The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-02-26

ST. LOUIS, Feb. pa new political
party was born. The interesting event
occurred at the back of the stage Of the
exposition between two wings of faded
scenery with the national committee of
the peoples party officiating as wet
nurse and sixteen representatives of the
industrial conference looking on to see
that no other baby was su bstituted.
Almost as soon as the accouchment
had been pronounced successful the
question as to the day of christening
arose. Some of those present were in
favor of July 4, others were afraid that
the new born might prove SO puny that
unless the sprinkling was done by the
first of June there might be no baby to
to christen. At midnight the political
doctors were still engaged in the in
QUESTION Of the ethics Of the points in.
volved. That the joint conference of
the Peoples and Independent party en-,
dorse and ratify the platform adopted
in the afternoon was the first thing
decided after Representative Taubeneck,
of Illinois, had been made chairman.
Ex-senator Van Wyck, of Nebraska,
c. c. Post, of Georgia, T. B. Mcclure,
Ignatius Donnelly, Minnesota, and Ben
Terril, of Texas, were named as such
committee. Then came up tile question
as to the day for naming the day of
christening and everyone in attendance
had something to say. After much dis
cussion it was finally decided to name
July as the date. Several cities were
were placed in nomination where the
convention is to be held but no decision
was arrived at and adjournment was
was taken.
The Platform.
The following platform was presented
by Hugh Cavanaugh of the Knights of
Labor on behalf of the committee on
platform:
We demand a national currency, safe,
sound and flexible, issued by the general
government only, full legal tender for all
debts, public and private, and that, with
out the use of banking corporations, a
just, equitable and efficient means of dis
tribution, direct 20 the people, and not to
exceed 20 per cent, to be provided as set
forth in the sub-treasury plan of the
Farmers Alliance or some better system.
Also by payment in discharge of its obi
cation for public improvements.
We demand free and unlimited coinage
of silver. We demand that the amount
of circulating medium be speedily in
creased to not less than $50 per capita
We demand graduated income tax We
believe that the money of the country
should be kept as much as possible in the
| hands OF the people, and we demand that
ali state and national revenues shall be
limited to the necessary expenses of the
government economically administered.
We demand that postal savings banks
be established by the government for the
safe deposits Of earnings Of the people and
to facilitate exchange.
The land, including all the national
sources Of wealth is the heritage of all the
people and should not be monopolized for
| special purposes, while alien ownership of
land should be prohibited
All lands now held by railroads and
other corporations in excess Of their nat
ural needs. and all lands now owned by
the alien should be reclaimed by the gov
eminent and held for actual settlers only.
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
In the interests of the people
The telegraph and telephone, like the
postofice system, being a necessity for the
Transmission OF news, should be owned
and operated by the government in the
+ interests of the people.
We demand that the government issue
iacra1 tender -otal and tha TTpioD col
diers the difference between the price of
the depDeciated money in which he was
paid in gold.
Resolved, That we had this conferea ce
as the cansummation of a perfect union of
hearts and hands of all sections of our
common country. The men who wore the
grey and the men who were the blue are
here to extinguish the last snouldering
embers of civil war in tears of Joy for a
united And happy people, and we agree to
carry the stars AID stripes forward forever
to the highest point Of national greatness.
The tremendous applause that fol-
lowed the reading of the platform was
followed by sa exciting incident.
Swayne, state representative, who fog
years has been working in local trades
unionism and who had been occupying
a seat as a proxy for a Missouri Alliance
delegate, climbed up in his chair and
moved that an eight hour plank be
added to the platform. Instantly the
knights of Labor in the hall set up
howl THAT fellow has no right in this
convention" shouted several. He was
expelled long ago. He's Democratic
voter" II know you," yelled Secretary
Hayes Of the executive board of the
Knights of Labor "You are traitor"
''And you are thief" was the re-
spouse.
Tell Us what you represent" shrieked
Jerry Simpson.
Swayne had no chance to reply. The
cry of traitor, put him out" was echo
ing over the hall Half a dozen big
men made grasp for the little fellow
but he has long arms and he let 'em out.
A six-foot Texas ranger
Gotta Crack in the Nose
from his right and a Georgia man got a
left-hander in the jaw, third blow at
a Kansas delegate drew the claret but
just at this juncture half dozen of the
delegates each twice as long as himself
swooped down upon Swayne and while
the crowd yelled approval the,- bore
him up the aisle despite his kicL a'd
struggles ard literally threw h.
the foyer. There they might hav, !. I'D
mince meat out of him had not IL. Vile