The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-03-08
PLATFORM
FINANCE. /:

OA4C4AAAO0 A0NAAOAOdAs
PLATFORM.
FINANCE.
First-We demand a national CUR
rency safe, sound, and flexible, issued
by the general government only, a full
legal tender for all debts, public and
private; and that without the use of
banking corporations a just, equitable
and efficient means of distribution di.
rect to the people at a tax not to ey-
coed 2 per cent. be. provided, as set
forth In the Sub plan of the
Farmers Alliance, or some better svs.
tenn; also, by payments in discharge of
its obligations for public improve
ments,
o.. We demand free and unlimited
coinage of silver.
b. We demand that the amount of
circulating medium be speedily in
creased to not less than $50 per capita.
C. We demand a graduated income
tax.
d. We believe that the money of the
country should be kept as much as pos
slble IN the hands Of the people, and
hence we demand all national and State
revenue shall be limited to the -neces.
sary expenses of the government econ,
omlcally and honestly administered.
e. We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the govern.
ment for the safe deposit of the earn,
ings Of the people and to facilitate ex.
change.
LAND.
Second-The land, including all the
natural resources Of wealth, is the herr
tage of all the people and should not be
mOnopoliZed for speculative purposes,
and alien ownership of land should be
prohibited. All land now held by rail.
roads and other corporations in excess
of their actual needs, and all lands now
owned by aliens, should be reclaimed
by the government and held for actual
settlers only.
TRANSPORTATION.
neutrality-suspicious. being a means
of exchange and a public necessity. the
government should own and operate
the railroads in the interest of the
people
o.. The telegraph and telephone, like
the p~OstOffice system, being a necessity
for transmission of news, should be
owned and operated by the government
in the interest of the people.
While some parts of the above ad.
dress may seem at a mere glance to
make partisan political distinctions,
yet upon careful study one will clearly
see that it is nOn-pGrtiSan, and further.
will be impressed with the truth of its
premises, and the ability of the com.
mittee who framed it. 1t was adopted
with only a few dissenting votes, uai
the platform was adopted unanimously
and received with great applause. The
Conference having completed it's work
as a representative body, then ad
journed sine die.
THE MASS-MEETING.
After the adjournment, a mass meet
ing vas called, in which a great many
delegates took part as citizens, together
with a number who were not delegates
to the Conference, and proceeded to
take steps looking to political action
The result was a call for a Nationd
Convention, to be held on the 4th day
of July, in the city of Omaha, Ne
braska. This action was entirely dis
tinct from the work of the Conference
of Labor Organizations to which you
sent us as your representatives.
It will be seen that the Conference
did not, by its action, bind any one OF
the organizations represented, nor any
member thereof, to the support of any
particular political party. In a spirit
of concession and compromise, all the
various States and sections, and all
shades of political opinion, sought only
the common good of the whole people,
and with remarkable unanimitJ
adopted a declaration of cninfoa
which, in their judgment, viii restore
peace, prosperity and justice to The
country, 1t will also be observed that
this declaration or platform embraces
essentially the great principles enunci
ated by u Order at st. Louis in 1882
at Ocala in 1890, and at indianapolis
in 1891. The undersigned, Therefore
heartily and unanimously gave Their
endorsement to these principles.
Impressed with the solemn conviction
that the enactment of these principles
into law, and the faithful enforcement
OF the law, will bring relief to our dis
tressed industrial people, and inure to
the common good of all interests and
classes, we earnestly appeal to all ALI
ancemen, and all patriots of whatever
calling. to aid us in electing 10 Office
only such men as will f~aithfuHy@eEe
cute the laws.
1t IS gratifying to state that all The
Southern States were represented %