People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-10-14

an increase of the power of the national
administration by the use Of such addition
al government employees.
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 usegof banking corporations a just,
equitable and efficient means of distribu-
ton direct to the people at a tax not to ex-
coed per cent per annum be provided as
set forth in the sub-treasuTy plan of the
Farmers Alliance, or some better system :;
also by payment In discharge of its OBJ
legations for public improvements.
We demand the free and unlimited coin
age of silver and gold at the present legal
ratio of 16 to /. q f15s
We demand that the amount Of the cir
culatiug medium be speedily increased to
not less than fifty dollars per capita.
We demand q graduated income tax.
We believe that the money Of the coun-
try should be kepta as much as possible in the
hands of the people, and hence we demand,
that all state and national revenues shall
be limited to the necessary expenses of
the government economically and honestly
administered. og< .-;s.<
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 a means of ex-
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
in the interest OF the people. The tele-
graph and the telephone, like the postal
system, being a necessity for the trans
mission Of news, should DO owned and OPP
Grated by the government II the interest OF
the people. 81 8
The land, including all the natural
sources of wealth, is the heritage of all the
neonle and should not be 1nonopohzed for
speculative purposes, and alien ownership
OF land should be prohibited. All lands
now held by railroads ana other corpora
tons in excess of their actual needs, and
all lands now owned by aliens should be
reclaimed by the government and held foz
actual settlers only. 10
s,7 the national constitu-
tion-to form more perfect union and es-
tablish Justice, insdre domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense, promote
the general welfare and secure the bless
ings of liberty for ourselves and our pos
terity. We declare that this republic can
only endure as a free government while
built upon the owe of the whole people for
each other, andfor the nations that it can
! not be pinned together by bayonets; but
the civil war is over and that every passion
and resentment which grew out of it must
die with it, and that we must be in fact, as
we are in name, one united brotherhood.
Our country finds itself confronted by
conditions for which there are no prece-
dents in the history of the world. Our
! annual agricultural productions amount to
billions Of dollars in vaiuea which must
within few weeks or months, be exchang-
ed for billions of dollars of the commodi-
ties consumed in their production.
The currency supply is wholly made
Quate to make the exchange. The results
are falling prices; formation. of combines
and rings; andth0s impoverishment OF the
producing class.
We pledge ourselves that if given power
we will labor tocorrect these evils by wise
| and reasonable legislation in accordance
with the terms Of our platform. We be-
lieve that the powers of government-in
other words of the peopIe-should be ex-
banded as in the case of the postal service,
as rapidly and as faI as thei'good sense of
an Intelligent people and the teachings OF
experience shall justify, to the end that op-
preston, injustice and poverty shall event.
ually cease in the land. While our SYM
pathies, as party OF reform, are naturally
upon the side of every proposition which
viii tend to make men intelligent, Virtuous
and temperate, we nevertheless regard
these Observation-Disclosures as they are
as secondary to the. great issues now press
ing for solution and upon which not only
our individual prosperity but the very exist
once of free institutions depend, and we
ask all men to first help us to determine
whether we are to have Q republic to adj
minister before we ditferyas to the condi-
tons upon which it is to be administered,
believing that the forces Of reform this day
organized will never cease TO move for
ward until every Wr0nQ is ughted and
equal rights and equal privileges securely
established for all men and women of this
country. tAl ~
We declare, therefore: RI
1. That the union OF the Labor forces of
the Uniled States this day conSummated
shall be permanent and perpetual. May
it's spirit enter into all hearts for the saliva
ton of the republic and the uplifting Of
mankind. 3lIB IN
2. Wealth belongs to him who creates it,
and every dollar taken from industry with
out an equivalent Is robbery. IF any will
not work, neither shall he eat" The in
terests of rural and civic labor are the
same their enemies are identical.
g. We believe that the time has come
when railroad corporations will either own
the people or the people must own the rail-
roads and should the government enter
upon the work of owning and managing all
railroads, we should favor an amendment
UPPLEMEErkI, RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, other questions have been present
ed for our consideration, wee hereby submit
the following. not as q part Ofthe platform OF
the Peoples Party. but as resolutions express
sive of the sentiment Of this convention.
First-Resolved, That we demand free bal
lot and a fair cOuntin all elections and pledge
ourselves to secure 1t to every legal voter
without federal vinterventionn through the
adoption by the States of the unperverted
Australian or secret ballot system.
SeCOnd-EeSOlved, That the revenue derived
from graduated income tax should beappl1ed
to the reduction of the burden OF taxation now
resting upon the domestic industries OF this
Third-Resolved, That we pledge our sup
port to fair and iberaF pensions to ex-Un1on
soldiers and sailors. ,I
fallacy of protecting American labor under
the present system, which opens our ports to
the pauper and criminal classes of the world,
and crowds out our wage earners; and we de-
nOunce the present ineffective laws against
contract labor, and demand the further re-
striction Of undesirable immigration.
Flfth-ResOlved,i That we cordially eympa-
thize with the efforts OF Orga aized working
men to shorten the hours of labor, and demand
rigid enforcement Of the existing eight-hour
law on government work. and ask that pen
atty clause be added to the said law.
SiXth-ResOlved, That we regard the main
tenance of a large standing army Of naercena-
ries, known as the Pint 3rtOn system, as a men,
ace to our liberties, al we demand its abOll-
ton; and we condemn the recent invasion OF
the territory OF Wy9ming, by the hired i assas-
Seventh-ResOlved, That we commend to the
favorable cons. derati9n of the people and the
reform press the Legislative system known as
the initiative and referendum.
Eight-ResOlved, That we favor a cOnstitn-
tiQnal provision limiting the office of President
and vice President to one term, and providing
for the election Of Senator's Of the United
States by a direct vote ofFthe people.
Ninth Resolved. That we oppose any sub
sidy or national aid toJan private corporation
The Peoples parity at the outset to secure
permanent control of tn party organization OF
the people unaffected by the Interests of those
in public service does hereby in national con
vention assembled at Omaha on the 4th OF
July, 1892, establish this ordinance as funda-
mental law of party organization viz: No per-
son holding any Office or position of profit
trust or emolument under, the federal or any
state or municipalgo veTntnent, including Sen