Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-03-08
THE PEOPLES PLATFORM.
Adopted in National Convention u
Omaha, July 4, 1902.


Adopted In National Convention ~
Omaha, July Z, 1909.
Assembled upon the 10th anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence, the Peoples
party of America In their first national con-
vention, invoking upon &Neir action the bless
Ing Of Almighty God. putA forth In the nnme
and on behalf Of the people If this country the
following preamble and declaration Of princi-
pies:
Tho conditions which surround Us Justify
our action; we meet In the midst of q 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 are 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
eilenced, business FRUSTRATED, our homes COW
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 theif
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 o few, unprecedented In tho his
tory Of mankind, and the posssssors Of these,
in turn. despise the republic and endangsr
liberty. From tho same prolific womb of gov.
ernmental injustice we breed the two great
clnsses-tramps and millionaires.
Tho national power to create money is ap-
proprintcd to enrich bondholders; vast pub
Lie debt, payable 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 prizes Of AL forms Of property as
we'll as human labor. The supply Of currency
Is purposcly abridged to fatten usurers, bank
rupt enterprise and enslave industry.
A vast conspiracy against mankind has been
organized on two continents, and IL Is rapidly
taking possession of the world. II 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 q quarter
of century the struggles Of two great politi-
col parties for power and plumber, while griev-
Gus wrongs have been inflicted upon 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
rsStVTm then. Ne1ther DO { dey now prsmIsl
o. any substantial relief. They have agreed
tossther to ignore In the coming campaign
every issue but one. They propose 70 drown
tho outcries IF o plu-aervu people with the
uproar of q sham battle over the tariff. 50 that
capitalists. corporations, national banks, rings,
trusts, watered stock, the demonstration Of
aflvsf and the oppression Of tho usurers may
all DO lost sight Of They propose to sacrifice
our homes, lives and children on the altar OF
Mammon; to destroy the multitude In order
u
aire.
Assembled on the anniversary Of the birth
6ay Of the nation, and filled with the spirit Of
the grand generation who established our indie.
peudsnce, we seek to restore the government
Of The republic to the hands Of "ths plain peo-
pls," with which class It originated.
We assert our purposes TO be identical with
the purposes Of the national constitution-to
form q more perfect Union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare
and secure the blessings Of liberty for ourselves
shd our posterity."
We declare that this republic can only en-
dufs "a . free government while built upon the
bve Of the whole people for each other and
for the nation that II cannot be pinned tn
aether by bayonets; that the civil war Is over,
and that every passion and resentment which
grow out Of 1t must die with 1t, and that we
must be In fact, as we are In name, united
brotherhood OF Tree men.
Our country finds itself confronted by con-
ditions for which there is no precedent In the
history Of the world. Our annual agricultural
productions amount TO billions Of dollars In
value, which must within few weeks or
months DO exchanged for billions Of dollars Of
commodities consumed In their production.
The existing currency supply Is wholly made
duate TO make this exchange. The results are
falling prices, tho 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
y With the terms of our platform.
We believe that the powers OF government
In other words, Of the people-should DO 81
fapidly and a. far - the good sense Of an IN
tdligent people and the teachings Of expert
snce shall Justify, to the end that oppression,
Injustice and poverty shall eventually cease in
tie land.
While our sympathies as . party Of reform
are naturally. upon the side of every pyYposi-
ton which will tend to make men Intelligent,
virtuous and temperate, we nevertheless re-
gard these Questions-important as they arc
e secondary to the great issues now pressing
dividual prosperity, but the very existence OF
6ee instifntinna de0ends and No &1kAu men
70 help us to determine wnetner We nfe Il
as 10 the conditions upon which 1t Is 70 be ad-
r6inistered, believing that the forces Of reform
thn day organized Will never cease 70 move
forward until every wrong is remedfed and
equal rights and equal privileges securely es-
tablished for all the men and women OF this
country.
We declare, therefore
That the union OF the labor forces OF the
United States this day contaminated shall be
permanent and perpetual -rnay Its spirit enter
Into all hearts for tho salvation OF the republic
and the uplifting of mankind.
Wealth belongs to him who creates 1t, and
every dollar taken from industry without an
equivalent is robbery. IF any will not WORK
neither shall he eat" Tho 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 the people must own the railroads, and
should the government enter upon the work OF
owning and managing any or all railroads we
should favor an amendment to the constitution
. by which all persons engaged In the government
service shall be placed under a civil service
regulation of the most rigid character, so as
10 prevent the increase Of the power OF the
national administration by the use OF such
additional government employees.
We demand n national currency, safe, sound
and flexible, issued by the general government
only; a full legal tender for all debts, public
and private, md that without the use of bank
ing corporations; Just, equitable and efficient
means Of distribution, direct TO the people, at
a tar not TO exceed per cent. per annum, TO
be provided Us set forth In the subtreasury
plan OF the Farmers Alliance, or some better
Ian nv naymants in discharge of ite