Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-07-16

Of silver and expressions of usurers may
all be lost sight of. They propose to sac
our homes, lives and children on the
altar of mammon, TO destroy the multitude
In order to secure the corruption funds of
of our nation, and filed WITH the
spirit of the grand generation who cstab-
lished our independence, we seek to re-
store the government of he republic TO
the hands of the plain people, with
which class II originated. We assert our
purpose to be identical with the purpose
of the national constitution-to form II
more perfect union, to establish justice,
promote domestic tranquility, proyide for
the common defense. promote the general
welfare and secure the blessings of
erty for ourselves and posterity. We
clare that this republic can only endure
n free government upon the love of the
whole people for each other and for the
nation; that it cannot be pinned
the civil war Is over and
that every passion and resentment which
grew out of it must die with IL, and that
we must be In fact as we are in Name, one
united brotherhood of free men.
Our country finds itself confronted by
conditions for which there is no precedent
in the history of the world. Our annual
agricultural productions amount to bill
lions of dollars in value, which must
within II few weeks or months be ex-
changed for billions of dollars of COM
modities consumed in their production.
Tho existing currency supply is wholly
inadequate to make this exchange. The
results are falling prices, the formation of
combines and rings and the impoverish-
ment of the producing classes. We pledge
ourselves that If given power we will labor
to correct these evils by wise and reason
able legislation. We believe the powers
of the government should be expanded
las in the case of the postal service)
as rapidly and as far as the good sense of
an intelligent people and tho teachings Of
experience shall justify, to the end that
oppression, injustice aud zpover'" ~h"'i
eventually coaaa i-'"7 r"nu'
Whine our sympathies as a party of re-
form are naturally upon the side of every
proposition which will tend to make men
intelligent, virtuous and temperate, we
nevertheless regard these questions as
Subordinate to the great issues now press
ing for solution, and upon which not only
individual prosperity, but the veiy exist
ence of free institutions depend; and we
ask all men 70 first help us determine
whether we are to have a republic to ad-
minister before we differ as to the condi-
tons upon which IT Is to be administered
Believing that the forces of reform this
day set in motion will never cease to move
forward until every wrong is remedied,
and equal privileges secured and estab-
lished for all men and women, we de-
clare, therefor CD that the union of the
labor forces of the United States this day
consummated shall be permanent and per
p~etunl; may it's spirit enter into all hear
ers for the salvation of the republic and
the upbuilding of mankind; 81 wealth
belongs to him who created il, and every
dollar taken from industry without an
equivalent return is robbery. II any man
will not work neither shall he eat, and (5)
we believe that the time has come when
railroad corporations must either own the
people or the people own the corporations,
and should the government enter upon
the work of owning and managing any or
all railroads, W. should favor an amends
ment to the constitution that all emploA
upon such roads shall. for the time bell
forego the exercise of their right of suf-
frage in accordance with the precedent es-
tablished by the constitution as to the In
habitants of the District of Columbia
The platform proper as adopted is as
follows:
The Platform.
We demand n national currency, safe,
sound and flexible. to be issued by the
general government only, and TO he full
legal tender for all debts, public and pri-
vate, and that without the use of banking
corporations, n ju,t, equitable and eff.
cient means of distribution to the people
by n tax not to exceed 2 per cent. per an
mum, to be provided as set forth in the
sub-treasury plan of the Farmers ALI.
ance, or "A better system; also by pay
mcnts in discharge of its obligations for
public improvements.
We demand the free and unlimited coin
age of silver and gold Mt the present legal
ratio of 10 10 |.
culating medium be speedily increased to
not less than $50 per capita We demand
a graduated income tax.
We believe that the money of the coun.
try should be kept as much as possible in
the hands of the people, and hence de-
mand that all state and national revenues
shall be limited 10 the necessary ex-
penses OF the G~oernvment, 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 n means of ex-
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
in the interest of t e people.
Telegraph and telephone systems, like
the postofliee system. being necessities for
the transmission of news, should be
owned and operated by the government in
the interest of the people.
Land, including all natural sources of
wealth, is the heritage of the people, and
should not be monopolized for speculative
purposes, and alien ownership of land.
should be prohibited. All land now held
by railroads and other corporations in
excess of their actual needs. and all lands
owned by aliens should be reclaimed
by the government and held for actual
only.
Mr.. Branch, of Georgia, read the
platform proper. The strong sentences
picturing graphically the ruin OF the
country unless these reforms were
adopted met with appreciation, but
when the sentences relating to gov
ownership of transportation
in the peoples interest was reached
there was n demonstration which
further progress, ex-Senato~
Van Wyck in front of the hall, lead
ing the Nebraska delegation and the
convention. The reading of nearly
every plank was enthusiastically
with cheers and waving of
and the government ownership
OF railroads plank again got q tu-
BhSStinR, III WHICH IL WAS
noticeable that Nebraska, Georgia,
Kansas and Texas led.
Applause and cries of ''amen" from
all parts of the house was the recep-
ton accorded the paragraph favoring
control Of telephone and
telegraph lines, and a regular Baptist
camp meeting chorus greeted the
land plank.
The conclusion Of the reading OF the
platform was warmly greeted. Its
adoption was instantly moved, and
though a Missouri delegate was striv-
ing for some unknown purpose to get
1t was put through by
unanimous consent. Then the con-
vention broke over all restraint and
went wild. Delegates arose in their
chairs, cheering, swinging coats, wav-
ing hats and FAM and throwing things
in the air. Several delegates seized
Branch, OF Georgia, chairman of the
on resolutions, and trotted |
him up and down the main isle on
their shoulders A number of dele
gates seized the uprights used to hold
the placards designating the place of
delegations, and rushed with
them to the platform. Banners were
also borne there. Frontier county.
NJ