Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-08-04
The Populist Convention.

The Populist Convention.
The State convention of the populist
party which meet at Lynchburg yester-
day nominated the following ticket
without opposition:
For governor-E. r. Cooke, of Cum
berland county.
For lieutenant governor-J. Brad.
Beverley, of Fauquier.
For attorney general-William F.
Gravely, of Henry.
The following platform was adopted:
Section 1-Finance.-We favor the
free and unlimited coinage ofsilver and
gold at the present legal ratio of 16 to
national currency, safe, sound and
flexible; full legal tender for all debts,
public and private, issued by the gen
eral government only, based on its cred
it and not on its Indebtedness, in vol
ume sufficient to maintain a healthy
condition of business, and distributed
directly among the people, when de-
manded on the security of their proper
tv, at reasonable rate of interest. I'M
der such system as the wisdom of Con-
gress may devise We are unalterably
opposed to State banks. or any other
than national currency, because OF its
undesirableness and because the con-
stitution of the United States conferred
the power to issue money on the gen.
eral government only, and this power
cannot be delegated.
Sec. 2-Taxation. view of the
notorious fact that the wealth of the
country continues TO aggregate in the
hands of the comparatively few indi-
viduals who manage TO escape payment
of their just taxation, placing the bur
den on those least able to bear it, we
demand rigid listing of all stocks,
bonds and evidences Of debt property,
subject to taxation at their true mar
ket value, and the imposition, both by
national and State governments, of
graduated income tax, with severe pen
allies for the evasion of the law. Nom
resident corporations doing business in
the State should be taxed according
to the value of the business done. Ma
tional and State legislation should be
so framed as not to build up the few
at the expense of the many, whether
under a tariff law, an international
revenue law or an oyster law.
Sec. 3-Public Schools.-The public
school system should be placed on
footing of increasing usefulness, and to
this end we demand that the money
raised for its support shall not be used
as rewards for party services.
Sec. ELECTORAL Reform.-We de-
mand the repeal of the Anderson-Mc-
Cormick election law and the enact
ment in its place of bipartisan law
which shall guarantee to every citizen
legally entitled to vote the right to cast
his ballot without interference and with
the absolute certainty that such ballot
will be counted as cast.
The preservation of our homes, the
peace and fraternity of our country, the
contentment and happiness of our peo
pie and the development and prosperity
of all honest industries are the aims of
our party. Pledging our party to an
honest and faithful observance of the
foregoing propositions, we cordially in
yite all citizens, without regard to for
mer party affiliations, to unite with US
in the effort to make our government
once more ''of the people, for the people
and by the people"
The preamble to the platform Sc
verely arraigns President Cleveland,
swho was elected for the express pur-
pose of relieving the people from the
robberies Of the Mckinley tariff, but
who calls Congress not to repeal the
robber tariff, but to consummate the
fraud of 1878, which demonetized sill
ver."
The convention was in session from
10 o'clock a. m. till p. m. Everything
was harmonious, but some of the dele
gates express the belief that the conven-
ton did not put forward its strongest
man for Governor. They seem to fear
that Cooke will not make an aggressive
candidate.
Gen. Field, late candidate for Vice
President on the populist ticket, was
present and denounced the govern
ment in unmeasured terms.
The following were appointed on the
committees from the Eighth district
Resolutions, j. Brad. Beverly; confer
ence, J. W. Blackwell, r. o. Halsey;
ways and means, w. S. Timmeri State
committee, Judge James Voolfolk, J.
Brad. Beverly.
There were present about $50 dele
gates.
The report of the committee on ways
and means provides for the appoint
ment of committee of three at each
voting precinct in each county, who,
with the county chairman, shall consti-
tute the ways and means committee,
this committee to report to the State
chairman as often as may be deemed
advisable.
Printed subscription lists for the col
lection of the campaign funds were dis
tributed among the delegates, the
money SO raised to be expended in pay
ing the legitimate expenses of speakers.
While awaiting the report of the COM
mittees on platform and nominations
the convention was addressed by n. A.
Dunning, editor of the National Watch-
man, Washington, D. c., and a Mr..
Turner, of Georgia. |