of the United States, and we declare it to be the solemn duty of the legislative and executive departments of the government to put in immediate and vigorous exercise all their powers for removing any just causes of discon- tent on the part of any class, and for securing
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to every American citizen complete liberty and exact equality in the exercise of the civil, politi- cal and public rights. To this end we impera- tively demand of Congress and the Chief Execu tive a courage and fidelity to these duties which shall not falter until the results are placed beyond doubt or recall.
4. That the public credit should be sacredly maintained, and all the obligations of the gov- ernment honestly discharged; and that we favor the early attainment of a currency convertible with coin, and therefore advocate the gradual resumption of specie payments by continuous and steady steps in that direction.
5. That the silver dollar having been a legal unit of value from the foundation of the federal government until 1873, the laws under which its coinage was suspended should be repealed at the earliest possible day, and silver made, with gold a legal tender for the payment of all debts, both public and private. We also believe that the present volume of the currency should be maintained until the wants of trade and com- merce demand its further contraction.
6. That the investment of capital in thia State should be encouraged by wise and liberal legislation, but we condemn the policy of grant- ing subsidies at public expense, either to indi- viduals of corporations, for their private use.
7. That we demand the most rigid economy in all departments of the government, and that taxation be limited to the actual wants of public expenditure.
8. That we favor a wisely adjusted tariff for revenue.
9. That we hold it to be a solemn obligation of the electors of Iowa to be earnest in securing the election to all positions of public trust of men of honesty and conscience; to administra- tive affairs, men who will faithfully administer the law; to legislative affairs, men who will represent, upon all questions, the best sentiment of the prople, and who will labor earnestly for the enactment of such laws as the best interests of society, temperance and good morals shall demand.
10. That we rejoice in the honorable name of Towa, that we are proud of the State's achieve-
ments, of the degree of purity with which its public affairs have been conducted, and the soundness of its credit at home and abroad. We pledge to do whatever may be done to preserve unsullied the State's reputation in these regards.
The Greenbackers met at DesMoines, July 12, and nominated, for Governor, D. B. Stubbs; Lieutenant-Governor, A. Macready; Supreme Judge. John Porter; Supt. of Public Instruction, S. T. Ballard. The convention also adopted the following platform:
WHEREAS, Throughout our entire country, labor, the creator of all wealth, is either unim- ployed or denied its just reward, and all produc- tive interests are paralyzed; and,
WHEREAS, These results have been brought about by class legislation, and the mismanage- ment of our national finances; and,
WHEREAS, After generations of experience, we are forced to believe that nothing further can be hoped for through the old political parties; therefore we make the following dec- laration of principles:
1. We demand the unconditional repeal of the specie resumption act of January 14, 1875, and the abandonment of the present auicidal and destructive policy of contraction.
2. We demand the abolition of national banks, and the issue of legal tender paper money, by the government, and made receiv- able for all dues, public and private.
3. We demand the remonetization of the silver dollar, and making it a full legal tender for the payment of all coin bonds of the govern- ment and for all other debts, public and private.
4. We demand the equitable taxation of all property, without favor or privilege.
5. We commend every honest effort for the furtherance of civil service reform.
6. We demand the repeal of all class legisla- tlon and the enforcement of such wise and pro- gressive measures as shall secure equality of rights to all legitimate interests, and impartial justice to all persons.
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7. We demand a reduction of offices and sal- aries, to the end that there be less taxation.
8. We demand that the Independents of Iowa sustain and endorsc the principles of railroad legislative control, as expressed by the highest judicial authority, not as enemies of public enterprises, but as friends of the whole country and of the people.
9. We demand that all legal means be ex- hausted to eradicate the traffic in alcoholic beverages, and the abatement of the evil of intemperance.
10. We are opposed to all further subsidies by either the State or general government, for any and all purposes, either to individuals or corporations.
11. We invite the considerate judgment of our fellow citizens; of all political parties, upon these our principles and purposes, and solicit the co-operation of all men in the furtherance of them, as we do believe that upon their accept- ance or rejection by the people, the weal or woe of our beloved country depends.
