The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-06-22
The Platform.
The resolutions as finally adopted are


We, the representatives OF the peoples par
ty Of Kansas, in convention assembled, do
hereby reaffirm our allegiance to the principles
enunciated in the Omaha platform and point
to the record OF our representatives in con-
gress as an evidence of their loyalty. to that
platform. We meet at this time under condi-
lions which see every prophecy then made full
filled, and every indictment which was made
therein against the republican and democratic
parties proven.
Our sympathies go out to the unemployed.
homeless and landless people of the country
who have been brought to their present condi-
ton in great measure through the vicious,
un-American financial policy of this govern
ment: and, we hold sacred the declaration OF
independence that all men are created equal,
they are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights, that among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We most heartily commend our present state
officials for their wise and economic adminis-
tration of state affairs, that has saved to the
tax payers thousands of dollars. and the popu-
istic legislators for their efforts to enact into
law every demand Of the state platform adopt
ed at Wichita in 1892
We demand the free coinage Of silver at the
ratio of IS to l. and denounce any party that is
so completely under the control of the gold
bugs that it dare not take a stand for the peo-
pie on this all-important question, which
means so much to the wage earners and pro-
ducers of our country.
We reiterate our opposition to all banks Of
issue, whether national or state, and demand
the establishment of postal savings banks by
the national government for the protection OF
small depositors, and eau attention to the
widespread distress caused by the large num-
Der of bank failures during the past year,
whereby thousands of depositors suffered the
loss of all their savings evidence of the
necessity of this demand.
We condemn the unwise and cruel policy Of
all the government parties in this nation whose
legislation has favored capital and oppressed
labor, and we hereby declare our sympathy
with all toilers in their efforts to improve
their condition, and demand such legis-
lation as will remove some of the burdens OF
toll by shortening the hours of labor without
lessening their daily wage.
We demand national and state boards OF arbi-
tration to settle and adjust differences between
the employers and the employees; and we
further demand that where the property OF
corporation has been placed in the hands OF
receiver, the wages of the employees shall be
first lien on its earnings and effects; and we
denounce the appointment Of officials or parties
interested as receivers of any corporation
We demand service pension graduated so the
man who carried the musket shall be entitled
to the same consideration as the man who wore
the epaulette. and said law to be so framed that
it will place forever beyond the power of any
official who is unfriendly toward the union SOL
diers and sailors to change. suspend or in any
way deprive the soldier of his just dues which
this government owes him for defending with
his life our country and flag.
We favor state irrigation department to in
vestigate methods and water supplies and en-
courage more extended irrigation.
We demand a freight rate law based on
the line OF the maximum rate bill passed
.l-f, n a.
republican house, and quote in proof Of the
need of such law the plank of the republican
platform adopted at their state convention in
1892, which we adopt and make part of this
demand, to-wit:
We insist that the great transportation COM
panies, which derive their corporate existence
from Kansas laws, and their financial exist
ence from Kansas trade and commerce owe to
the people of Kansas fair. equitable and honest
treatment in the matter of freight rates. and
we are opposed to the inequitable and oppress-
i've discrimination in the adjustment OF such
rates by said corporations VIII reby the
merchants, shippers and consumers of other
states are enriched at the expense and to
the injury of the people OF Kansas, and we de.
mand of the next legislature the utmost dill
gence in enacting appropriate legislation pro-
viding therefor to the end that agricultural,
mercantile and other interests OF Kansas shall
be placed on a footing of equality. so far as
freight rates are concerned with the like in
terests OF adjoining states; believing all powe,
is vested in the people and that all laws OF
vital importance should be initiated and ap-
proved or disapproved by them. Therefore. We
indorse the initiative and referendum system.
Whereas The peoples party came into ex-
istence and won its glorious victories on the
fundamental principles Of equal rights to all
and special privileges to none. therefore be it
resolved that we favor the pending constitu-
tional amendment but we do not regard it as q
test of party fealty.