People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-10-07
{. 81. D.

debts. public and private, and that with
out the use of banking corporations /; a just,
equitable and efficient means of distribu-
ton direct to the people at a tax not to ex-
coed per cent per annum be provided as
set forth in the sub-treasury plan of the
Farmers Alliance, or some better system;
also by payment in discharge of its OBJ
legations for public improvements.
We demand the free and unlimited coin
age of silver and gold at the present legal
ratio of 16 to l.
We demand that the amount of the cir
culating medium be speedily increased TO
not less than fifty dollars per capita.
We demand graduated income tax.
We believe that the money of the coun-
try should be kept as much as possiblein the
hands OF the people, and hence we demand,
that all state and national revenues shall
be limited to the necessary expenses OF
the government economically and honestly
administered.
We demand that postal savings banks be
established by the government for the safe
deposit of the earnings Of the people and
TO facilitate exchange.
Transportation being means OF ex-
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
in the interest OF the people. The teIe-
graph and the telephone, like the postal
system, being necessity for the trans
mission of news, should be owned and OPP
Grated by the government in the interest OF
the people.
The land, including all the natural
sources of wealth, is the heritage Of ali the
| neople and should NOS be monopohzed for
apeculative purposes, and alien ownership
| of land should be prohibited. All lands
now held by railroads and other corpora
tions in excess of their actual needs, and
alI lands now owned by aliens should be
| reclaimed by the government and held for
,a%.1a1 anrktaV- only
The national constitu-
tion-to form more perfect union and es-
| tablish Justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense, promote
| the general welfare and secure the bless
| ings of liberty for ourselves and our pos
| terity. We declare that this republic can
| only endure as a free government while
| built upon the owe of the whole people for
| each other, and for the nation; that it can
not be pinned together by bayonets; but
! the civil war is over and that every passion
| and resentment which grew out of it must
| die with it, and that we must be in fact, as
| we are in name, one united brotherhood.
Our country finds itself confronted by
| conditions for which there are no prece-
| dents in the history of the world. Our
annual agricultural productions amount to
| billions Of dollars in value, which must
within few weeks or months, be exchang-
| ed for billions of dollars of the connmOdi-
| ties consumed in their production.
The currency supply is wholly made
! Quate to make the exchange. The results
| are falling prices; formation of combines
and rings; and the impover1shment OF the
producing class.
We pledge ourselves that if given power
we will labor to correct these evils by wise
! and reasonable legislation in accordance
with the serms OF our platform. We be-
| lieve that the powers of government-in
other words of the people-shOuld be ex-
IoJ ~, he 0f% no oil
as rapidly and as far as the good sense of
an Intelligent people and the teachings OF
experience shall justify, to the end that OPP
preston, injustice and poverty shall event
ually cease in the land. While our SYM
pathies. as q party of reform, are naturally
upon the side of every proposition which
| Will tend to make men intelligent, virtuous
and temperate, we nevertheless regard
| these Questions-tmportant as they are
| as secondary TO the great issues now press
ing for solution and upon which not only
our individual prosperity but the very exist
ence of free Institutions depend, and we
ask all men to first help us to determine
whether we are to have republic to adj
minister before we differ as to the COndi-
sions upon which it is to be administered,
believing that The forces Of reform this day
ORGANIZED will never cease to move for
ward until every wrong is righted and
equal rights and equal privileges securely
established for all men and women of this
country.
We declare, therefore:
|. That the union Of the Labor forces of
the Uniled States this day consNmmated
shall be permanent and perpetual. May
it's spirit enter into all hearts for the saliva
ton of the republic and the uplifting Of
mankind.
Q. Wealth belongs to him who creates it,
and every dollar taken from industry with
out an equivalent is robbery. eff any will
hoII hn n
kerests of rural and civic labor are the
same; their enemies are Identical.
3, We believe that the time has come
when railroad corporations will either own
the people or the people must own the rail-
roads and should the government enter
upon the work of owning and managing all
railroads, we SHOULD favor an amendment
UPPLEMENTAL RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, other questions have been present
ed for our consideration, we hereby submit
the following, not as part of the platform OF
the Peoples Party, but as resolutions express
sive Of the sentim' Mt Of this convention.
First Resolved. That we demand a free bal
tlOt and a fair count in all elections and pledge
ourselves to secure it to every legal voter
without federal intervention through the
adoption by the States of the unperverted
Australian or secret ballet system.
Second-ResClved, That the revenue derived
| from graduated income tax should be applied
| to the reduction of the burden of taxation now
resting upon the domestic industries OF this
Third-Resolved, That we pledge our sup
| port to fair and liberal pensions to ex-Union
| soldiers and sailors.
FOurth-ResOlyed, That we condemn the
| fall2cy of protecting American labor under
| the present system, which opens our ports to
| the pauper and criminal classes OF the world,
| and crowds out our wage earnerS; and we de-
| nOunce the present ineffective laws against
| contract labor, and demand the further re-
| strictiOn of undesirable immigration.
Flfth-Resolved. That we cordially fympa-
| thize with the efforts of orga lied working
men to shorten the hours of labor, and demand
a rigid enforcement of the existing eight-hour
| law on government work. and ask that PEN
| atty clause be added to the Said law.
Sixth-ResOlved, That we regard the main
| tenance of a large standing army Of mercena-
| ries, known as the Pin 9rton system, as men
| ace to our liberties, a. we demand its abOli-
| ton; and we condemn the recent invasion of
| the territory OF Wyoming by the hired assas-
| sins of plutocracy assisted by federal officials
| Seventh-ResOlved. That we commend to the
favorable cons. Iteration of the people and the
| reform press the legislative system known as
| the Initiative and referendum.
Eight-ResOlved, That we favor a cOnstitn-
tiOnal provision limiting the office OF President
| and vice. President to one term, and providing
| for the election of Senator's of the United
| States by g direct vote of the people.
| Ninth-Resolved, That we oppose any sub
| s1dy or national aid to an private corporation
| for any purpose.
THE Peoples Party at the outset to secure
| permanent control OF the party organization OF
| the people unaffected by the interests of those
| in public service does hereby in national con-
ventiOn assembled at Omaha on the 4th of
July, 1892, establish this ordinance as funda-
mental law of party organization, viz: N per
son holding any office or position of profit,
trust or emolument under the federal or any
state or municipal government, including Sen
ators, Congressman and members of the Leg
islature. State and local, shall be eligible to sit
or vote il any convention OF this party, and a
COPY Of this ordinance shall be annexed by ev-
| cry call for any future convention of the par
ty."
RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY.
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