The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-08-01

straight-outs, ruled the motion out of
order.
At 12:42 n motion to take a re-
cess until three o'clock was made and
was carried.
Fridays Session.
Friday morning at four minutes
after ten Senator Allen called the del
egates to the peoples party national
convention to order. a committee to
confer with IL committee from the sill
yer party convention was appoint ted
and then the regular order was called
for, which was the reading of the mi
nority report of the committee on
rules. 1t recommended II change in
the order of making nominations SO
as to make the nomination of vice
president before that of president.
This was a move of the middle-of- the
road men. Delegate MeGrath, of Illi-
nois promptly moved to lay the mi
nority report on the table. Congress-
man Howard and Barney Gibbs, of
Alabama, demanded to be heard on the
motion.
After heated debate vote was
taken which resulted in 7s5 to 615 in
favor of the minority report.
Gen. J. B. Weaver. chairman of the
committee on resolutions, was then re-
cognized and he read the platform as
follows
The Platform.
The peoples party, assembled in national
convention, reaflrms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the re-
public, and also to the fundamental principles
of just government, as enunciated in the plat
form of the party in 1892 We recognize that
through the connivance of the present and
I. eln
reached crisis in its national life as predicted
in our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action Is the supreme
duty of the hour We realize that while we
have political independence, our financial
and industrial independence is yet to
be attained by restoring to our
country the constitutional control and
exercise of the functions necessary to n peo-
pies government, which functions have been
basely surrendered by public servants to
corporate monopolies. The influence of Euro
pean money changers has been more potent in
shaping legislation than the voice OF the
American people. Executive power and patron
age have been used to corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the will of the people, and pl-toc-
racy has thereby been enthronei upon the
ruins of democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers and for the well
fare of this and future generations, we demand
the establishment OF an economic and financial
system, which shall make us masters of our
own affairs and independent of European con-
troll, by the adoption of the following declara-
tion OF principles:
FINANCE
First-We demand q national money, safe
and sound, issued by the general government
only, without the intervention of banks of is
sue. to be full legal tender for all debts. pub
lie and private-a just, equitable and efficient
means of distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements Of the gov
ernment
Second-We demand the free and unre-
strictei coinage OF silver and gold at the pres
ent legal ratio of sixteen u one, without wait
ing for the consent of foreign nations.
Third-We demand that the volume OF cir
culating medium tc speedily increased to an
amount sufilcieat to meot the demands OF the
business and population of this country and
to restore the just level of prices Of labor and
production.
Fourth-We denounce the sale of bonds and
the increase of the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration as
and without authority of law and
that more bonds be issued except by spe-
cific act OF congress.
F'ifth-We demand such legislation will
prevent the demonetlZation of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract
Sixth-We demand that the government, in
payment OF its obligations, shall use its option
as to the kind of lawful money in which they
are to be paid and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender
ing this option to the holiers of government
obligations.
Seventh-We demand graduated income
tax to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation, and we
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative to the income tax law as u mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vasion of the rightful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit OF the savings of the people
and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
First-Transportation being means OF cx-
change and necessity. the government should
own and operate the railroads in the interest
of the people and on a non-partisan basis: to
the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment in transportation and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations, which result
in the impairment, il not in the destruction, OF
the political rights and personal liberties OF
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
ship is to be accomplished gradually in a man
ner consistent with sound public policy.
Second-The interest o! the United States in
the public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants OF land to
the Pacific railroads, should never be alienat-
ed, mortgaged or sold, but guarded and pro-
tected for the general welfare, as provided by
the laws organizing such railroads. The fore
closure of existing liens of the United States
payment thereof by the debtor companies; and
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
ernment should purchase the same IL II be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
in. or If they can be purchased at a reasonable
price, and the government shall operate said
as public highways for the benefit of
the whole people and not in the interest OF the
few, under suitable provisions for protection
of life and property, giving to all transporta-
tiOn interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and freightS
Third-We denounce the present infamous
for refunting these debts, and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according to their
true intent and spirit
Fourth-The telegraph. like the post office
system. being necessity for the transmission
of news, should be owned and operated by the
in the interests of the people
LAND
First-The true policy demands that the ma
tional and state legislation shall be such as
will ultimately enable every prudent and in
1ustrious citizen to secure n home. and there
fore the land should not be monopolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
and other corporations in excess OF
their actual needs should by lawful means be
by the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only, and private land monopoly.
as well as alien ownership, should be prohib-
tied
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants TO Pacific railroad companies
have, through the connivance of the interior
department, robbed multitudes of actual bona
fide settlers OF their homes and miners OF their
claims, and We demand legislation by congress
which will enforce the exemption OF mineral
land from such grants, after as well as before
patent
Third-We demand that all bona fide settlers
on all public lands be granted free homes. as
provided in the national homestead law. and
that no exception be made in the of In
dian reservations when opened for settlement
and that all lands now patented come under
this demand.
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor a sys-
tenn OF direct legislation through the initiative
and referendum under proper constitutional
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First-We demand the election of president,
vice president and United States senators by
direct vote OF the people.
Second-We tender to the patriotic people OF
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
for political freedom and independence. and
we believe the time has come when the United
States, the great republic of the world should
recognize that Cuba is, and OF right ought to
be- "a free and independent state.
Third-We favor home rule in the territories
and the District OF Columbia, and the early ad-
mission of the territories states
Fourth-AlI public salaries should be made
to correspond to the price Of labor and its
products.
Fifth-In times of great industrial depres-
sion idle labor should be employed on public
works as far practicable.