Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-01-20
A PROPOSED PLATFORM

the further fact that have been often
requested b. letter to define my posi-
ton on this, that and the other Issue, /
hereby for;vard you a draft of a plat
form upon which l believe a union of
all the forces of industry and pr due
ton nay be united. The following is
the platforms:
(d) The right to make and issue money is a
sovereign power TO be maintained by the people
Tor the common benefit: hence we demand the
abolition OF the national banks, and as a substi-
tute Tor national bank notes we demand that
legal tender treasury bills be issued in such vol-
ume as may be demanded not to exceed the
present assessed value OF improved, productive
real estate, such to be legal tender in payment
OF all debts, public and private, and such bills,
when demanded by the people TO be issued to
them at a rate of tax not to exceed two per cent
per annum upon improved, productive real es-
tate, In sums not to exceed the present assessed
Valte OF such real es tate.
ttl We further demand the establishment of
United States postal banks in the cities and
principal towns, which said banks shall be
banks of deposit, exchange ana discount, and
loan money ct two per cent interest upon per-
sonal security and upon storage receipts for
non-perlshable products, issued from bonled
warehouses and elevators by state inspectors.
tc) We further demand that the treasury
pills heretofore specified shall be not promises
follows: 'The people of the United States, sever
ally and collectively, promise TO receive this bill
III payment OF all debts, public and private, and in
exchange for labor and all products and shall
be fundable in United States savings deposit
certificates of convenient denominations inter
convertible at the pleasure of the government
or holder, and drawing rate OF interest not 10
exceed one per cent. per annum
90 We demand the free and unlimited coin
age OF silver, upon equal terms with gold, and
that silver coin be made a full legal tender, in
any amount, for all debts, public and private.
2. We declare that occupancy and use should
be prerequisites to any legal title to the owner
ship or possession of land, and we demand the
passage of laws prohibiting alien ownership of
land, and that congress take prompt action TO
devise some plan to obtain all lands now owned
Dy ailen ana foreign SyndicateS, and that all
lands held by railroads and other corporations
and lnviduals in excess of such as is actually
used and needed by them be reclaimed and held
for actual settlers only. To this end we favor
the levy Of a tax upon unoccupied and unused
land, equal in amount to the legal current rate
of interest upon the actual cash value of the
land.
3. We demand such immediate and explicit
legislation as shall protect the farmer from the
extortionate rapacity of his creditors, the nefa-
rious practices of grain gamblers and specula-
tors, and the grievous losses caused by what
are known as "car famnes.'
4. Believing the doctrine of equal rights to all
and special privileges to none, we demand that
taxation, national state municipal, shall not
be used to build up one interest at the expense
Of another.
5. We demand that all revenues national
state county, shall be limited to the necessary
expenses of the government, economically and
honestly administered.
0. We demand a just and equitable system of
graduated ID cumulative taxation upon in
cemes, and alsyAHn all income producing prop
erty We dems graduated estate and in.
heritance tax u. RI
2. We dema2I1 the 3 9ret& rigid, honest and Just
national control and sup6qeisieu 81 the means of
public communication and Transportation %
the end that cost of transportation be limited to
legitimate operating expenses and low rate of
interest upon actual cost of construction and
equipment, and If this control and supervision
does not remove the abuses now existing, we de-
mand the government ownership of such means
Of communication and transportation.
g. We demand the election of president vice
president and United States senators by direct
vote Of the people, and the establishment of the
initiative and referendum.
o. We hold that no citizen of the United States
Should be deprived Of the electoral franchise on
account of sex.
10. That as eight hours constitute legal DAVIS
work for government employees in mechanical
departments We believe this principle should
be further extended so as to apply to LII corpor-
ations and firms employing labor in the different
states of the union.
IL. We denounce the employment of married
women and children substitutes for their
husbands and fathers. and we demand equal re-
muneration, for equal labor performed, regard
: less of the sex of the laborer. We further de-
mand that the employment of minors under the
age of fifteen years shall be strictly prohibited
II. The labor of convicted criminals should
not be utilized to lower the wages of and drive
out of emplo ment the honest labor of the coun-
try. Wede' and that the several states shall add
manufacturing establishments to their peniten-
tiaries and employ their convicts therein in in
dustries requiring the least machinery; the
goods manufactured TO be sold at the regular
market price. We recommend that the profits
accruing from each convict's labor be disposed
OF, first, by being given TO the convicts depend-
ent relatives, to the end that innocent women
and children may not be reduced to poverty and
crime through the actions for which thev were
in no wise responsible; second if no dependent
relatives exist, to be held in trust for the con-
vict at the expiration Of his term of imprisop-
ment.
l3. We deny that any corporation has the right
10 hire, or keep for hire, armed men to perform
lawless deeds in pretended support of the Law
of which they are not officers. We demand the
passage of laws that will make it the sole func-
tion and prerogative of the legal officers of the
various cities, counties and states to enforce the
laws and protect property.
IA. We demand such legislation as shall give
to the trade marks and labels of Organized la
Dor the same protection now given to all kinds
OF private trade marks, labels and titles and
that adequate penalties be imposed for any
forgery OF, or infringement upon the same
10. We favor the government ownership of ALI
means or transportation and communication:
and, in general, when in the course OF business
consultations in the form of trusts or private
syndicates, 1t becomes evident that any branch
of commerce is used for the profit OF few men
at the expense of the general public we believe
that the people should assume control of sDeh
commerce through their national state and
municipal administrations. We therefore favor
municipal ownership and management by the
people, of the franchises now universally held
by corporations for the operation of water ana
gas works, electric lighting, street car lines.
telegraph and telephone service, and opening bv
cities or towns of public coal yards to furnish
coal and fuel at cost.
We anpose the granting of municipai fran
c.ises to private corporations for terms of
years and we demand a franchise tax upon
corporations.
Ia connection with above platform.
set of deman Is, or declaration of prin-
ciples, it will be interesting to note the
fact that the state of Missouri now has
upon its statute books ia force through.
out the state a Law which. under the
title An act to increase the daties of
the board OF railroad commissioners.
changing the name of said board. pro-
viding for the Organization of public
warehouses, and to regulate the ware.
housing and inspection of grain in, n,,b-
nc warehouses in the state of Missouri !,
provides every detail required by the
sub-treasury plan, except the ..chean
money" or money at low rate of in
tereSt.
Under the provision of this act every
warehouse, elevator and graaary of So
600 bushels capacity and over is cons;i-
tuted public warehouse,,s and as
such has to give bond to the state
running from s2.5oo for a capacity Of
$4,000 to 100000 for capacity excee J.
ing 1,ooo.090 Bushels. thus becoming a
bonded warehouse" In addition to
tnls tae proprietor, lessee or manager
must procure a license from the circuit
COURT o1 the cennty In which said ware
hnnGn % 81 4