The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-07-17
PEOPLES PLATFORM.
ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION
AT OMAHA, NEB., JULY 4, 1892.

america IN tner HrSt national cow entlon
invoking upon their action the blessings
of Almighty God, puts forth in the name,
and on behalf of the people of the country,
the following preamble and declaration OF
The conditions which surround us best
JUSTIFY our cooperation: we meet IN the
moral ruin. Corruption dominates the
ballot box, the legislatures, the Congress.
and touches even the ermine on the
most of the states have been compelled
to isolate the voters at the polling places
70 prevent universal intimidation or bri-
sidized or muzzled public opinion silenced;
business prostrated;, our homes covered
a NTH the labor imp t Isl
OF the capitalists. The urban workmen
are denied the right of organization for
sen sen-protection; imported pauperized Ia
army; unrecognized by our laws. is estab-
n ii';S, to shoot them down: and they are
ditions. The fruits of 't the tolls Of mill
ions are bodily stolen to build up colossal
fortunes; fortunes for a few, unprecedented In the
of these in turn despise the republic and
endanger liberty. From the same pro-
INC womb of governmental injustice we
milliOnaireS.
The national power to create money is
a app p,,h,i to enrich bondhoiders; a
currency, has been funded into gold
bearing bonds, thereby adding millions
10 the burden of the people.
since the dawn of history, has been de-
monetzed to add to the purchasing power
OF OIL goid. by decreasing all forms OF prop
ply OF currency is purposely abridged to
fa s us1rers, bankrupt enterprise and en-
against %anEnd has b yas ssnIpacy
two continents, and it is rapidly taking
possession of the world. If not met and
eoca at once it forebodes terrible
ilization, or the establishment of an alb
solute despotism. We have witnessed for
Of h aua wo of fenups des
for power and plumber, while grievous
wrongs have been inflicted upon the suf-
trolling influences dominating both these
parties have permitted the existing dread
ful conditions to develope, without sert-
Neither do they now promise us any sub
stantial reform. They have agreed to-
gether to ignore, in the coming campaign,
drown the outcries of plundered people
with the uproar of a sham battle over the
tariff tariff SO that capitalists, corporations,
tlzatlon OF silver, and the expressions of
the us rre1ss may all be lost sight Of
v ney pfoR2se to sacrifice our homes
to destroy the multitude in order to secure
corruption funds for the millionaires. AS
OF the nation, and filled with the spirit
OF the grand generation of men, who estab-
lished our independence. we seek to re-
store $40 n ane goxernment Of the republic to
whose class it originated We assert our
purposes to be identical with the purpose
more perfect union, establish justice, in
sure domestic tranquility provide for the
common defense promote the general vel
fare, and secure the blessing of liberty
DOStpritV.V
We declare that this republic can only
endure az. a free government while built
other and for the nation; that it cannot be
pinned together by bayonets, that the civil
war is over and that every passion and re-
with 1t; and that we must be in fact as
we are in name, one united brotherhood.
Our country finds itself confronted by con-
the history of the world. Our annual ag-
ricultural products. amount to billions Of
weeks or months be exchanged for for billions eaM
Of dollars. of commodities consumed in
their productions; the existing currency
exchange. The results are falling prices,
the formation of combines and rings, and
the impoverishment Of the producing
class. We pledge ourselves that if given
power we will labor to correct these evils
by wise and reasonable legislation, in
accordance with our platform.
We believe that the powers of govern
ment-in other words, of the peOple-should
be expanded (as in the case of the postal
good sense of an intelligent people, and the
teachings of experience shall justify; to
the end that oppression, injustice and pow
While our sympathies as a party of re-
form are naturally upon the side of every
proposition which will tend to make men
Intelligent, virtuous and temperate, we
nevertheless regard these questions-im-
portant as they areas secondary to the
great issues now pressing for solution;
rryIs 4l, ~ :~.Is
prosperity, but the very existence of free
institutions depends: and we ask all men
to first help us determine whether we are
to have a republic to administer, before
we differ as to the conditions upon which
it is to be administered; believing that the
forces of reform this day organized will
wrong is righted and equal privileges estab-
lished for all the men and women of this
country.
We declare. therefore.
UNION OF THE PEOPLE.
First-That the union of the labor forces
of the United States this day consummated
shall be permanent and perpetual; may it's
spirit enter into all hearts for the saliva
ton of the republic and the uplifting Of
mankind
second-wealth belongs to him who Gre
ates it; and every dollar taken from in
dustry without an equivalent, is robbery.
eff any man will not work, neither shall
he eat The interests of rural and civic
labor are the same: their enemies are
ThirdEwe believe that the time has
come when the railroad corporations will
either the people aed or the people must
ment enter upon the work of owning and
managing the railroads, we should favor
an amendment to tie = constitution on by
ment service shall be protected by civil
service regulations of the most rigid char
power of the national administration by
the use of such additional government en-
ployes.
sound, and flexible; issued by the gen.
eral government .cnly; a full legal tender
for all debts public and private; and that
Just, equitable and efficient means of distri-
button direct to the people, at tax not to
exceed per o cent j; per th annhm to be pro
of the Farmers Alliance, or some better
system: also by payments in discharge of
We demand free and unlimited coinage
of silver and gold at the present legal ratio
We demand that the amount of circulat-
ing medium be speedily increased to not
We demand graduated income tax.
try should be kept, much as possible, in
the hands of the people; and hence we
demand that all state. and national reve-
nues shall be limited to the necessary
expenses of the government, economically
and honestly administered.
We demand that postal savings banks
be established by the government for the
safe deposit of the earnings of the people,
and the faciltation of exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
TRANSPORTATION being a means of ex-
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
in the interest of the people.
The telegraph and telephone like the
postoffie system. being a necessity for the
transmission of news, should be owned
and operated by the government in the
interets of the people.
LANDS.