Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-08-01
J. H. POWERS FOR GOVERNOR
Nebraska Independents Hold a State
Convention at Lincoln.
They Express Their Opposition to the
Two Old Parties.
The Party Composed of Farmers
Alliance Men.

LINCOLN, Neb,, July 20.-The people's
independent party of Nebraska met in
state convention, nearly 900 delegates
from all over the state being present. The
farmers alliance men and grangerS pre-
dominate, the Knights Of Labor and union
labor man. Allen Root. of Douglass
county. and Charles Il. Mayburry. of
Pawnee City, were elected chairman and
secretary. respectively. A number of
speeches Were made, including one bv
ex-senator Van Wyck. He an
nounced himself as out of poll
tics and strictly for business.
He denounced both parties for the part
they had taken in legislation the paSt
twenty years He declared they were
controlled by Wall street and that the
present movement was destined to- revolu-
honiGe the whole order of things. The
committee on resolutions reported Il plat
form. An attempt to adopt the standing
platform of the farmers alliance was made
but the knights of labor insisted on the
insertion of other plankS and the following
Is a synopsis of the platform rs adopted
The financial system should be reformed
by the restoration of silver to its old time
place In our currency; its free and m.
limited coinage on an equality with gold,
and by an increase in our money circula,
tion TO the sum of $50 per capita; all paper
issues necessary to secure that amount
be made by the government alone and be
made full legal tender. The land mono
poly should be abolished by limitation
of the ownership or graduated taxation
of excessive holdings; alien ownership
should be prohibited
The railroad system rs ut present man
aged Is a system of spoilatioh and robbery,
and its enormous debt at fictitious valua-
ton Is absorbing the substance of the
people in the interest of milhonaireS.
The general government should own
and operate the railroads and teegraphS
and furnish transportation ut cost. tho
same as mail facilities are
now furnished, We demand the
legislature enact a freight law which shall
fix rates no higher than those now in force
in Iowa.
We demand the state and national SyS-
tens of taxation, including the tariff, and
be so adjusted that each will bear its lust
burden. instead of our farmers, aborers.
mechanics and merchants being compelled
to pay as ut present 10y far the largest
adoption of the AustriGan ballot
system is demanded, also that eight
hours shall constitute a days work except
for agricultural labor: that soldiers shalt
receive liberal service pension.
The platform concludes as follows: We
further declare that the political machiu-
cry of this state has been controlled by cor
porate power for the plunder of people
and the enrichment of itself and we have
entirely lost confidence in the efficacy
of that machinery of unjust laws
We, therefore, give our voice for a call of
the peoples independent state convention
to nominate pure and honorable men for
the different state offices ON the principles
above named and we hereby pledge our.
selves, if pure and honorable men are SO
selected. to vote and work for their cleo
tion, and we hereby invite all men, with
out regard to past or present party athlia-
tions, to join us in this, our effort
for pure government, for relief
from the shackles of party politics and the
dominion of corporate power iii our pub
lie affairs. A memorial from the w.
c. T. L. requestingt he convention TO de-
clare in favor of II prohibition amendment
was lost in the committee rs reported.
Ex-senator Van Wyck. J. A. Powers, DIR.
A. Coleman and Guy c. Barnum were
placed in nomination for governor The
first ballot resulted: Powers 465; Van
Wyck, 327; Coleman, As; Barnum, 25.
Necessary to Il choice, 427.
Powers made a speech, and the conven
ton took recess until 9 p. m.