Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1894-03-07
Communicated.


and then 30 ahead Now let us aDp,y this
ruio TO the principles of the peoples party as
enunciated in the Omaha Demands If we
find that they are right, then go ahead. If not.
then, if we are honest men, we must refuse to
endeayor to carry out that which is wrong
But let US see: The Demands call for "a ma
uonal currency safe, sound and flexible" Is
there anything wrong about that? Issued by
the general government only" Anything
wrong in that? Did not the general govern
ment issue all the money during the war of the
rebellion? And if the government can and
does furnish all the money in time of a great
war, l hold to the opinion that il Is competent
to furnish it in time OF peace. "A full legal
tender for all debts, public and private" Can
Ii be possible that any one who earns his bread
by the sweat of his brow is in favor of money
that is not legal tender in which he can pay
ali his debts: And is any cane person opposed
to a just, equitable and efficient means of dis
tribution direct TO the people at a tax not to
exceed two per cent. per annum and to dis
penSe with the use of banking corporations?
The Demands call for free coinage of silver
at the old ratio. All the obligations or bonds
OF the government are payable in coin, and
that means both gold ami silver and it would
be the heighth OF foolishness to permit the
goldbugs TO force payments in gold only.
The Demands call for per capita circulating
medium of not less than 500 and the question
here comes up is anybody except a capitalist
opposed to more money among the people?
graduated income tax is demanded and is
there any wage Garner so foolish as to oppose
a measure that will compel the rich to pay
portion of the taxes?
The Demands also require economy in ex-
penditurcs, both state and national. and that
no greater taxes should be levied than is nee
essary to defray the expenses of government.
economically and honestly administered. Is
there anything wrong about that?
The Demands also require postal savings
banks to be established for the safe deposit of
the earnings of the people, and would ask, In
view of the experience the people have had in
regard to national and other banks during the
past year, whether it is not high time that such
banks We're established. The Demands also
require the owning and operating of railroads
by the people in the interest of the people.
The Demands also set forth that the land in
Guiding all the material resources of wealth is
the heritage of the people and should not be
monopoized for speculative purposes, and
alien ownership prohibited. and so on.
Now is it not a fact that the statements made
in the Omaha Demands" are almost if not al
together automatic, that is, they explain them
selves, or in other words, they are so PLAIN,
they need no explanation. And have not the
railroads themselves furnished proof of the
correctness Of these demands in that they
themselves have called upon the government
TO appoint receivers and operate the roads I'M
til such time when relieved of the burdens
hon aI,-nc lid oh,
charge after being relieved of the debts ana
encumbrances under the management and
control Of the government. This. it seems to
me, is sufficient proof, if any is needed, to show
that the government is abundantly able not
only to own but also to operate the railways OF
the country, and do it in the interest of the
and the surplus if any would flow into the
lessen taxation to the amount of the surplus
intelligent man that if the government were
the banks that we have at the present time
people would have place to deposit their saw
ings without any fear as to the sOlvency of the
institution and for the simple reason that all
pledged to pay the deposit when called for.
There would in consequence be no such thing
as want of confidence in the ability of such
banks 10 pay and there never would be Il run
on such a bank for the same reason. Loans
made 20 the people would not have to be called
in and anyone could borrow money at any
time by furnishing the requisite security. The
money would remain among the people at
l. r1n "
districts could not be drained Of it ard cause it
to be piled up in the great commercial centers
and cause, as it were, q congestion. only to be
relieved by bleeding the people to pay interest
on fifty million more bonds, and that too at
time when there are millions of money as well
as uncoined money metal lying Idle in the
treasury.
And low l would especially ask my fellow
citizens of G}urber county without regard to
present or former political aihiliation, to ex-
anime this matter candidly, thoroughly and
without prejudice, for we know from the ex-
pcrience we have all had IN the recent past
that it is not well with us financially and the
older men among us also recollect very well
the time when the people were out of debt and
prosperity was abroad in the land; but legisla-
ton in favor of certain classes destroyed the
present deplorable state of affairs. Most, if
not all, of this class legislation was placed on
the statute books by the republican party and
it was fondly hoped and believed by the demo
cratic rank and file that when the democratic
party came into full possession of the govern
ment they wouli repeal these onerous laws
and give the people the needed relief Well,
they are in full possession Of the government
nf ha.-e
anything. only aggravated the burdens borne
pledged by their acts TO the same financial sys-
tem a system that produces hundreds of
and millions of paupers. Men and
brethren, do you wish a continuation of pres
ent conditions? If 50. then vote for the grand
old parties. Do you desire a change for the
better? If 50. align yourself with the peoples
party, for in it you will find patriotism car
able of rising above partisanship, and love of
justice that will, if placed in power, repeal
bad laws and enact better ones, laws that will
enable the people to become prosperous again,
as they were in the past; laws that will compel
the rich to bear q share OF the taxes as well as
those less favorably situated; laws that will
enable the poorest among us to have sufficient
food to cat and clothes to wear: such laws that
will bring about general prosperity, when soup
houses and all other expedients in present use
to keep thousands of people from starving in
u country where millions of bushels of wheat
are exported at about siKty-tive cents bushel,
shall forever bc a thing OF the past. A. Il.
VALLEY TOWNSHIP, Feb. 23, 1924.
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If Douglass takes his Sledge hammer
into the campaign with him he viii
SI,n nnoA l-rnnl:i.nnr tho i'm