The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-08
PEOPLES PARTY PLATFORM
Adopted by the State Convention
Held in Minneapolis, July 10, 1894.

Adopted by the State Convention
Held in Minneapolis, July 10, 1894.
Being imbued with supreme faith in
the Righteousness of our cause, the Peo-
pies party of Minnesota, in second state
convention assembled, DESTROYS of preserv-
Ing to ourselves and posterity the bless
ings OF peace, order. law and civilization,
do herewith put forth the following declar-
alton Of principles and ask the support of
all persons therefor:
First-We reaffirm the great principles
set forth in the platform Of the National
Peoples party, adopted at Omaha July T.
1892, to-wit:
(a) We demand national currency safe
sound and flexible. a full legal tender for
all debts, public and private. not less than
$50 per capita, issued by the general gov
eminent only direct to the people by pay
and for public improvements
co. We demand free and unlimited
coinage Of silver and gold at the present
legal ratio of 16 to 1.
(c) We demand the establishment of gov
eminent savings banks for the safe de-
post OF the savings of the people and to
facilitate exchange
(d) We demand a graduated income and
inheritance tax.
(e) We demand the government owner
ship and operation OF railroads, telegraphs
and telephones.
(O Land and all natural resources of
wealth are the heritage of all the people and
should not be monopoliZed for speculative
purposes nor owned by aliens, therefore
We demand that all land now held by
railroad and other corporations in excess
Of their actual needs. and all lands held
by aliens be reclaimed by the government
and held for actual settlers only
(g) We demand the election of president
and vice president and United States SEN
ators by direct vote Of the people
law is right. 1t embodies the best citizen
ship and the noblest patriotism. We de-
mand nothing more and will be satisfied
with nothing less, and we insist that this
shall be required of all regardless Of their
wealth or station in life and we demand
that our officials enforce all laws relating
to and governing corporations, and prohibit
trusts and other unlawful combinations
and conspracies against the public well
fare.
Third-We demand such legislation as will
break up the great combinations which have
plundered the farmers for Is years past,
and secure to the agricultural population
an absolutely free market for their cattle,
wheat and other products.
Fourth-While we are ready to defend the
general government in all it's legitimate
functions, nevertheless we regard its powers
as limited by the terms of the constitution
and we are opposed to the centraljzing
tendencies of the age, which are destroy
ing the just powers Of the several states.
: Fifth-We arraign the Republican party
Of Minnesota for the immense frauds com
mitted upon the school and other lands of
the state, aggregating probably millions of
dollars, during the past thirty years, and
we demand that a thorough investigation
shall be made and that the work already
begun, which has returned thirty thousand
dollars ($30,00O In three cases alone into the
treasury Of the state. shall be continued
until the last dollar has been recovered of
the despoiled patrimony Of our children
Sixth-We demand the most rigid econ
omy in the administration of public affairs,
together with such adjustment of taxation
that the weight will be least on those who
have least; that mortgaged land shall not
be subject to double taxation; that con-
cealed wealth shall be made to pay it's just
share for the support of government; that
the ownership Of real estate by non-resid-
ents and aliens should be discouraged by
proper legislation, and that the time of
payment Of taxes should be semi-annual.
Seventh-We demand the taxation of the
mining lands situated in this state, so that
they will contribute equally with other prop
erty to the support Of the state and local
governments.
Eighth-Legislation has been attended
with such venality, in the interests Of cor
porations that demand that the people
shall have the right to initiate needed mea-
sures of legislative reform, and that they
shall have the right by referendum to
veto, at the ballot box, any law inimical to
their interests.
Ninth--That, inasmuch as the extension
of the right Of suffrage to women in school
affairs has been productive of excellent re-
suits, we demand that there be no limita-
ton upon suffrage dependent upon sex, be-
ieving in the doctrines of 1776, that repre-
sentation should accompany taxation.
Tenth-We demand the naturalization of
nOu0r
the state without profit.
Eleventh-That we reaffirm that are
opposed to the Of public revenue or
funds for sectarian purposes Of any kind
whatever.
RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved, That we are in favor of estab-
fishing in our state a judicious manage
ment of our native forests, preventing their
1urther monopolizations, preventing fires
and conserving water systems for the
benefit of the people at large.
Resolved. That recognize the injus-
tlce and wrong which monopoly has inf1ict-
ed upon the workingmen and women of
this country, and we extend our sympathy
to all who are endeavoring to prevent OPP
preston, and to check the downward tend
ency of wages already too small to sustain
life and honor We extend our sympa thy
to organized labor in it's humane efforts
to resist the aggressions Of organized mon
opoly; and while we condemn violence and
lawlessness, we believe that organized labor
IS in no sense responsible for the acts Of
the mob element with which a hireling
press has falsely sought to connect it.
We therefore recommend to our suffering
countrymen, especially those Of the labor
ing classes, that peaceful and effective
remedy for the wrongs which, in this coun-
try, the ballot gives to free men, and
which destroys no property except watered
stock, and Injuries values except those
of fiction and fraud
Resolved, That in the United States it
is not a crime for the great mass of the
people to unite to improve their material
condition by peaceful and lawful means;
and we cannot but regard the arrest Of
Mr.. Debs and his associates as an unwise
ana unjust step; and dangerous encroach-
ment Of the federal judiciary upon the
rights and liberties of the people.