People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-09-23
NUMBER SO

who favored free silver and On In
come tax than there were third
party representatives.
| Now, in the name of reason and
intelligence if you are for the highest
veal, what is the sense of going out
of this party and into new party
which does not promise you any
hope of relief on these political
lines?
My friend says did not say any
thing about an income tax. I didn't
think it was necessary for me to an
nounce that I stood upon the plat
form of my own party. That is a
plank in the platform of my own
party. That is plank in the Demo
cratic party platform of the State of
Georgia. There is where I stood
and expect to stand. / say I would
go as far as he would In this direc-
ton. And I say to all you honest
people looking me in the face that
there is a great deal better chance
for you to get an income tax law in
the Democratic party. The tariff
stands in the minds and hearts OF
the people as one Of the greatest
of issues, yet Mr.. Watson is a Tree
trader and does not stand upon the
platform of his party, which is COM
mitted to perpetuating the protective
tariff.
Major Black said that the people
needed relief but that the distress of
the people was exaggerated. He in
stanced the recent visit of a United
States officer to Augusta and Geor-
gia, who made the remarkably en-
couraging disclosure that there were
fewer mortgages upon our farms
than in any other part Of the coun-
try. He believed In admitting evils,
but it was not wise to exaggerate
them. He was poor doctor who
came into the room Of his patient
and excited the mind of the patient
by telling him he would surely die.
He advised the cultivation of less
cotton. When it was raised at q
| cost of cents and sold for 9 cents
it did not need farmer or o states
man to see and say that it was an
unpaying business and that there
should be less of 1t planted and
something else planted in its place.
You say you want remedy?
Voices. Yes.
Mai. BIacZ-. Then you waass Z.
practical remedy. You do not want
chimerical one. You want one
that will bring you relief. Well, the
people are impressed that the only
plank in the Peoples party platform
is the sub-treasury plank.
But there are others. You have
got to take the whole platform and
all It's candidates. When you con-
slder it over think about advocating
it. He took up the railroad plank
in the third party platform. Let me
show you, honest men, wheye this
will carry you. From Poore's rail-
road manual, which, I believe, Is
standard authority on railroads, I
find the following: The liabilities
of the railroads of the country Is
| 80, 100000. Their actual cost
has been 69,000,000,000. Listen,
you men who this morning we're
asked to give your reason and judg-
ment to these questions. The Gov
eminent is asked not only to control
but TO own the railroads. What viii
the purchase OF the railroads make
the per capita? Think of itl / ask
Mr.. Watson If he introduced bill
in the last Congress to buy the rail-
roads? I ask him il he is willing to
buy the railroads. I ask him If he
is willing to buy the railroads of the
country at cost of s9,0O0,000,000 Z
Voice. Yes.
Major Black. You are
Voice. Yes but not for cash.
daughter all around.
Major Black. I reckon you are
But suppose you bought them on
credit YOU would I'LL the country
with money until it would reach
S1S3 per capita. What would your
cotton bring then?
Voice. Oh, it would bring doh
! lar pound.
Major Black. Yes, in Confederate
money.
Here Major Black took up Con-
, federate money and showed the
worthlessness of it at the time on
; account of its quantity. @Let me
, tell you that there is more In this
platform than the sub-treasury,
| which is bad enough. And let me
tell you that ?hat party Is the friend
of the people which tries to protect
them from this condition Of things.
But not only does this plank cover
railroads, but the telegraph, which
t means more money, the telephone,
the express. It was absurd. He
: did not know what the cost OF ali
these would be to the government.
t but the purchase Of the railroads
: would be $9,0O0,000,0Oo, and in
crease the per capita to the astound
T. ing figure Of $138.
! He took up Mr.. Watson's book.
| I want to show you where all these
! impractieable schemes would carry
, | uau Uora 10 <,,,o ,,,,., -. =.