The Democracy met in convention this year at Marshalltown, and nominated the following ticket: Governor, John P. Irish; Lieutenant-Governor, W. C. James; Su- preme Judge, H. C. Boardman; Superin- tendent of Public Instru tion, G. D. Culli- Soll. They also resolved-
1. The Democracy of the State of Iowa in convention assembled hereby declare in favor of a tariff for revenue, the only economic home rule, the supremacy of civil over military power, the separation of church and State, equality of all citizens before the law, opposition to the granting by the general government of subsidies to any corporation whatever; and we believe,
2. The destruction of the industry of the country and the pauperism of labor are the in- evitable fruit of the vicious laws enacted by the Republican party.
3. That as a means of relieving the distressed portions of the community, and removing the great stringency complained of in business cir-
cles, we demand the immediate repeal of the specie resumption act.
4. That we denounce as an outrage upon the rights of the people the enactment of the Re- publican measures demonetizing silver, and de- mand the passage of a law which shall restore to silver its monetary power.
5. That we favor the retention of a green- back currency, and declare against any further contraction, and favor the substitution of green- backs for national bank bills.
6. We congratulate the country upon the ac- ceptance by the present administration of the constitutional and pacific policy of local self- government in the States of the South, so long advocated by the Democratic party, and which has brought peace and harmony to that section. And in regard to the fu ure financial policy, in the language of our national platform adopted in the New York convention, in 1868, we urge,
7. Payment of the public debts of the United States as rapidly as practicable,-all the money drawn from the people by taxation, except so much as is requisite for the uecessities of the government, economically administered, being honestly applied to such payment wheu due.
8. The cqual taxation of every species of property according to its value.
9. One currency for the government and the people, the laborer and the office holder, the pensioner and the soldier, the producer and the bondholder.
10. The right of a State to regulate railroad corporations having been established by the higher court of the country, we now declare that this right must be exercised with due regard to justice, as there is no necessary antagonism be- tween the people and corporation, and the com- mon interests of both demind a speedy restora- tion of former friendly relations through just legislation on one side, and a cheerful submis- sion thereto on the other.
11. Rights of capital and labor are equally sacred, and alike entitled to legal protection. They have no just cause of quarrel, and the proper relations to each other are adjustable by
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national laws, and should not be tampered by legislative interference.
12. That we favor a repeal of the present pro- bibitory liquor law of the State, and the enact- ment of a well-regulated license law instead, and all the money derived from license to go to the school fund of the State.
A State Temperance or Prohibition con- vention assembled at Oskaloosa August 30, and nominated Elias Jessup for Gov- ernor, and adopted, as a platform, the fol- lowing :
WHEREAS, Intemperanee is the enemy of all -the drinker, the seller, the financier, the states- man, the educator and the christian; therefore, be it
Resolved, By the temperance people of the State of Iowa, that we hold these truths to be self-evident, and we do hereby declare them as the basis of our political action.
2 We recognize intemperance as the great social, moral, financial and political evil of the present age; that it is not an incident of intelli- gence and refinement, but is one of the worst relies of barbarism; has produced the lowest and most degraded form of government; and there- fore should be overthrown by all republican governments.
3. We claim that all men are endowed by their Creator with the inalienable right of free- dom from the destructive effects of intoxicating liquors, and the right to use all lawful and landiable means to defend themselves and their neighbors against the traffic as a beverage within our State.
4. That governments are instituted for the purpose of restraining and prohibiting the evil passions of men, and of promoting and protect- ing their best interests; and that, therefore, it is the duty of a government to use all its powers to make it as easy as possible for men to do right and as difficult as possible to do wrong.
5. We believe that the prohibition of the traffic in intoxicating liquors is the only sound legislative theory upon which this vexcd ques- tion can be solved and the nation saved from bankruptcy and demoralization.
Therefore, we insist upon the maintenance and enforcement of our prohibitory law, and upon such amendments thereto as will place ale, wine, and beer under the same condemnation as other intoxicating liquors.
6. That this great evil has long since assumed a political form, and can never be eliminated from politics until our legislatures and courts accomplisb its entire overthrow and destruction.
7. We hereby declare that, since we believe prohibition to be the only sound legislative policy, and since law is only brought to bear upon society through its officers, legislative, judicial, and executive, we therefore can and will support only those men who are known to be tried and irne temperance prohibitory men.
8. We believe that in the security of home rests the security of State; that women is by her very nature the acknowledged guardian of this saered shrine; that intemperance is its greatest enemy; therefore we claim that the daughters of this commonwealth, as well as her sons, ought to be allowed to say hy their votes, what laws shall be made for the suppression of this evil, and what person shall execute the same.
