Mississippi leader., 1892-07-14

to billions of dollars in value, whicl
must within a few weeks or month";
be exchanged for billions of dollars o
commodities consumed in their pro
ductiOn the existing currency suppl,
is wholly inadequate to make thu
exchange the results are falling
prices, the formation of combines ant
rings, the impOverishment of the pro
ducing classes. We pledge ourselve,
that if given power we will labor t.
correct these evils by wise and reas
enable legislation in accordance with
the terms of our platform.
We believe that the powers of gov
ernment, in other words of the people,
should be 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
perity, but the very existence of free
institutions depend; and we ask all
men to first help us to determine
whether we are to have a 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,
1. 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 all
hearts for the salvation of the republic
and the uplifting Of mankind.
2. Wealth belongs to him who
creates it, and every dollar taken
from industry without an equivalent
is robbery. "If any will not work,
neither shall he eat" The interests
of rural aud civic labor are the same !;
their enemies are identical.
3. We believe the time has come
when the railroad corporations will
either own the people or the people
must own the railroads, aud should
the government enter upon the work
of owning and managing all roads, we
should favor an amendment to the
constitution by which all persons
engaged in the government service
shall be placed under civil service
regulation of the most rigid character,
SO as to prevent the increase of the
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, issued
by the general government only, full
legal tender for all debts, public and
private and that without the use of
banking corporations, just, equitable
and efficient means of distribution
direct to the people at a tax not to ex-
ceed 2 per cent. be provided, as set
forth in the Sub Treasury plan of
the Farmers Alliance. or some
better system; also, by payments in
discharge of it's obligations for public
improvements.
a. We demand the free and unlimited
coinage of silver.
b. We demand that the amount of
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 as
possible in the hands of the people,
and hence we demand all national and
State revenues shall be limited to the
necessary expenses of the government,
economically and honestly administer
ed.
se. 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.
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 land
should be prohibited. All land now
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 and
held for actual settlers only.
TRANSPORTATION.
Third Transportation being means
of exchange and public necessity, the
government should own and operate
the railroads in the interest of the
people.
a. The telegraph and telephone, like
the post-office system, being a necessity
for transmission of news, should be
owned and operated by the government
in the interest of the people.
THE CONVENTION WENT WILD OVER
THE PLATFORM
Branch, of Georgia, read the plat
form. The strong sentences, pictur-
ing graphically the ruin of the country
unless there was reform, were well
received and met appreciation, but
when the sentences relating to gov
ernment ownership of transportation
in the peoples interest was reached,
there was n demonstration which in
terrupted progress. Ex-senator Van
Wyck in the front Of the hall led the
Nebraska delegation and the conven-
ton.
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