The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-25
Pop PRINCIPLES.
The Majority Report offered by
Cen. Weaver

The Majority Report offered by
Gen. Weaver.
The peoples party assembled in national
convention, reaff1rms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the
republic, and also to the fundamental prin-
ciples of Just government as enunciated in
the platform of the party in 1892 We recog-
nize that through the connivance of the pres
ent and preceding administrations the coun-
try has reached a crisis in it's national life,
predicted in declaration four years
ago. and that prompt and patriotic action Is
that while we have political independence
our financial and industrial independence is
yet to be obtained by restoring to our coun-
try the constitutional control and exercise
of the functions necessary to peoples gov
eminent which functions have been basely
surrendered by our public servants to cor
pOrate 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 pa
tronage have been used to corrupt our Iepis-
latures and defeat the will of the people and
plutocracy has therefore been 'enthroned upon
the ruins of democracy. To restore the gov
eminent intended by the fathers, and for the
welfare and prosperity 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 in
dependent of European control by the adop-
ton of the following declaration of prinei-
pies:
Finance.
First-We demand a national money. safe
and sound, issued by the general government
which without Intervention of hanks Is to he
a full legal tender for all debts, public and
private, just, equitable and efficient means
OF distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
eminent.
Second-We demand the free and unrestrict-
ed coinage of silver and gold at the present
legal ratio of 16 to 1, without waiting for the
consent of foreign nations.
Thrd-We demand that the volume of crcu-
lating 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 Understanding
debt, made by the present administration, as
unnecessary and without authority of law and
that no more bonds be issued, except by speci-
nc act of congress. p
Fifth-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the characterization of the lawful
money Oh the United States by private con-
tract.
sixth-We demand that the government in
payment of it's obligations, shall use it's option
as to the kind of lawful money in which they
and preceding administration for surrender
ing this option to the holders of government
obligations.
Seventh-We demand a. graduated income
bear it's just proportion Of taxation. and we
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative to the income tax law as
invasion of the rightful powers of congress
over the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
and to facilitate exchange.
ri. Transportation.
change and public necessity the government
should own and operate the railroads in the
interest of the people and 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 railway corporations, which result
in the impairment, If not 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
manner consistent with sound public policy.
Second-The interest of 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 alienated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded
and protected for the general welfare as pro-
vided by the laws organizing such railroads.
The foreclosure Of existing liens of the Unit
ed States on these roads should at once fol-
low default rim the, payment thereof of the
debt of companies, and at the foreclosure sales
of said roads the government shall purchase
the same If it becomes necessary to protect
its interests therein, or if they are purchased
at a reasonable price the government
shall operate said railroads public high
ways for the benefit of the whole people;
and not in the interest Of the few, under
provisions for protection Of life and property,
giving to all transportation interests equal
privileges and equal rates for fares and
freight.
Thfrd-We denounce the present infamous
schemes for refunding these debts, and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
according fO
true intent and spirit. ~
Fourth-The telegraph, like the postofice
system, being a necessity for the transmits
sion of news, should be owned and operated
by the government III the interest of the
people. - 20
Land.f
First-The true policy demands that the
national and state legislation shall be such
as will ultimately enable every prudent and
Industrious citizen to- secure a home, and
therefore the land should not be monopolized
for speculative purposes All lands now held
by railroads and other corporations in excess
of their actual needs should by lawful means
be reclaimed by the government and held for
actual settlers only and private land
monopoly, as well as afien ownership, should
be prohibited.
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grant to the Pacific railroad COM
panies have, through the connivance of the
interior department robbed multitudes of
actual bona f1de settlers of their homes and
miners of their claims and we demand legis-
lation by congress which will enforce an ex-
emption of mineral land from such grants
after as well as before patent.
Third-We demand that bona fide settlers
on all public lands be granted free homes,
as provided in the national homestead law,
and that exception be made in the case
of Indian reservations when opened for set
Element, and that all lands not now patented
come under this demand.
Direct Legislation.
We favor a system of direct legislation,
through the initiative and referendum, under
proper constitutional 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 heroic
struggle for political freedom and independ-
ence 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 free and Independent
state.
Third-We favor home rule In the terri
torie and the District Of Columbia and the
early admission Of the territories as states.
Fourth-All public salaries should be made
to correspond to the price of labor and it's
products. fEzsII
Fifth-In times of great industrial depres-