The Russellville Democrat., 1892-06-30
PEOPLES PATRY PLATFORM.
FINANCE.

l FINANCE. l We demand a national currency, safe sound and flexible, issued by the general l government only, a full legal tender for all debts, public and private, and that without the use of banking corporations, a just, equitable and efficient means of distribu- tion, direct to the people. at a tax not to exceed per cent, to be provided as set forth in the sub-treasury and land loan plan of the Farmers Alliance or some better system; also by payments in dis charge of its obligations for public i'm provements.
 We demand the free and unlimited coin age of silver at the present ratio We demand that the amount of circulat- ing medium be speedily increased to not less than $50 per capita. We demand graduated income tax. We believe that the money of the coun- try should be kept as much as possible in the hands of the people, and hence we de- mand that all national and state revenues shall be limited to the necessary expenses of the government, economically and hon estly administered.
 We demand that postal savings banks be es established by the government for the safe deposit of the earnings of the people and to facilitate exchange.
 TRANSPORTATION
 Trans portation being a means of ex- change and public necessity, the govern ment should own and operate the railroads in the interest of the people.
 The telegraph and telephone, like the postofice system, being q necessity for the transportation of news, should be owned by the government in the interest of the people.
 The land, including all the natural re- sources of wealth, is the heritage of the people, and should not be monopolized for speculation purposes, and alien ownership of land should be prohibited. All lands now held by railroads and other corpora lions in excess of their actual needs. and all lands now owned by aliens should be reclaimed by the government and held for actual settlers only.
 We condemn the Democratic administra- tion in Arkansas for its high crimes against justice and law. Its disregard of justice and law in the furtherance of party ends has engendered a spirit of mob law, which is undermining the courts of justice, dis gracing our state and endangering life and liberty.
 
 tisan effort to strengthen corrupt party in their hold on power by limiting the right of suffrage, and as not being an hon est measure for the purpose of raising rev enue.
 We believe that the system of paying public officers by fees is injurious to the public service, and we demand that all fees be paid into the public treasury, and all officers paid fixed salaries, which shall be in proportion to the services rendered, and the ability of the people to pay. We believe in free school system, and | the furnishing of school books by the state to the citizens at cost We condemn the present barbarous con vict lease law, instituted by the Republi can party and continued by it's servile im- | itators, the Democratic party, and demand | its immediate repeal.
 We suggest that in lieu of the present system, penitentiary farm be provided, npon which a sufficient number of con victs be employed to make a support for the whole body, and that all surplus labor above the farm needs be used in building | state roads.
 We demand state reformatory ins'itn. ! ton for young convicts, who, under ,i.. present system, come out of prison worse than they enter.
 We condemn the present unjust road | law, under which those least able have to bear all the burden, and demand in its stead just and equitable system of taxa | ton for road purposes.
 Rotation in office being one of the safe | guards of republic, we believe that no state or county officer should be allowed more than four consecutive years of ser | .,.c o,,I Co lot and Ia,,,o,,A or, amendment to the state constitution mak- ing our elections for four year terms, and 1 forbidding a re election on the part of any officer to two consecutive terms, and in ! this connection we demand consolidation of state and national elections.
 In the present impoverished condition of our taxpayers we think it would be noth | ing less than a crime for our legislature to appropriate moneys for luxuries like the l World Fair at Chicago, but we approve the course of those citizens who out of their abundance contribute to that exposi- l tion.
 We condemn in unmeasured terms the footing of the state treasury by Demo cratic officials, who now go unwhipped of | justice.
 We deny that the Democratic party in | Arkansas has given us fair elections or believes in them, and we assert that their boasted election law is but 8 seryile imita- ton of the Lodge force bill, and was de- vised to enable them to perpetuate their wicked lease on power, despite the will of the electors
 We declare to the world that the so- called Democratic party in Arkansas, is not Democratic in fact or in principle, but is nothing more than an organized and in satiable appetite for spells, and will stop at no injustice no wrong, and no peryer- sion of law, that will enable the spoilsmen | to continue to fatten at the crib.
 We ask the assistance of all good citi zcns of Arkansas, without regard to past party affiliations, to enable us to forward the reforms here briefly outlined, and which we believe essential to the welfare Of our beloved country.
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