Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1894-12-28
THE pEoPLs's PLATFORM.
Adopted in National Conventien a'
Omaha, July 4, 1904.

party Of America In their first national con-
vention, invoking upon t'eir action the bless
ing of Almighty God, putA 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 tho 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 ermino Of the bench. The
people arc demoralized; most Of the states
have been compelled to Isolate the voters at
tho polling places In order to prevent universal
intimidation or bribery. The newspapers are
largely subsidized or muzzled, public opinion
silenced, business FRUSTRATED, our homes cov-
cred with mortgages, labor impoverished and
the land concentrating In the hands Of the
capitalists. Tho urban workmen are denied
the right Of organization for self projections
imported pauperized labor beats down their
wages: q 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 few, unprecedented in the his
tory Of mankind. and the possessors Of these,
In turn. despise the republic and endanger
liberty. From the same prolific womb of gov
ernmental injustice we breed the two great
classes-tramps and millionaires.
The national power to create money Is ap-
propriated to enrich bondholders; a vast pub
liz dent. navable in legal tender currency. has
been funded into gold bearing bonds. thereby
adding millions to the burdens Of the people.
Silver. which has been accepted as coin since
the dawn Of history, has been demonetized to
add TO the purchasing power of gold by de-
creasing the price Of AL forms Of property as
we'll as human labor. Tho supply Of currency
IA purpo,ely ABRIDGED to fatten Insurers. bank
runt enterprise and en,laye industry.
4 vast conspiracy acnin,t mankind has been
organized on two continents and It is rapidly
taking possession of the world. II not met
and oyerthrown at once It forebodes terrible
social conyulsions the destruction Of ciyilza-
tion or tho establishment of an absolute des-
potism.
We have witnessed for moro that a quarter
of 4 century the struggles of two great politi-
cal narties for mower and plunder. while GREW
ous wrongs have been inflicted upon a suffer
inc neonie. We charge that the controlling
induences dominating both these parties have
permitted tho existing dreadful conditions TO
devotion without serious efforts to prevent or
resCKm Iefn. Neither DO { aey now pc.nix
ma nny substantial relief. They have agreed
together to ignore in the coming campaign
everv issue but one. They propose 70 drown
the outories II n plu.=,rr,u soople with the
rnroar NJ a sham battle over the tariff. 80 that
ssni, s,i,t. cornorationa national banks. rings.
trnst. watered stock. the decentralization of
siiver and the opprcs,ion of the usurers may
iii b. lo,t siabt OF. They propose to sacrifice
our homes. lives and children ON the altar of
Momwon. N destroy the multitude in order
- .acurs corruntion funds from the million
sirs
Assembled ON the Anniversary of the birth
a.v ~ ths nation. and Allied with the sprit of
ths ur.nd Generation who established our indie.
nandence. we seek TO restore tho government
81 the republic to tho hands of "the plain peo-
Mo y with which class II originated.
We assert our purposes to be identical with
,hs nurnosss of the national oonstitution-to
snr,,, a mora nerfeot Union. establish iustice.
iusnre dome,tio Tranquility. provide for the
corn mon defense. promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves
- ou, no,tsrity."
W. ascj.ra that this renublio oan only en-.
~ g.. ,,onsrnrnsrt Viii. hrijt rnon Tho
ours neo ~, Ae . ~" ~
ove OF the whoie people ior eacn o,her anu
for the nation; that 1t cannot be pinned To-
pether by bayonets; that the civil war Is over,
ana tnn nt W die with IT, and that we
sio" ~ ~. -. SO - Il naw. N initial
must bs IN iaet, as We arc IN n""'' un''e'
ooontt ., na, confronted by con-
ditions for which there Is no precedent in the
history of tho world Our annual agricultural
,.od,o,iors .r,ount In billions NJ dollars in
p rvuu'h,oh 80, ,,th,n tow yvaet. or
Iaiu., ,.s-,oa o. hi,,io,. 10 doIlor. "a
months DC exchanged ior oiiiions oi uola1s Vi
commodities consumed In their production.
The existing currency supply Is wholly made
orate 10 make this exchange. The results are
yuate " H.. tha ,ormation of combines and
raining p,ive ,.ariat',nart ., tha rrod,.ins,
rings anu the in,poVerisninoneo Vi .no
classes. We pledge ourselves thet II gwen
rise and reasonable legislation, In accordance
nth the terms Of our platform.
~. haiiava that Tho nowers of eovernmsnt-
W. oeheVe I'M sly 49, $3.50 -. "
In other WORDS, OF tho peopie-enouio 20 e1-
banded las In the case OF tho postal service) a.
rapidly and as far as the good sense OF an In
teiiicent people and the teachings Of expert
90. mall iustifv IN tho and that oppression
Inn "a .,a,..t, ~ Al, IL Coz "a IN
tn1ustice Anu po's''' 'A~ s'sN~' 's~'e "
the land.
While our sympathies as party OF reform
are naturally upon the side Of every PROPOSE
tion which will tend TO make men intelligent,
virtuous and temperate, we nevertheless re-
gard these questions-important as they are
- secondary 10 the great issues now pressing
Tor solution, and upon which not only our in
diyidual prosperity, but the very existence Of
Tres insfifutions depepds. and NE ak AL men
q 6sTn ma 10 determfnS wnsrner we are u
ksys : republic 10 administer before we differ
a. 10 the Conditions upon which It Is to DO nd
-t.i.tarad hnlievtno that tho forces OF reform