MASSACHUSETTS. 



property of a family claiming exemption not to be 

 more than $5,000. 



Amending the law for preventing spread of con- 

 tagious diseases among domestic animals ; the work 

 i*7o be hereafter performed, so far as possible, and 

 the appropriations tin-re for expended, by the local 

 inspectors acting under direction of the Board of 

 Cattle Commissioners. 



Political. The annual report of the political 

 proceedings of the State Advisory Board of the 

 American Protective Association was published in 

 l-YI>ruary. Following are excerpts : 



" The political interest and activity of our mem- 

 bers have not diminished since our last report. 

 Our large representation in the General Court has 

 been maintained. All candidates seeking our sup- 

 port for office were informed that, while we antago- 

 nize no man on account of race, color, or religion, 

 yet w* do stand for separation of Church and state, 

 no public funds for sectarian purposes, and restric- 

 tion of immigration. Suitable candidates in sym- 

 pathy with these principles received our hearty sup- 

 port. 



"The political board of Boston was much stronger 

 than in previous years. Every ward was repre- 

 sented in its composition, the attendance at its 

 meetings beating former records. This board re- 

 fused to indorse any candidate in the canvass for 

 the nomination for Mayor, or to support either can- 

 didate as a body at the polls. 



" Our representation in Congress has increased 

 since our last report. 



" We commend our membership for conducting 

 their work quietly, without ostentation, and for not 

 seeking notoriety in the public press. We have en- 

 deavored not to inject a turbulent spirit into any 

 party or parties, but it is our purpose to stand stead- 

 fastly by the principles herein referred to." 



State officers were chosen at the election, Nov. 8, 

 as well as members of Congress and of the Legisla- 

 ture. There were five tickets in the field : Demo- 

 cratic, Republican, Socialist- Labor, Prohibition, and 

 Socialist- Democratic. 



The Democrats met in convention at Worcester, 

 Oct. 4. The advocates of free coinage of silver were 

 in control, and John W. Corcoran, a member of the 

 National Democratic Committee, who is not in 

 sympathy with his party in the State on that ques- 

 tion, was removed. The platform, declaring for 

 free silver, said: "The futile policy of the Repub- 

 lican administration in sending a commission to 

 Europe to secure international bimetallism, and at 

 the same time in thwarting and bringing to naught 

 every effort of that commission, and in making its 

 success impossible, has revealed the predetermined 

 purpose of the Republican party to violate its 

 pledges to the American people, and to prevent bi- 

 metallism in any form, not only in the United States, 

 but throughout the world." 



Opposition to imperialism was declared, and the 

 conduct of the war was criticised as follows: 



"The military administration during the recent 

 war has been a stigma on the history of the republic 

 and a disgrace to civilization. The army which 

 sprang into existence has been made the prey of in- 

 competents and favorites, who have fattened on the 

 sorrows of American soldiers. The brave young 

 men who fought our battles in the West Indies 

 were left without adequate food, medicines, or sur- 

 gical assistance ; they were deprived of tlje abun- 

 dant provisions which a generous and patriotic 

 people had made for their support and encourage- 

 ment. They were obliged to perform menial serv- 

 ices under intolerable hardships. They were put 

 under incompetent commanders, and were left to 

 suffer and die with undressed wounds and burning 

 fevers. And hundreds of their comrades who have 



returned alive have come back emaciated and 

 ghostly, to stagger through the streets as living 

 witnesses against those who are responsible for their 

 sufferings. We demand that a thorough investiga- 

 tion by Congress, not by an Administration com- 

 mittee organized to acquit, shall expose the guilty 

 and drive them mercilessly from the office which 

 they have disgraced." 



Further, the resolutions denounced the Dingley 

 tariff law and the new internal revenue tax law : 

 favored public ownership of street railways, water- 

 works, plants for electric lighting, gas plants, plants 

 for heat and the distribution of power, and for the 

 service connected therewith. 



On State issues they demanded State supervision 

 of telephone companies ; suggested that the nomi- 

 nation of candidates for Congress, members of the 

 Governor's Council and the General Court be made 

 by a direct vote in the caucuses ; demanded recon- 

 struction of State commissions and election of 

 United States Senators by direct vote of the people 

 and favored direct legislation. 



The platform also favored the adoption of the in- 

 itiative and referendum, eight hours as a legal day's 

 work, technical and industrial schools, and a ship 

 canal across Cape Cod. 



The candidates were : For Governor, Alexander 

 B. Bruce; Lieutenant Governor, Edward J. Slattery ; 

 Secretary of State, Henry Lloyd; State Treasurer, 

 Pierre Bonvouloir ; Auditor, Dr. Charles F. Parker; 

 Attorney-General, Patrick II. Kilroy. 



The Republican State Convention, at Boston, 

 Oct. 6, asserted in its resolutions that the demand 

 in the last national platform for a vigorous foreign 

 policy had been fully discharged in the war just 

 ended ; renewed allegiance to the St. Louis platform ; 

 commended the Dingley tariff law ; praised Presi- 

 dent McKinley in peace and war ; eulogized the 

 deeds of the army and navy ; approved the Presi- 

 dent's action in demanding a thorough investiga- 

 tion of the War Department ; asserted the necessity 

 for a larger regular army, a reorganization of the 

 National Guard, a larger navy, and better coast 

 defenses. 



The money plank was as follows : 



" We affirm anew our support of sound money. 

 True to the pledge of the St. Louis platform, the 

 President and Congress, earnestly and in good 

 faith, strove to secure an agreement of the great 

 commercial nations for the coinage of silver and 

 gold at an established ratio. The attempt has 

 utterly failed. All our currency must rest upon 

 the single gold standard. Every dollar must be 

 kept equal in value to the dollar in gold. All Gov- 

 ernment indebtedness which, by the terms of the 

 contract, is payable in coin must be paid in gold at 

 the option of the creditor. We rejoice in the defeat 

 of the Teller resolution in a Republican House of 

 Representatives as the repulse of an attack upon 

 the integrity of our monetary system and the fair 

 fame of the republic. 



" The time has come for the reform of our cur- 

 rency in the direction of the ready conversion of 

 its different forms, each into the other, and the 

 redemption of all in gold upon demand, with ade- 

 quate provision for the extension of banking facili- 

 ties to the agricultural and sparsely settled por- 

 tions of the country, to the end that in those 

 sections capital may be responsive to the demands 

 of business, and lower rates of interest prevail." 



On a foreign policy the platform said : " The war 

 with Spain, undertaken by the United States from 

 the highest motives, has been justified in the intel- 

 ligence and compassion of mankind. Our brilliant 

 victories have brought us solemn obligations and 

 grave responsibilities, for we can not, in the interest 

 of honor, humanity, or civilization, return to Spain 



