San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-07-12

Non.Partisan Convention Platform.
The following is the platform
adopted at the convention which met
last week at Fort Worth;
We, the farmers, laborers and stock
raisers OF Texas, in convention as
sembled, do agree on action neces-
sary for the removal Of the burdens
that are imposed upon us in conse
quence OF the special privileges
granted to a favored class, and after
repeated failures OF the existing po-
litical organizations to remedy the
cause, in violation of the pledges
given to their constituents, and being
profoundly impressed with the fact
that all laws should emanate from a
majority of the governed, and be-
lieving that all class legislation tends
to destroy oil democratic and repub'
lican governments and to build up a
moneyed aristocracy contrary to the
spirit Of our institutions, and are de-
structive to liberty; and that we view
with alarm the policy upon which
the machinery OF tho national govern.
ment has beon run for the past
twenty-five years. We charge the
Republican party while they con
trolled the national government with
inaugurating Il financial policy which
has brought such ruin upon us. And
we charge the Democratic party has
continued the same usurious policy
since their accession to power, there
by entailing upon MS monsirous
trusts, syndicates and banks. And
we charge the two old parties rs
being guilty of squandering our pub
lie domain, which was the natural
and inalienable birthright of the peo-
pie. Therefore we, the farmers, Ia
borers and stock. raisers, representing
large per cent. of the people of the
state, hereby declare our independ'
ence of all political parties, rings,
bosses and cliques, and in the follow
ing platform express our demands:
/. That the national banks should
be abolished and the bank notes re-
tired from circulation, and in lieu
thereof we demand that the govern
ment shall issue all money direct to
the people, and that the government
shall never charter another banking
corporation. All money shall be n
full legal tender, and should be is
sued in sufficient quantities to meet
the necessary demands of the people.
2. The means of communication
and transportation should be owned
and controlled by the people, as is
the United States postoffice, and
equitable rates everywhere estab-
lished.
3. No alien should be allowed to
own or hold real estate in this state
or in the United States, and that all
lands now held by foreign syndicates
or individuals be alienated within
FIVE years to actual settlers by sale
or otherwise, and that no. further
grants of public lands be made to
corporations.
4. We demand that constitutional
amendment be submitted by the
United States congress to the several
state legislatures making presidents,
vice presidents, United States sena
tors and postmasters elective by a
vote of the people.
S. We favor the enactment of a
national usury law.
6. We demand free ballot, fair
count, and that tampering with the
ballot-box shall constitute one of the
gravest of crimes.
7. We demand the immediate pay
ment of the national debt at it's face
value.
8. We are in favor of free aud un-
limited coinage of silver.
8. We demand a graduated income
tax
10. We are in favor of we'll regu-
lated system of public schools, as
upon the education of the masses de-
ponds the hope of the country and
the perpetuity of our republican in
stitutions.
IL. We are in favor of rotation in
Office, and are opposed to third
termism.
IL. We are unqualifedly opposed
to the change or repeal of our present
homestead exemption laws.
Is. We favor the passage of COM
pulsory arbitration laws by which a
Just and speedy settlement of differ
onces can be had between corpora
tions and their employees, and the
repeal of all laws that do not bear
equally upon capital and labor, and
the enactment of laws for the regula-
ton of corporate and class interests
SO as to protect the people against
oppression and wrong.
IA. We demand that all real estate
held for speculative purposes be
taxed to the full amount at which it
is offered to purchasers.
The platform was greeted with ap-
plause and adopted with only one
dissenting voice,
In the delegations there are fewer