9. We believe the importation of intoxicat- ing liquors from foreign lands, and their protec- tion by the United States government, while in the bands of the importer, and inter-state com- merce in the same, cripple the power of State governments in enacting and enforcing such legislation as is and may be demanded by the people.
The vote on Governor was as follows:
John Il. Gcar, Rep. 121,546
D. P. Stubbs, Gr .. .88,228
John P. Irish Dem. .79,353
Elias Jessup, Temp. 10,639
Gear had a majority over Irish of 23,193, but the combined opposition vote was greater by 674.
In 1878 the Greenbackers held the first State convention, assembling at Des Moines April 10th, and nominated for Secretary of State, E. M. Farnsworth;
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Treasurer, M. L. Devlin; Auditor, G. V. Swearenger; Treasurer, M. Farrington; Attorney-General, General C. H. Jackson; Judge of Supreme Court, J G. Knapp; Clerk of Supreme Court, Alex. Runyon; Reporter Supreme Court, Geo. W. Rutherford. They adopted the following platform:
WHEREAS, Throughout our entire country the value of real estate is depreciated, industry para- lized, trade depressed, business income and w. ges reduced, unparalleled distress inflicted upon the poorer and middle ranks of our people, the land filled with fraud, embezzlement, bank- rupey, crime, suffering, pauperism, and starva- tion; and
WHEREAS, This state of things has been brought about by legislation in the interest of and dictated by money lenders, bankers, and bondholders; and,
WHEREAS, The limiting of the legal tender quality of greenbacks, the changing of currency bonds into coin bonds, the demonetizing of the silver dollar, the exempting of bonds from taxa- tion, the contraction of the circulating medium, the proposed forced resumption of specie pay- ments, and the prodigal waste of the public lands, were crimes against the people, and so far as possible the results of these criminal acts must be counteracted by judicious legislation.
1. We demand the unconditional repeal of the specie resumption act of January 14th, 1875, and the abandonment of the present suicidal and destructive policy of contraction.
2. We demand the abolition of national banks and the issue of a full legal tender paper money by the government, and receivable for all dues, public and private.
3. We demand the remonetization of the silver dollar, making it a full legal tender for the payment of all coin bonds of the government, and for all other debts, public and private, and that the coinage of silver shall be placed on the same footing as that of the gold.
4. Congress shall provide said money ade- quate to the full employment of labor, the equit-
able distribution of its products and the require- ments of business
5. We demand that Congress shall not, under any circumstances, authorize the issuance of in- terest-bearing bonds of any kind or class.
6. The adoption of an American monetary system, as proposed herein, will harmonize all differences in regard to tariff and federal taxa. tion, distribute equitably the joint earnings of capital and labor, secure to the producers of wealth the results of their labor and skill, mus- ter out of service the vast army of idlers, who, under the existing system, grow rich upon the earnings of others, that every man and woman may, by their own efforts, secure a competence, so that the overgrown fortunes and extreme poverty will be seldom found within the limits of our Republic.
7. The Government should, by general enact- ment, encourage the development of our agri- cultural, mineral, mechanical, manufacturing and commercial resources, to the end that labor may be fully and profitably employed, but no monopolies should be legalized.
8. The public lands are the common property of the whole people, and should not be sold to speculators, nor granted to railroads or other corporations, but should be donated to actual settlers in limited quantities.
9. It is inconsistent with the genius and spirit of popular government that any species of private or corporate property should be ex- empt from bearing its just share of the public burdens.
10. That, while the interests of the labor and producing classes throughout the nation are identical, North, South, East and West, and while it is an historic fact that the war of the rebellion was inaugurated in the interests of a class kindred to that which oppresses us, therc- fore we declare that the Government of the United States shall never pay any part or por- tion of what is known as the confederate or rebel debt.
11. We demand a constitutional amendment fixing the compensation of all State officers, in-
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cluding members and employes of the General Assembly.
12. We demand a general reduction of all county and court expenses, with a reduction of offices, to lessen oppressive taxes.
13. We demand that all just and legal means shall be used for the evils of intemperance.
14. We invite the considerate judgment of our fellow-citizens of all political parties upon these, our principles and purposes, and solicit the co-operation of all men in the furtherance of them, as we do believe that upon their accept- ance or rejection by the people, the weal or woe of our beloved country depends.
