The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-15
PEOPLES PARTY PLATFORM
Adopted by tho State Convention
Held in Minneapolis, July 10. 1894.

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 prncples
set forth in the platform of the National
Peoples party. adopted at Omaha July 4.
1899, to-wit:
(a) We demand a 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 govt
eminent only, direct to the people by pay.
ments in discharge of all it's obligations
and for public improvements
o. We demand a free and unlimited
coinage of silver and gold at the present
legal ratio Of is to l.
(c) We demand the establishment of gov.
eminent savings banks for the safe de.
posit of the savings of the people and Il
facilitate exchange.
I'd We demand a graduated income and
inheritance tax.
(e) We demand the government owner
ship and operation of railroads, telegraph
and telephones.
e. Land and all natural resources OF
wealth are the heritage Ct all the people ana
should not be monopolized for speculatiy,
purposes nor owned by aliens, therefort
we demand that all land now held b,
railroad and other corporations in excess
of their actual needs, and all lands held
by aliens be reclaimed by the government
and held for actua! settlers only.
(g) We demanU the election of president
and vice president and United States sem
ators by direct vote of the people
Second-Obedience to and enforcement OF
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 thi
shall be required Of all regardless of the
wealth or station in life, and we demand
that our officials enforce ali laws relating
to and governing corporations, and prohibit
trusts and other unlawful combna ton.
and conspiracies against the public wei
fare.
Tnird-We demand sucn legislation as will
break up the great con- binato which have
plundered the farmers for % years past.
and secure to the agricultural popula ton
absolutely free market for their cattle,
wheat and other products.
Fourth-While are ready to defend the
general government in all its legitimate
functions, nevertheless we regard its powers
as limited by the terms of the constitution.
and are opposed to the centralizing
tendencies of the age, which are Destroy
ing the just powers of the several states
Tifth-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 inves tigatior,
shall be made, and that the work already
begun, which has returned thirty thousand
dollars ,000) 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 rortga ged 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
Dayment 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
crty to the support of the state and local
governments.
Eighth-Legislation has been attended
with such venality, in the interests of corr
porations, that we 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, ia
Veto at the ballot box, any law inmical I'd
their interests.
Ninth--That, inasmuch as the extension
of the right of suffrage to women in school
affairs has been productive Of excellent ret
suits, we demand that there be no limitas
ton upon suffrage dependent upon sex, bei
lieving in the doctrines of 1776 that repre-
sentation should accompany taxation.
Tenth-We demand the naturalization Of
the liquor traffic and it's management bI
the state without profit
Eleventh-That we reaffirm that we arr
opposed to the use of public revenue OF
funds for sectarian purposes of any kn(
whatever.
RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved. That we are in favor Of estab
fishing in our state judicious manage
ment of our native forests, preventing theft
further monopolizations. preventing fret
and conserving our water systems for tht
benefit Of the people at large.
Resolved Tha' We recognize the injust
tee and wrong which monopoly has infiictI
ed upon the workingmen and women oil
this country, and we extend our sympathy
to all who endeavoring to prevent opt
preston, and to check the downward tend
ency of wages already too small to sustain
life and honor. We extend our sympathy
to organized labor in it's humane efforta
to resist the aggressions of organized mon-
opoly; and while we condemn violence and
lawles5ness, 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 III
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 no values except those
of fiction and fraud.
Resolved, That in the United States it
is not 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
and unjust step; and dangerous encroach.
ment of the federal judiciary upon the
rights and liberties Of the people.