The San Francisco call., 1895-11-16
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
PROPOSED UNION PLATFORM.
FOR PopULIsTs, SINGLE-TAxERs, PROHIBITION
IsTs ANn.OTHER REEnRMERS.

FOR PopULIsTs, SINGLE-TAXERs, PROHIBITION
lists AND. OTHER REFoRMERs.
10 the Editor of the San Francisco Call
SIR: The rough draft of platform, published
over my signature some weeks since, has
awakened SO much interest as to justify
more expanded statement, more especially for
the City readers of THE CALL, which now
offer for publication. 1t is proposed as plat
form for;union of all the reform forces OF the
country On solid and permanent basis, with
out the surrender of single plank or resolu-
tion of the Omaha platform, or any platform OF
any reform party whatever:
/. The restoration Of silver to free and unlimited
coinage at the old ratio of 16 to without awaiting
the action of other nations
2. The abolition of all existing, bank currency; ;
the issuance OF all paper money by the government
only, and under genuine American banking sys
tenn; such money to be based on the credit and
faith OF the Nation (beng the same basis as that
of Government bondsl, and to be full legal tender
for all debts, public and private and not to be re-
deemed in any other money the volume to be Inn
tied by law experience shall require.
g. Greenbacks and all other forms of Govern.
ment currency redeemable in coin to be retired and
replaced in circulation by the new National money
the hundred millions in gold now held in the treas
ury ;aS reserve fund for the redemption OF green
backs to be thereupon applied in extinguishment
OF government bonds. and no further issue OF such
bonds at any time.
4. Postal savings banks to be established for the
security OF the peoples savings to provide for loans
and to facilitate exchange.
D. LOdllS 10 De maze Dy Une GOVeruIleuJ
State agency to the people safe and sound secur-
tiles at a tax not TO exceed per cent per annnn
for any period of time up to twenty years: the
money to be supplied to each state on lts pond
bearing no interest and the State TO supply its
counties and municipalities, and they as the agents
/ OF the state to loan it to the people.
The other planks or issues of the Omaha plat11
form and vital issues of all parties 10 be submitted
to direct vote OF the people through the lpltlatVe
and referendum, to the end that this may become
in fact in theory, Lincoln held IL TO be, GOV
ernment of the people, by the people for the people,
by direct legislation in National, state ana iocaI
AFFAIRS by this method OF law-makfng any issue
of any party may be enacted into law as soon as
the people are prepared for it, and by IL also the
boss will be eliminated from politics..
Expressed in dozen words this union Dlat-
form would read as follows: For free coinage OF
silver genuine American banking system and
direct legislation.
/ Perhaps I ought to add a paragraph IN ex-
planation of the phrase "the credlt ana laltn
of the Nation as the basis OF Government !
bonds,' since there is some confusion OF nina
in regard to this matter. Ii tramp, for rex-
ample, should offer his note, i. e., his bond, 10
bank for 800 and promise to pay IN gold,
his note would be declined because his credit
or ability to pay would not be good, though
his faith or intention to pay might be good.
His promise to pay in gold, with interest IN
gold. would be of no avail whatever Inc
basis of Government bonds is the Natlon s
credit or ability to pay and its faith or 1nten-
ton to pay, that is 2iot to repudlate Us deDt,
and not what it promises or bonds itself to pay.
JOSEPH. AsBURY JOHNSON.
IL Essex street, San Francisco, Cal.