The Democrats assembled in convention June 7th, and nominated the following ticket. Secretary of State, T. O. Walker; Auditor, Col. Eiboeck; Treasurer, E. D. Fenn; Register of State Land Office, T. S. Bardwell; Judge of Supreme Court, Judge J. C. Knapp; Clerk of Supreme Court, M. V. Gannon; Reporter of Supreme Court, J. B. Elliott, Attorney-General, John Gib- bons. The convention adopted the fol- lowing platform :
We, the Democracy of Iowa, in convention assembled, congratulate the country upon the restoration of home rule to the South and the era of peace brought about in response to the demands of the national Democracy, and make this declaration of principles:
1. In favor of a tariff for revenue only; honest and economical home rule; the supremacy of civil over military power; the separation of the church and State; the equality of all citizens before the law; opposition to granting by the general government of subsidies to any corpora- tion whatever.
2. We believe the financial system of the Republican party has been one of favor to the moneyed monopolies, of unequal taxation, of exemptions of class, and of a remorseless con- traction that has destroyed every enterprise which gave employment to labor, and therefore we denounce it, its measures and its men, as
responsible for the financial distress, misery and want which now afflict the nation.
3. Labor and capital have an equal demand upon and equal responsibility to the law.
4. Public officials should be held to strict accountability, defanIters should be severely punished, and riot and disorder promptly sup- pressed.
5. We deprecate the funding of our non-in- terest bearing debt, and insist that our bonded debt be refunded at a rate of interest not ex- ceeding four per cent.
6. We favor an equal recognition of gold, silver and United States notes in the discharge of public and private obligations, except where otherwise provided by contract, and to the end that the same be secured, we favor the uncon- ditional repeal of the resumption act, and the coinage of silver on equal conditions with gold. We oppose any further retirement of the United States notes now in circulation, and favor the substitution of United States treasury notes for national bank bills.
7. We declare it as our opinion that it is the duty of the government to take immediate steps to improve our great Western rivers, and that the means provided should be commensurate with the importance and magnitude of the work.
8. Thorough investigation into the election frauds of 1876 should be made, the frauds should be exposed, the truth vindicated, and the crimi- nals punished in accordance with law, wherever found.
9 The management of our State institutions by Republican officials has been and is 1.otori- ously corrupt, and a disgrace to the people; we therefore demand a thorough investigation of the same, and the punishment of all parties who have betrayed their trust.
Resolved, That we accept and re-affirm the doc- trine of Mr. Tilden upon the war claims as a proper adjustment of the national policy con- cerning that class of claims upon the public treasury.
The Republicans held their convention June 19, and nominated the following
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ticket: Secretary of State, Capt. John A. T. Hull; Auditor, Maj. Buren R. Sherman; Treasurer, George W. Bemis; Register State Land Office, Lieut. James K. Powers; Judge of Supreme Court, Col. J. II. Rothrock They also adopted the following platform:
1. That the United States of America is a nation, not a league. By the combined work- ings of the national and State governments, under their respective constitutions, the right of every citizen should be secured at home and ahroad, and the common welfare promoted. Any failure on the part of either the national or State governments to use every possible consti- tutional power to afford ample protection to their citizens, both at home and abroad, is a neglect of their highest duty.
2. Against the assaults of traitors and rebels, the Republican party has preserved these gov- ernments, and they represent the great truths spoken to the world by the Declaration of Inde- pendence, that "all men are created equal;" that they "are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that for the attainment of these ends, governments have been instituted among men, deriving just powers from the consent of the governed," which con- sent is evinced by a majority of the lawful suffrages of the citizens, determined in pursuance of law; and in order that this end may be justly and fully reached, the Republican party of Iowa demands that every qualified elector in every State, North and South, Democrat or Republi- Can, white or black, shall be permitted, un 'is- turbed by force and unawed by fear, to vote at all elections at the place prescribed by law, and nowhere else, just once, and no more than once; and that every vote so cast shall be honestly counted, and that every peisou chosen by such votes to any office shall be freely inducted into it, and effectively supported in the discharge of his duties; and every well informed person kunws that with such freedom of elective action and honest administration as are herein de- manded, at least five of the Southern States are
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