People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-07-27

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"the plain people" v.-h which class II
originated. We assert our purposes to be
Identical with the purpose of the national
constitution, to form a more perfect
union, and establish justice, insure domes-
tic tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves
and our posterity.
We declare that this republic can only
endure as a free. government while built
upon the love Of the whole people for each
other and for the nation; that il cannot
DC pinned together by bayonets; that the
ciSii war is over, and that every passion
and resentment which grew out of il must
ole with II; and that We must be in fact.
asWe are in name, one united brotherhood.
our country finds itself confronted by
conditions for which there is no precedent
IN the history of the world. Our animal
agricultural productions amount to bill.
lions Of dollars in value. which must
within few weeks or months be e1.
changed for billions of dollars of COM
mooities consumed in their production:
the existing currency supply is wholly
inadequate 10 make this exchange. The
results are falling prices, the formation
Oh combines and rings, the im p1verish-
nent OF the producing class We pledge
ourselves that, if given power, We will
iaoor TO correct these evils by wise and
reasonable legislation, in accordance with
tue terms of our platfOrm.
We believe that the powers of govern
ment-in other words, of the people
should be expanded, as in the case of the
postal service, as rapidly and as far as the
good sense of an inielhg mt peonle and
the teachings of experience shall Justify,
70 the end that oppression, injustice and
poverty shall eventually cease in the land
"nie our sympathies as party of re.
form are naturally upon the side of every
proposition which will tend TO make men
intelligent, virtuous, and temperate, we
nevertheless regard these questions-im.
Portant as they areas secondary to the
great issues now pressing for solution.
and upon which not only our individual
prosperity, but the very existence of free
institutions depend; and we ask all men
W nrst help Us to determine whether we
are 70 have a republic TO administer be-
fore we differ as to the conditions upon
which 1t is to be administered. Believing
that the forces of reform this day organ
ized WILL never cease TO move forward
until every wrong is righted and equal
rights and equal privileges established for
all the men and women of this country.
We declare, therefore:
UNION OF THE PEOPLE.
FIRST That the union of the labor forces
OF the United States this day consu minated
snail be permanent and perpetual; may
its spirit enter into all hearts, for the sal
walton Of the republic and the uplifting
of mankind.
Second. Wealth belongs to him who ore
ates it; and every dollar taken from in
dustry without an equivalent is robbery.
Ii any man will not work, neither shall
he eat" The interests of rural and civil
LABOR are the same; their enemies are
identical.
Third. We believe that the time has come
when the railroad corporations will either
own the people or the people must own
the railroads; and, should the government
enter upon the work of owning and man.
aging all railroads, we should favor an
amendment to the constitution by which
all persons engaged in the government
service shall be placed under civil sery-
Ice regulation of the most rigid character,
so as to prevent the increase of the power
OF the national administration By the use
OF such additional government employees.
THE QUESTION OF FINANCE.
We demand national currency, safe.
sound, and flexible, issued by the general
government only, full legal tender for
all debts, public and private, and that
without the use Of banking corporations;
Just, equitable and efficient means of
distribution direct to the people, at tar
not to exceed 2 per cent. per annum, to
be provided as set forth in the SUBJ treas
ury plan of the Farmers Alliance, or a
better system; also by payments in
discharge of its obligations for public i'm
provements.
We demand free and unlimited coinage.
OF silver and gold, at the present legal ra-
ito of 16 to /.
We demand that the amount of circulat-
ing medium be speedily increased to not
less than $50 per capita.
We demand graduated income tax.
We believe that the money of the coun-
try should be kept, as much as possible,
In the hands of the people, and hence we
demand that all state and national reye-
nues shall be limited to the necessary eI-
penses of the government, economically
and honestly administered.
We demand that postal savings banks
be established by the government for the
safe deposit of the earnings of the peo-
pie, and TO facilitate exchange.
CONTROL OF TRANSPORTATION.
transportation being a means OF ex-
change and a public necessity, the gov
eminent should own and operate the
railroads in the interest of the people.
The telegraph and telephone, like the
post-ofice system, being a necessity for
the transmission of news, should be owned
and operated by the government, in the
interest of the people.
REcLAIMIsG THE LAND.
The land, including all the natural
sources Of wealth, is the heritage of the
people, and should not be monopolizsd
for speculative purposes, and alien own
ership of land should be prohibited.
All land now held by railroads 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.
A Leading foreign banker says, accord
ing to the Boston Bureau, that there is q