The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-08-10
PLATFORM.

All corporations, including those
formed for the transportation ol per-
SONS and products, are creatures oi
the state and general government,
subjects of their control; and II Is the
duty oi the government t. regulate
transportation. prescribing both MN
imum and maximum charges, pre-
venting pooling and other Ike com
b!naiiuns and determinations be-
tween towns and individuals. and the
consolidation OF competing lines, thus
protecting the corporations III Their
legal rights and the people from eX-
tortionate charges.
To secure these things we demand
that the next congress, 10y one OF It's
committees, shall thoroughly investl
gate the cost of railways and trans
portation, 50 that 1t may act lntelh-
gently on those subjects, and enact
such laws It's the protection OF the
people demand.
a postal telegraph system Is de
manded by every interest Of the coun-
Try, to be operated by the postal de-
partment.
Under Il liberal and iniquitable con
struction Of law, states and corpora
lions have forfeited loj, 900, 900 acres
of land, Il territory, as large as the
five great states of New Ioik, Penn
sylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois,
now supporting Il population OF over
Is, 100000 Of people, and this land
now legally and equitahly belongs to
the people of the United StateS;theic
tore be it.
Resolved, That it is the duty of con-
gress to declare forfeited all lands
not equitably earned 10y construction
of the designated roads within the
time preScriIad by law for compile
ton, and restore the same To the pub
he domain for the benefit of actual
settlers, and all public lands shall be
reserved for the use of actual settlers.
We view with alarm the acquire.
ment of lands in the United states
10y NONRESIDENT foreigners, we favor
such changes in the new law us will
prevent the ownership of any part OF
our land except 10y residents.
We oppose the issue and control OF
the currency by banks of issue, which
now enjoy the specia! privilege OF
charging interest upon their own
promise To pay, and we demand Il
restoration To the peoples govern
ment of its full sovereignty over I'LL
money, both metallic and paper, to
be full legal tender. We favor the
Coinage OF gold and silver upon equal
a Il I,t hA
of money be carefully restricted 10y
law.
We demand that the national bank
ing system he abolished, and the III.
tiOnal bonds paid off as speedily us
possible in the lawful money of the
United States.
We demand the establishment of Il
graduated income tax.
Postal savings banks should be
established, that the people may have
Il safe depository.
Gambling in the necessaries of life
! and combinations which enable mo
nopolies to control the prices against
| the natural laws of trade must be
abolished.
The patent laws should he s."
amended as to protect inventors, gave
| the people the benefits To be derived.
and prevent the formation OF mo
nopolies which rob the inventor and
the people.
All public officials, as far as prac-
ticable, including the President and
Wee President, should he elected 10y
il direct vote of the people.
Congress has no authority to tax
the people except for the purpose 81
raising necessary revenue, and III
forming tariff laws that object should
be kept constantly IN view. We de
nounce the present tariff as heing
wholly ia the interest of monopolIcS.
and demand that 1T be specially and
radically reformed and free trade
established rs soon rs the tranSpur
tatiun and money monopoiies shall he
SD regulated as Ia secure rates Tor
freight and interest of money.
In constituting this independent
political party we pledge ourselves
not To enter INTO any combination or
utilization with the Republican oI
Democratic party.