Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1892-04-22

lieved that the ST. Louis platform should |
be SO amended as to exclude the limit of |
fifty dollars per capital for the reason
that it is a matter of doubt whether our
money circulation could be increased to |
such extent without depreciation, and for
the further reason that this limitation
could not possibly strengthen our plat
form in any quarter while it is actually |
considered a positive weakness by many
staunch reformers. Then why not leave
the limit Of circulating medium to be
fixed by the legislative power when the
peoples party gets control Of the national
government? 1t is also the opinion of
many reformers that the plank relating
to transportation and communication
should be SO am, ndcd as to declare in
telegraphs and t. ohone lines so that
they shall not y..', Il higher rate cf in
tcrest on their lal value than money
usually employ in other enterprises.
Butshould gov: @. :nent control prove in
effectual to pre- the people against eX-
tortionate rat, liter having been given
a fair trial. n we are in favor Of gov
ernrf1ent own. lip and operation of such
means Of t.. DOrtatiOn and cOmmuni-
cation. A luton in favor of two
cents per m. passenger rates on all
railroads in t, United States would be a
very strong INK for it would be a
heavy strike II favor of the masses of
aboring peo 9 who do not travel fire.
quentlys by ri and who are now dis
criminated aGAinst, while government
officials and business men are favored at
their expense. 1t is believed that rail-
road traffic IN this country has increased
sufficiently to enable railroad companies
to reduce their rates to two thirds of the
present charges and yet obtain a reason
able profit onfthe money actually invest
ed A resolution in favor of Il reduction
of the salaries Of all government officials
! to- the lowest rate at which competent
men will accept Of the offices would be
q long stride in line with the views and
sympathies Of the laboring classes, and
| by putting into practice such genuine re-
form all along the line from the presi-
dent down to the county officers it would
| greatly strengthen the peoples party by
imparting faith in it's sincerity among
! the masses who have no interest in the
offices olstthe salaries except for the
PUBLIC good. When the peoples party
gets on good solid consistent ground anC
reaches out for reform in every direction
where reform is necessary and shows by
every act that it's members have the in
terests of the laboring people IN view in
stead of the spoils: then the voters OF tho
urban and rural population who are no
office seekers in the old parties will flocl
to our standard enmasse and the victory
is won. Our nominating conventions
should by resolution fix the salaries o
public officers and have the nominees
pledged to receive no greater compensa
ton for their services in case they are
elected to such offices. This woulC
place the party on the fine CT voluntar.
reform until the same could be enforced
by law and it would also be the means o
securing such reduction of salaries b.
legislation. But l must frankly confes
that am clearly of the opinion that tn
objects herein enumerated and the sue
cess of the peoples party cannot be secur
ed until the present indefinite and un
representative practices at the caucusc
anG conventions are discared and a sys
tenn Of direct representation and definit
instructions on legislative matters fror
the voting precincts to the state congres
sional and legislative conventions
adopted by our party, But until sucf
is effected and maintained the action c
the new party will be dominated by
few leaders ''who toll not" us is now tn
case IN the old parties and which ha
caused them to become SO unrepresentt
tive of the people and 50 corrupt tn;
they are but little else than spoils macl
ines and with the same indefinite an
fraudulent practices at the caucuses an
conventions the new party will soon d,
generate to a level with the old partie
and in a very few years we will need
fourth party as much as we now need
third party. LET us be wise in time t.:
madness to defer"
YOnrS as ever for reform,
E. w. OWENS.