The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-07-31


| troll by the adoption of the fol owing declara-
/ ton OF pr. nciples:
FINANCE
Flrst-We demand national money. safe
| and sound, issued by the general government
! only. without the intervention of b1nkS of is
sue. to be full legal tender for all debts pub
lie and private-a just, eQuitah and efficient
mt ans OF distribution direct TO the people AMI
| through the lawful disbursements of the gov
| eminent
| Second-We demand the free and unre-
| stricte coinage of silver and gold at the pres
ent ega ratio of sixteen one. without wait
ing for the consent of foreign nations.
Third-We demand that the volume of cir
| culating medium be speedily increased to an
amount SUFFICIENT to meet 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
/ unnecess Iry and without authority OF law. and
that no more bonds be ISSUED except by Spe-
| cific act of congress
Fifth-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the demonetIzation OF the lawful
money Of the United States by private con-
tract
Sixth-We demrnd that the government. in
payment of its OBLIGATIONS shall use its option,
as to the kind OF lawful money n which they
are 70 be paid and We denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender
ing this option TO the boilers OF government
obligations
Seveuth-We demand graduated income
tax TO the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear ats just proportion of taxation, and We
regard the recent decision OF the supreme
court relative to the income tax law as mis-
Interpretation OF the conSt tuition and an in
TssiOn 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 tte savings of the people
aud to facilitate ex hange.
TRANSPORTAT1IyN.
F5rst-Transporration beng a means 81 ex-
change and q neeesSftv. the governments should
own and operate the railroads in the interest
of the people and ON a 10 n-PaI tsan basis TO
the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment in tranSl 0rtation and tkat the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations, which result
IN the impairment. If not In the destruction, Of
the political rights aud personal liberties Of
the citizen, NAV be destroyed. Such owner
ship is to he accomplished gradually il a man
ner consistent with SOUND public policy
Second The interest of the United SeTtes in
the public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds OF extensive grants Of hand to
the Pacific railroads, shGlld never be 2Genat-
ed, mOrtgaged or sold, but guarded and pro-
tected for the general welfare, as provided by
The laws organic nR 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 The foreclosure sales OF said roads che gov
eminent should purchase the same if it be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
in. or If they can be purchased at reasonable
price and 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 all tranSporta-
1iOn interests equal privileges and equal rates
fer fares and freights
Third-We .denounce the present infamous
schemes for refun ling 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 a necessity for the transmission
Of news, should he owned and operated By the
gOgernment in the interests of the people
LAND.
First-The true policy demands that the
tional and state legislation snail be such as
will ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrious citizen TO secure home and there
fore the land should not be monopolizedfo for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
railroads and other corporations in excess of
their actual needs should by laEful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ae-
tual settlers only. and private land monopoly,
as well alien ownership, should be prohib-
tied.
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
have through the cOanivance of the interior
department. rohbt multitudeS of actual bona
fide settlers of their homes and miners of their
claims, and we demand legislation by congress
which VIII enforce the exemption of mineral
lop aft
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 case of In
dian reservations when opened for settlement.
this demand
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor a sys-
tenn OF direct legislation through the initiative
and referendum under proper const tutiolal
safeguards
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 as states
Fourth-All 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 as practicable
Sixth-The arbitrary course OK the courts in
assuming TO imprison 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.
Eighih-Believing that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential to a gov
eminent Of. for and By the people, the peoples
party condemns the wholesale system Of dis
franchiSement adopted in some Of the states
as metropolitan and un-democratic, and we
declare it 10 be the duty of the several states
legislatures to take such action as viii secure
a full free and fair ballot and an honest count |
Ninth-While the foregoing propositions con- |
stitute the platform upon which our party |
stands. and for the vindlcation OF which its or
ganization will be maintained, We recognize |
that the great and pressing issue Of the pend |
ing campaign upon which the present presi- |
Dental election will turn is the financial Ques- |
ton, and upon this great and specific issue be- |
=snT s.G