Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-05-22

and when the motion to refer it to the
committee on resolutions was declared
carried there was loud demand, notably
from Minnesota delegation, that the neg
ative be put more forcibly by the chair.
The demand was renewed and continued
from time to time, during the reading
OF number of miscellaneous kilograms.
Fish of Minnesota argued that Pclk's
letter was ill-timed, and claimed it
showed how useless it would be to re-
fer the third party question to the meet
ing IN 1892, at which Polk and his fol-
lowers will be the leading spirits. Igna.
thus Donnelly, chairman of the commit
tee on resolutions, climbed on the rost-
rum at this juncture and almost his
first words caused whirlwind of excite
ment.
THE DECLARATION FROM DONNELLY,
which set the convention wild, was to
the effect that he was there to report that
the committee on platform was unit for
the organization of a third party. Don
nelly evidently felt that his moment of
triumph had came in the struggle which
he himself so deftly began just twenty
fonr hours before and for which he had
been SO publicly castigated by General
Weaver of Iowa. Two alternatives were
presented, he said, either to ignore a
third party or divide the friends of re-
form. He gave way to Robert Schilling
of Wisconsin, secretary of the committee,
who read the platform, as follows:
THE PLATFORM.
Your committee on resolutions begs
Iowa +, c,,b,,,,t +J, F,1I,,;,,r.
LIST. That in view of the great social,
industrial and economical revolution
now dawning upon the civilized world
and new and living issues confronting
the American people, we believe the time
has arrived for the crystalization of the
political reform forces of our country and
tue formation of what should be known
as the Peoples party Of the United
States of America.
ID. That we most heartily endorse
the demands of the platforms, as adopted
at ST. Louis. Mo-, in 1889. Ocala,
Fla, in 1890, and Omaha, Neb., 1891, by
industrial organizations there represen-
ted, summarized as follows:
(a) The right to make or issue money
is sovereign power to be maintained by
the people for common benefit, hence
we demand the abolition of the national
banks as banks Of issue, and as substi-
tute for the national bank notes we
demand that legal tender treasury notes
be issued in a sufficient volume to trans
act the business of the country on cash
basis without damage or especial ad-
vantage to any class or calling, such
notes to be legal tender in the payment
of all debts, public and private, and
such notes when demanded by the peo-
pie, shall be loaned to them at not more
than two per cent. per annum upon non
imperishable products as indicated in
,he sub-treasury plan, and also upon
real estate with the proper limitation up
on the quantity of land and amount Of
money.
r(b) We demand free and unlimited
coinage of silver.
(c) We demand the passage of laws
prohibiting the alien ownership of land,
and that congress take prompt action to
devise some plan to obtain all lands now
owned by aliens and foreign syndicates,
and that all lands now held by railroads
and other corporations in excess of such
as actually used and needed by them be
reclaimed by the government, and held
for actual settlers only.
(d) Believing the doctrine of equal
rights to all and special privilege to
none. we demand that taxation, national,
state or municipal, shall not be used to
build up one interest or class at the ex-
pense of another.
le) We demand that all revenues,
national, state or county, shall be limit
ed to the necessary expenses of the gov
ernment economically and honestly ad-
ministered.
f) We demand just and equitable
system of graduated tax on income.
(g) We demand the most rigid, hon
est and just national control and super
vision of the public communication and
transportation, and if this control and
Supervision does not remove the abuses
now existing, we demand government
ownership of such means of communica-
ton and transportation.
6) We demand the election of presi-
dent, ice-president and United States
senators by direct vote of the people.
43. That we urge united action of all
progressive organizations in attending
ttS conference called for February %,
EA2, by six of the leading reform organ
izations
,4th. That national central committee
al appointed by this conference, to be
composed of chairman, to be elected by
this body, and three members from each
state represented, to be named by each
state delegation.
9th. That this central committee shall
represent this body, attend the national
conference on Feb'y %, 1892, and if pos
sible unite with that and all other reform
organizations there assembled. If no
satisfactory arrangement can be effected,
this committee shall call national con-
vention, not later than June l, 1892, for
the purpose of nominating candidates for
president and vice-president.
III 9th. That the members of the central
committee for each state where there is
no independent political organization
conduct an active system Of political agi-
tation in their respective states.
4