Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1894-11-23
THE PEOPLES PLATFORM.
Adopted in National Convention NJ
Omaha, July a, 1902.


Omaha, July 4, 1902.
Assembled upon the 10th anniversary Of the
Declaration of Independence, tho Peoples
party of America In their first national con-
vention, invoking upon \'eir action the bless
ing of Almighty God, puts forth in the name
and on behalf of the people If this country the
following preamble and declaration of princi-
pies:
The conditions which surround US Justify
our action; we meet in the midst OF O nation
brought to the verge Of moral, political and
material ruin. Corruption dominates the bal.
lot box, the legislatures. the congress, and
touches even the ermine Of the bench. The
people are demoralized; most Of the states
have been compelled to isolate the voters at
the polling places in order oprevcnt universal
intimidation or bribery. The newspapers are
largely subsidized or muzzled, public opinion
silcnced, business FRUSTRATED, our homes COW
cred with mortgages, labor impoverished and
the land concentrating In the hands of the
capitalists The urban workmcn are denied
the right of organization for self protection;
imported pauperized labor beats down theiI
wages; hireling standing army, unrecog.
nized by our laws, is established to shoot them
down, and they are rapidly degenerating into
European conditions The fruits Of the toll OF
millions are boldly stolen to build up colossal
fortunes for o few, unprecedented in the his
in turn, despise the republic and endanger
liberty. From the same prolific womb of gov
ornamental injustice we breed the two great
classes-tramps and millionaires.
The national power to create money 10 up
propriated to enrich bondholders vast pub
lie debt, payable in legal tender currency, has
been funded into gold bearing bonds, thereby
adding millions to tho burdens Of the people.
Silver, which has been accepted as coin since
tba 1,tt nf history has bppn 1pfuopptizp1 IN
add to the purchasing power Of gold by de-
creasing the price Of AL forms of property as
well as human labor. The supply Of currency
is purposely abridged to fatten usurers, bank
rupt enterprise and enslave industry.
A vast conspiracy against mankind has been
organized ON two continents, and 1t is rapidly
taking possession of the world. If not met
and overthrown at once 1t forebodes terrible
social commissions, the destruction Of civilza-
ton or the establishment Of an absolute des-
potism.
We have witnessed for more that quarter
of O century the struggles Of two great politi-
cal parties for power and plumber, while griev-
GUS wrongs have been inflicted upon q suffer-
ing people. We charge that the controlling
influences dominating both these parties have
permitted the existing dreadful conditions to
develop without serious efforts to prevent or
rescYaTn tlIcm. Ne1fIcr DO iey nov ptcruIsl
us any substantial relief They have agreed
together to ignore In the coming campaign
every issue but one They propose % drown
the outcres IF e plu=lrI~,. fcople with the
uproar of o sham battle over the tariff. SO that
capitalists. corporations, national banks, rings,
trusts, watered stock, the decentralization of
silver and the oppression Of the usurers may
all be lost sight Of They propose to sacrifice
our homes, lives and children on the altar OF
Mammon; to destroy tho multitude In order
to secure corruption funds from the million
aire.
Assembled on the anniversary Of the birth
day of the nation, and filed with the spirit OF
the grand generation who established our indie,
pendence we seek to restore the government
Of the republic to the hands Of "the plain peo-
ple,. with which class It originated.
We assert our purposes TO BIO Identical with
the purposes OF the national constitutional
form a moro perfect Union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for tho
common defense, promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves
and our posterity."
We declare that this republic can only en-
dure as O free government while built upon the
Iove Of the whole people for each other and
Tor the nation; that 1t cannot be pinned tn
gether by bayonets; that the civil war Is over,
and that every passion and resentment which
grew out OF 1t must die with 1t. and that we
must be in fact, as we are In name, united
brotherhood Of free men.
Our country finds itself confronted by con-
ditions for which there Is no precedent in the
history Of tho world. Our annual agricultural
productions amount to billions Of dollars In
value, which must within a few weeks or
months be exchanged for billions Of dollars Of
commodities consumed in their production.
Tho existing currency supply is wholly made
ouate TO make this exchange. The results are
falling prices, the formation Of combines and
rings and the Impeachment Of the producing
classes We pledge ourselves that II given
power We will labor to correct these evils by
wise and reasonable legislation, In accordance
with the terms OF our platform.
We believe that the powers OF government
In other words, OF the people-shoud DO ex-
banded las in the case Of the postal service) CO
rapidly and as far as the good sense Of an in
telliscnt people and the teachings Of expert
once shall justify, to the end that oppression,
Injustice md poverty shall eventually cease In
the land.
While our sympathies rs a party Of reform
are naturally upon the side Of every PROPOSE
uon which will tend to make men intelligent,
yirtuous and temperate, we nevertheless re-
gard these questions-important MS they are
as secondary to the great issues now, pressing
for solution, and upon which not only our in
dividual prosperity, but the very existence OF
Gree institutions denends and We-askRu mep
Ia help US TO determine wnerner we are 10
have a republic to administer before we differ
AZ 10 the conditions upon which II Is to be ad-
ministered believing that the forces Of reform
this day organized will never cease TO move
forward until every wrong Is remedied ana
equal rights and equal privileges securely es-
tablished for all the men and women OF th!s
country.
We declare, therefore
That the union of the labor forces OF the
United States this day consummated shall be
permanent and pcrpetual-may its spirit enter
INTO ali hearts for the salvation OF the republic
and the uplifting of mankind.
Wealth belongs to him W no creates II, and
every dollar taken from industry without an
equivalent is robbery. .If any will not work
neither shall he cat" The interests Of rural
and civic labor are the same; their enemies
are identical.
We believe that the time has come when the
railroad corporations must either own the peo:
ME or tho people must own the railroads, ana
should the government enter upon the work oil
owning and managing any or all railroads we
should favor an amendment TO the constitution
bywhich all persons engaged in the government
service shall be placed under a civil service
REGULATION OF the most rigid character, so as
To ureyeut the increase of the power Of the
national administration by the use OF such
additional government employees.
We demand O national currency, safe, SOUND
and flexible issued by the general governments
only: n full legal tender for all debts. public
and private, and that without the use Of bank.
infr eorporatlons; q Just, equitable and efficient
IL t-ii, Iirprt n tho upnDlc Mt