The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-30
TOM WATSON Of GEORGIA.
Continued from third pagoD

his non-intcrest hearing bond PROPOSE
ton. but it was voted down, II to Il.
The following is tine platform as
agreed upon 10y the committee
PLATFORM PREAMBLE.
The peoples party. assembled in ma
| tiOnal convention, rCaihrmS its allegiance
to the principles declared by the founders
of the republic and also to the funda-
mental principles of just government, as
enumerated in the platform of the party
in 1892. We recognize that through
| the connivancc Of the present and pre-
ceding administrations, the country has
reached Il crisis in its national life, as
predicted in our declaration four years
ago, and prompt and patriotic action is
the supreme duty of the hour. We
realize that while we have political indie
pendence, our financial and industrial in
dependence is yet to be attained by re-
storing to our country the constitutional
control and exercise of the functions nee
| cSsary to Il peoples government. which
functions have been basely surrendered
by our public servants to corporate
monopolies. The influence of the repuh-
| lican money changers has been more
potent in shaping legislation than the
voice of the American people and the
executive power and patronages have
been used to corrupt our industries and
defeat the will of the people and plu-
| tocracy has been enthroned upon the
ruins of democracy. TO restore the
government intended by the fathers and
for the welfare and prosperity of this
and future generations we demand the
establishment of an economical and
financial system which shall make us
masters of our own affairs and indepen-
dent of European control by the adoption
of the following declaration of prin-
ciples:
FINANCES.
First-We demand national moIey,
safe and sound, issued by the general
government only, without the interven-
ton of banks of issue. to be Il full legal
tender for debts, public and private as
a just, equitable and efficient means of
distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the
government.
Second-Wc demand the free and I'M
restricted coinage of silver and gold
at the present legal ratio of 1G to 1 with
out waiting for the consent of foreign
nations.
Third-We demand the volume of cir
culation medium be speedily increased to
an amount sufficient to meet the de-
mands of the business population of this
country and to restore the just level of
prices of labor and production.
Fourth-We denounce the sale Cf
bonds and the increase of the public
Understanding bonds made by the pres
ent administration as unnecessary and
without authority of law and that no
more bonds be issued except by specific
act of congress.
Fifth-We demand such legislation as
hn Of hn
lawful money of the United States by
private contract.
SiXth-We demand that the govern
ment, 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 precedin"
administrations for Surrendering this
option to the holders OF government obi
cations.
Sevcnth-We demand the graduated
income tax. to the end that aggregated
wealth shall bear its just proportion of
taxation, and we denounce the supreme
court decision relative to the income tax
law as a INSTRUMENTATION of the cODsti-
tuition and an invasion of the rigbtful
powers Of congress over the subject Of
taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal saw
ings banks be established by the govern
mcnt for the safe deposit Of the savings
of the people and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
Transportation being the mems of
exchange and Il public necessity. the
government should own and operate the
railways in the interest of the people and
on II 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
results i'll the impairment if not the de-
Struction, of the political rights and per-
sonal liberties of the citizens may be
destroyed. Such ownership is to be ac-
complishcd gradually in manner CON
sistcnt with sound public policy. The
interest of the United States in the pub
lie highway built with public money and
the proceeds of extensive grants of land
to the Pacific railways should never be
alicnated. mortgaged or sold, but guarded
and protected for the public welfare as
provided by the laws organizing such
railways.
The foreclosure of existing liens of the
United States on these roads should at
once follow default in the payment
thereof, and at the foreclosure sales of
said roads the government shall purchase
the same if it becomes necessary to pro
tcct its interests therein or if they can
he purchased ut a reasonable price: and
the government shall operate said rail
ways as public highways. for the benefit
of the whole and not in the interest of
the few, under suitable provisions for the
protection of life and property. giving to
all transportation interests and privileges
and equal rates for fares and freights.
We denounce the present infamous
schemes for refunding these debts. and
demand that the laws now applicable
thereto be executed and administered ac-
cording to their true intent and spirit.
The telegraph, like the postotfice sys-
tenn, being Il necessity for the transmits
sion of news, should he owned and oper-
ated by the government in the interest of
the people.
LAND.
First-The true policy demands that
state and national legislation shall be
such as will ultimately enable every prov
ident and industrious citizen to secure
II home, and therefore the land should
not be monOpozed for speculative pur-
poses. All lands now being held by rail
ways 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 pri,
waite land monopoly as well as alien own
ership should be prohibited.
Second-We condemn the fraud by
which the land grant to the Pacific rail