Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-10-28
PoPUIrsr NATIONAL PLATFORM.

~ SA4SA 3s11 4Ae4s<1A La AZ O4s IA.
The Peoples party, assembled in national
convention. reatfirIns its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the re-
public. and also to the Fundamental principles
OF just government, as euunciated In the plat
form Oi he party in 1892. We recognize that
! through the conniyance of the present and
preceding administrations the country ha Z
reached crisis in it's 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 VIC
have political Independence our financial
and industrial independence is vet to be at
talned by restoring to our country the consti-
tuttOnal control and exercise of the functions
necessary 10 Il peoples government, Which
functions have been basely surrendered by
our public servants 10 corporate monopo-
lies The influence of European money
changers has been more tent in shaping
legislation thsn the voice of the American
people. Executive power and patronage
have been used to corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the Will of the people. and piufoc-
racy has thereby been enthroned upon the
ruins Of democracy. To restore the govern
incnt intended by thc fathers. and for the well
| fare "t This aud future generations, we demand
the establishment of an economic and finan-
ella! ~ stem. which shall make us masters of
our own a!iaiTs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following dec
/ iaration of principles:
FINANCE.
First We demand national money. safe
/ ard sound issued by the general government
only, without the iuterVenti n of banks of is
sue 10 De Il ltill legal IccT Tor all ueDls pup
lie and priyate-a just, equitable aud efficient
means OF distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
Second We demand the free and unre-
strlcted coinage OF silver and gold at the pres
Gu. legal ratio of sixteen TO one, without wait
ing for the consent of foreign nations.
Third-Wc demand that the volume CT cir
culuting medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient 10 meet ne demands of the
business and population of this country and
TO restore the just lgvel 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 admius tration "a
unnecessary and without authority of aw,and
that no ntOre bonds be issued except by spe-
! Cific act of con- Tess.
Fifik-"e demand such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
| tract.
SiXtii-We demand that the government. in
payment OF it's obligations shall use its option
as to the kind of lawful money in which they
are TO be paid. and we denouncc the present
and preceding administrations for surrender
ing this option to the holders Of gOvernmen mt
obligations.
SeYenth-Wc demand graduated income
tex 70 the eud that aggregated wealth shall
bear its jnst proportion of taxation. and we
regard the recent decision Of the supreme
court relative To the income tax law as a mis-
! interpretation of the constitution and an in
| VasiOn Of the rightful powers OF congress owe!
! the subject OF taxation.
Eightn-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
! the safe deposit OF the savings of the people
and 70 facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
First -TrarSportation being q mans of ex-
change aud necessity. the government should
| own and operate the railroads in the interest
! Of the people ard Oh a non-partisan basis: to
! the end that all may re accorded the same
! treatment i'll transportation and that the
| tyranny and political power now Xercised by
| the great railroad corporations. which result
/ N = No ln f1nGf fif., Nt
| the political rights and personal liberties of
| the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
ship is TO be accomplished gradually in man
| ncr consistent with sound public policy.
! SecOnd-Ihc interest of The United States in
| the public highways built with public moneys
| and the prOcC eds of extensive grants of land
| to the Pa :ii:c railroads. should never be alien
ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded and pro-
| tected Tor the general welfare, as provided by
| the laws organizing such railroads. The fore
closure OF existing liens of the United States
| on these roads should at once follow default in
| payment thereof by the debtor companies; and
| at lhe foreclosure sales OF said roads the gov
| ernmeut should purchase the same il ii be-
| comes necessary to protect its interests there
| in, or il they can be purchased at q reas enable
| price. ard the government shall operate said
railroads 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 al transp orta-
| ton interests equal privileges and equal rat es
| for fares and frcights.
hiTd-We denOuncc the present infarnous
| schemes Tor refunGing these debts, and de-
! mdnd that the laws now applicable thereto be
| executed and administered according to their
| true intent and spirit.
! Fourth-The telegra ph, like the post Office
! system, being necessity for the transmission
| of news, should he owned and operated by
| the government in the interests of the people.
| LAND.
| Ffrst-the true policy demands that the ma
| tlonal and state legislation shall be such as
| Will ultimately enable every prudent and in
| dustriouS citizen to secure home, and there
hn
| speculative purposes. All lands now held by
railroads and other corporations in excess of
| their actual neede should by lawful means be
! reclaimed ID! the government and held for ac-
| tual settlers only, and pri |ate land monopoly,
| "a wen as alien ownership, should be prohib-
| tied.
Second-We condemn The frauds by which
| the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
| department. robbed multitudes of actual bona
| Tide 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 III public lands be granted Tree homes as
mat no exception be made in the case o. In
dian reserYatiors when opened for settlement,
ana that all lands now patented come under
! this demand
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor q
system OF direct Legislation through the initia-
| rive and referendum under proper constitlI-
| uonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First--We demand the election of president.
| vice president and United States senators by n
| direct vote of the people.
SecOnd-We tender to the patriotic peoI lie of
! Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
for political freedom and independence, and
we believe the time has come wh1n the United
| States, the great republic of the world should
| recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought 10
be- Il free and independent state
IhlrdIWe favor home rule in the territories
and the District Of Columbia and the carly ID
mission OF the territories as states
Fourth-All public salaries should be made
to correspond TO the price of labor and it's pro-
ducts. ~
Ffth-ln these times of industrial dapres.
sion Idle labor should be employed Oh pubIi,
works as far az practicable.
SlSth-lhe arbitrary course of the courts i'm
assuming to lnlpris0n citizens for indirect con
tempt and ruling them by Injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation
SeVenth-We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Eighth Believing that the elective franchise
and untrauineied bal OF are essential to gov
efhment OF, Tor and by the people, the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
reimbursement adopted in some OF the states
as un-icpIbican and un-demCcra;i,. aud we
declare Il to be the duty of the several states
| legislatures to take such action as will sect,re
a futi,free and fair ballot and an honest count
! Ninth-WIlie tie foregoing propositions con
sttute me Platform upon which our marty
stancS, ana Tor the VlGdication of which It's or.
san'zabon VIII be maintained, we rpcoon:ze
that the efeA; ANA pressing Issue of the mend.
| ing campaign upon which the present nresi