Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-08-29
PLATFORM AND PRINCIPLES.

PLATFORM AND PRINCIPLES.
Whereas, the depressed condition of the agri-
cultural and laboring classes of our country
cries aloud for help; and the statistics OF our
government show that in the advancement
our country has made in the last twenty-five
Years Yea the agricultural and laboring classes,
the wealth producers have been left far be-
hind, and that the wealth of the country
is rapidly concentrating in the hands of the
favored few to the detriment of the many, so
that now more than half of the wealth Of this
great country is held by less than $50 900 of its
Ga, 900, 900 of people; and.
Whereas, we believe the legislation Of the
Congress of the United States for the last
twenty five years has been greatly to the pre-
JUDGE of large majority of the people, and
in the interest of the favored few, that the
monetary system as administered under the
national banking laws, its characterization of
silver and contraction of the currency has so
reduced the values OF our lands and their pro-
ducts as to materially lessen our farm values,
while at the same time the bonds and holdings
of capitalists and mOnopOlists have been
greatly enhanced in value; and,
Whereas, unjust and onerous burdens of tax
alton have been imposed upon the farmer and
laborer through our internal revenue and tariff
laws, framed in the interests of monopolies
and trusts; these laws, while protesting to pro-
tect the farmer and laborer, tax with heavy
hand, almost every article necessary for their
daily wants, and at the same time close the
markets OF the world to their products, aud
ICCOSllZluS UuG ldCb GildG W dCCOulpllSQ GuS
reforms we demand we must select and vote
for candidates in accord with our views, yet
we believe that this may be accomplished in
side the two great parties now existing by de-
manding and exacting pledges from those
seeking our suffrage to give us and our inter-
eSts fair and equitable treatment, refusing to
support i'll either party those who refuse to
support us.
And whereas, it is proper thatwe should set
forth what we believe may give relief to our
depressed people; therefore, be it resolved,
1st. That we favor the free and unlimited
coinage of silver.
I'd. The repeal of the national banking
laws and the substitution of legal -tender
treasury notes in lieu of national bank notes,
and sufficient quantity to do the business of
the country.
Sd. That Congress issue sufficient amount
of fractional paper currency to facilitate ex-
change through the medium of the United
States mails.
4th. Such revision of our tariff laws as
shall reduce the burdens of taxation upon the
necessaries of life, placing upon luxuries the
burdens they should bear, reducing tariff tax
alton to the necessities of the government
economically administered and SO adjusted
as to promote rather than suppress our COM
mercial intercourse with the nations Of the
world.
| 9TH We demand that Congress shall pass
such laws as shall effectually prevent the
dealing in futures of all agricultural and
| mechanical products.
withdrawal of all favorS in the shape of SUBJ
sides and bounties.
It'll. The abrogation Of all partisan and
| class legislation.
| 9Th. Equal distribution of the burdens of
taxation; that capital in bonds shall be re-
| quired to bear just share of taxes, and the
enactment of such laws as shall ensure this
end.
9th. We oppose the alien ownership of
lands, and all land grants to railroad cor
porations and syndcates, and demand the for
| fixture of all unearned land grants, and that
| all lands held by railroads and other corpora
lions in excess of such as are actually used
and needed by them for their legitimate pur-
poses, be reclaimed by the government and
| held for actual settlers only.
| 10th. We demand a railroad commission,
consisting OF three persons, to which shall be
given full powers to protect the rights and in
| terests of the people; to have power to regu-
late and correct all determinations in freights
and other charges, and to adjust a schedule
of tariffs favorable to the people and just to
the railroads, making rates uniform per mile
as far as possible, allowing for loading and
unloading.
l1th We will not support for office the
representatives OF paid attorneys of railroads,
| transportation companies and other corpora
tions. We demand pledges from all candi-
dates for office that they will not accept free
passes upon railroads or other transportation
| lines. We condemn the use of free passes by
| the Judiciary