Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-30
THURSDAY. ......AUGUST 80. 1894
Judge Gregory and Hi. Platform.

Judge Gregory and His Platform.
The Popuiists OF the Third Congress
pional District carried out on Tuesday
the programme which it. had been ar
ranged or understood for some time was
to be the probable outcome OF the move
ments Of that new party-not so new,
however. as 1t was a year or two ago,
and. therefore. not SO dangerous.
We have nothing to say against Judge
Gregory as a man. and trust that ne
will so conduct his campaign as to cause
no unpleasant scenes on court-greens
or elsewhere. But TO his creed tho people
must stand opposed. and to the measures
he proposes as the means OF defeating
the Democratic party there must be such
an array Of good men and true as Judge
Gregory and his faction cannot rally 10
their standards.
The Populist nominee stands upon the
platform OF the recent State Convention
IN Lynchburg. with all attendant reso-
lu,lons" This platform and these at
tendant resolutions are recent utter
ances OF the Populist party. and were
published and commented upon by US only
a week or two ago. The Henrico conVen-
ton, however. desiring perhaps to snow
that the foundations of their platform
we're deep and strong, went to the fouh-
tain-head Of their creed and resolved as
follows:
eve reafflrm our devotion TO the ma
tional platform, adopted at Omaha, win
its three dominant issues-finance, trans
portation, and land.
II is TO be presumed that the inteiii-
gent gentlemen who adopted this resoiu-
ticn knew exactly what 1t meant; ana
80 we shall turn to the Omaha platform
10 ascertain to, what 1t is that Judge Gre
CORY and his supporters reaffirm their
devotion" Omitting the long introduc-
ton or preamble. the Omaha platform Is
as follows:
We declare, therefore.
That the union OF the labor forces
Of the United States this day cohsuih-
mated shall be permanent ana perpetual
may It's spirit enter into all hearts. TO the
salvation of the republic, and the up4'it-
ing of mankind.
2 Wealth belongs to him VINO creates
Il, and every dollar taken from industry,
without an equivalent, Is robbery. II
snv man will not work neither shall he
eat" The interests of rural and CIVIC
labor are the same; their enemies are
identical
q we believe the time has come when
the railroad corporations VIII either own
the people or the people must own inc
railroads. and should the government
enter upon the work of owning and man
aging any and all railroads we snoulu
favor an amendment TO the Consttutioi
by which all persons engaged in the gov
eminent service shall be placed under
civil service regulation or the most risiu
character, so as to prevent the increase
OF the power Of the National Administra-
tion by the use Of such additional govern
ment employees.
We demand national currency, safe.
soi,nd and flexible issued by the General
Government only. a full legal tender TOT
all debts. public and private. and that
without the use Of banking corporations:
a Just, equitable, and efficient means OF
distribution direct to the people at
tax not TO exceed per cent. per annum
TO be provided as set forth In the Sub
Treasury plan OF the Farmers Alliance.
or some better system: also by payments
In discharge Of its obligations for public
improvements.
we demand the free and unlimited COIN
are OF silver and gold at the present
legal ratio OF 16 10 l.
We demand that the amount Of the cir
cuiating medium be speedily increased TO
not less than $50 per capita.
We demand n graduated income-tax.
We believe that the moneys OF the coun-
try should be kept as much as possible
in the hands OF the people. and hence
we demand that all national and State
revenues shall be limited to the necessary
expenses. economically and honestly al,
ministered.
We demand that postal savings banks
be established by the government for the
safe deposit OF the earnings Of the people
and TO facilitate exchange.
Transportation being means OF ex-
change and public necessity. the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
In the interest of the people.
The telegram and telephone. like the
post-o!fice system, being necessity for
the transmission Of fews should be
owned and operated by the government
in the interest of the people.
The land. including all The natural
sources OF wealth. is the heritage Of all the
people and should not be monopoliaei for
speculative purposes, and alien ownership
of land should be prohibited. All lands
now held by railroads and other corps ra-
lions 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.
This We understand to be the platform
to which the Populists Of the Third Con-
gressional District declare their devotion.
il was adopted at Omaha by the "Peo-
pies Party Of America" in their first
national convention assembled This Peo-
pies party Of America declared In favor
Of distributing currency direct TO the
people at tax not exceeding
per cent. per annum, to be pro-
Nded as set forth In the sub
Treasury plan Of the Farmers Ali
ance. or some better plan. Here seems to
be q commingling Of Popuiists or Peo-
PIES party. with the Farmers Alliance;
but we suspect that Judge Gregory Is
mot ready TO swallow the creed or creeds
Of all those factions. The resolution de-
claring In favor Of lending national cur
Sency to the people at per cent. per
annum will hardly tempt the voters OF
the Third Congressional District into that
forbidden field.