Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-09-15
APPALLING CONDITIONS.

Our country is confronted 10y condi-
tions for which there is no precedent
in the history of the world. Our an
nual agricultural productions amount
to billions of dollars in value, which
must within few weeks or months
be exchanged for billions of dollars of
commodities consumed in their pro-
duction the existing currency supply
is wholly inadequate to make the
exchange the results are falling
prices, the formation of combines and
rings, the impoverishment of the pro
ducing classes. We pledge ourselves
that if given power we will labor to
correct these evils 10y wise and reas-
enable legislation in accordance with
the tcruS Of our platform.
We believe that tho powers of gov.
| eminent, in other words of the people,
should hc expanded, as in the case of
the postal service, as rapidly and as
far as the good sense of an intelligent
people and the teachings of experience
shall Justify to the end that Oppres-
sion, injustice and poverty shall
eventually cease in the land.
While our sympathies as 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 important as they
areas secondary to the great issues
now pressing for solution. and upon
which not only our individual pros
I IL, ,,f from
institutions depend; and we ask all
men to first help us to determine
whether we are to have republic to
administer. before we differ as to the
conditions upon which it is to be adj
ministered. Believing that the forces
of reform this day organized will
never cease to move forward until
every wrong is remedied, and equal
privileges securely established for all
| the men and women of this country,
we declare, therefore,
/. That the union of the labor forces
of the United States this day consum
mated, shall be permanent and per,
petual; may its spirit be upon al
hearts for the salvation of the republic
and the uplifting of mankind.
2. Wealth belongs to him whC
creates it, and every dollar taker
from industry without an equivalent
is robbery. 'If any will not work
neither shall he cat" The interest,
of rural and civic labor are the same
their enemies are identical.
3. We believe the time has come
when the railroad corporations viii
F either own the people or the people
must own the railroads, and shOulC
the government enter upon the wOrl
of owning and managing all roads, w
should favor an amendment to thu
constitution by which all person
= engaged in the government service
shall be placed under a civil service
regulation of the most rigid character
so as to prevent the increase of Thu
power of the national administration
by the use of such additional govern
ment employees.
FINANCE.
First-We demand a national cur
rency safe. sound. and flexible. issueC
by the general government only. full
legal tender for all debts, public anC
private and that without the use o
banking corporations, just, equitable
and efficient means of distribution
direct to the people at a tax not to eX
coed per cent. be provided, as sc
: forth in the Sub-Treasury plan o
the Farmers Alliance. or som'
| better system also, by payments il
discharge of its obligations for public
improvements.
F a. We demand the free and unlimited
coinage of silver
b. We demand that the amount o
circulating medium be speedily in
creased to not less than $50 per capita
c. We demand a graduated income
tax.
d. We believe that the money of the
country should be kept as much a.
possible in the hands of the people
and hence we demand all national anC
State revenues shall be limited to the
necessary expenses of the government
economically and honestly administer
ed.
e. We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the govern.
ment for the safe deposit of the earn
ings of the people and to facilitate ex-
change.
LAND.
Second-The land, including all the
natural resources of wealth, is the her
itage of all the people and should not
be monopolized for speculative pur
poses, and alien ownership of lanC
should be prohibited. All land nov
held by railroads and other corpora
tions in excess of their actual needs
and all lands owned by aliens, should
be reclaimed by the government anC
held for actual settlers only.
TRANSPORTATION.
Third Transportation being means
of exchange and public necessity, thu
government should own and operate
! the railroads in the interest of tn
people.
a. The telegraph and telephone, lik'
the post office system, being necessit,
for transmission of news, should b,
owned and operated by the government
in the interest of the people.