The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1894-06-30
POPULIST TATE CONVENTION.
The Populists Assemble in State Con-
vention.-A State Platform Draft
ed--R. b. Smith, of Helena Nomi-
mated for Representative.

wnlcn met In Deer LodSe last Tues
day, was well attended by the repre-
sentatives of the democratic aid So
city from all parts of the state.
In nominating a candidate for the
house the "laboring mans"
party had no use for a working man,
(Joe Oker, of Marysville) but nomi-
nate a late democrat and Cleveland
ex-office holder, r. b. Smith, of Hell
ena, who a short while ago-for po-
litical purposes only-hopped owe
to their side.
People who know Mr.. Oker ia
that he is fully as we'll qualified for
that or any other office as the oily
tongued ex-democrat of Helena.
Their platform, as given in full
below, any fairminded citizen must
acknowledge contains some very
good clauses, that if carried into eff
feet, would result in much good,
both for the laboring man and for
the public at large, but, in ether re-
spects is rotten to the core-as for
instance the public or government
ownership of all railroad lines and
other great institutions, the purchase
of which would require every drop
of life's blood to be pressed out OF
taxpayers for the next half, if not
whole, century to m
The following is platform of prin-
ciples given in full:
First--Wc. believe that the govern.
ment minis should be again opened tc
the free and unlimited coinage of silver
at the ratio Of IS to /. We believe thai
the United States is great enough to dc
this without consulting any other nation
under the sun.
Second-We denounce the issuance
by the government of interest bearing
gold bonds.
Third-We believe that it is the duty
Of the government to issue its owr
money and that this privilege should no
be delegated to banking corporations.
Fourth-We demand that postal say,
ings banks be established by the govern
ment for the safe dcposite of the earn
ings of the people and to facilitate ex
| change.
Fifth-The telegraph and telephone
like the p%ostoffice system, being a nee
essity for the transmission of news
should be owned and operated by tn
government in the interest of the PEG
pie.
We believe that the time has com,
when the people must either rule rail
road corporations or be ruled by them
The present interstate law is a failure
The government must either speedil.
devise some more efficient form of con
troll or enter upon the work of ownin!
and managing the railroads.
Sixth-We believe that the affairs o
corporations controlling great industrie
are not private, but public, and concer
the whole people. Controversies be
tween such corporations and their EN-
ployees are not matters to be fought on
by irresponsible warfare between them
selves. Where the militia of the stat
can be called out to maintain peace
there the state should have jurIsdictio
either by its courts or by its properl
constituted boards of arbitration, to ad
judicate the controversy.
Seventh-Wc demand a graduated in
come tax, and that law affecting or re
lating to taxation should be so adjustc,
that the wealth of the country shoul
bear its just share of the burdens G
government and the taxes be limited t
the needs of the government.
Nineth-We demand that the imports
ton of pauper labor, whether from Asi
or Europe, be prohibited.
Tenth-Webclievc that the money c
the country should be kept as much t
possible in the hands of the people, an
hence we demand thai all state and n;
tional revenues shall be limited to til
necessary expenses of the governmcr
economically and honestly administered
Eleventh-Thc land, including a
the natural of wealth, is I'll
heritage of the people, and should n,
be monopolized for speculative purpose
and alien ownership of land should !
prohibited. All lands forfeited by raj
road corporations should be immcdiatel
|. reclaimed and held for actual settle,
only.
Twelfth-We demand that the const
|, tuition be amended so that the presiden
vice president and United States senate
be elected by the direct vote of the pei
pie.
: Thirteenth-We dcnounce the mcthc
, employed by both the republican al
democratic parties in dealing with Il
tariff question as unfair and sections
We demand that the interests Of westel
4 states be treated as fairly as the int
ests of the other sections of the countr
Fourteenth-We object to the cI
I ployment Of convict labor in compel
: ton with honest toll and demand Il
such competitions.
Fiftecnth-Wc are in favor of
amendment to the state constitute
y which will permit the introduction
the system of direct Legislation throu;
! the initiative and referendum.
Il Sixteenth-We condemn in qualifi
> terms the proposition of n rcpresen,