Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-07-29
PEOPLES PARTY PLATFORM.
Declaration Of Principles Adopted by the
National Convention.

Declaration Of Principles Adopted by the
National Convention.
The Peoples party assembled in national
convention reaifirms ITS allegiance to the prn.
ciples declared by the founders Of the Repub.
lie. and also to the fundamental principles OF
inst government as enunciated in the platform
Of the party in I8o2. We recognize that
through the connivance Of the preceding ad :.
ministrations. the country has reached crisis
in It's national life as predicted in our declaras
tion four years ago and that prompt and pa.
triotic action is the supreme duty Of the hour.
We realize that while we have political indes
pendence, our financial and Industrial indie,
pendence is yet to be obtained by restoring to
our county the constitutional control aud exs
ercise Of the functions necessary 10 peoples
government, which functions have been bases
" 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 pat>
ronage have been used to corrupt our legisla.
lures and defeat the will Of the people, and
plutocracy has thereby 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 economic and financial system which shall
make us masters Of our own affairs and indie
pendent Of European control, by the adoption
Of the following declaration Of principles;
EINANcR.
First-We demand a national money, safe
and sound, issued by the general government
only, without the Intervention OF banks OF
issue, to be full legal tender for all debts,
private and public, a just, equitable and
efficient means Of distribution direct to the
people and throughout the lawful disburse.
ments OF the government
Second-We demand the free and unre-
stheted coinage Of silver and gold at the
present legal ratio Of 10 to 1, and without
waiting for the consent Of foreign nations.
1hird-We demand the volume OF circulst.
ing medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient TO meet the demands Of the
business and the population OF this country
sand to restore the just level Of prices OF labor
and pr duction.
rOuuh-We denounce the sale OF bonds
and the increase OF the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration as
unnecessary and without authority Of law,
and we demand that no more bonds be issued
except by specific act Of congress.
Fiith-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the demonstration of the lawful
In-ney OF the United States by private con-
tact.
Sixth-We demand that the government in
the payment Of its obligations shall use It's
option as to the kind Of lawful money in
which they are to be paid. and we denounce
the present and preceding administrations TOR
suHendenng this option to the holders Of
government obligation securities.
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 a
mlsinterpretation Of the constitution, an in.
yahon oi the ughfnl powers Of congress over
the subject OF taxation.
Elghth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit Of the savings Of the people
ana to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
rTst-lranspo.tation being a means Of
exchange and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads in
the interest Of the people on non partisan
OASIS, to the end that all may be accorded the
same treatment in transportation, and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
he great railroad corporations, which result
IN the Impairment, il not the destruction Of
ue political rights and personal liberty Of the
eluzen, may be destroyed. Such ownership
TO be accomplished gradually in a manner
consistent with sound public policy.
seeond-1he interest Of the United States
IN the public highways built with public
moneys and the proceeds Of extensive grants
o. land to the Pacific railroads should never
nave been alienated, mOrtgaged OF sold, but
guarded and protected for the general welfare
@Prouded by the laws organizing such rail-
roads The foreclosure Of existing liens Of
we United States on these railroads should
saee follow default in the payment thereof
Tue debtor companies. and az the fore
slOS9re sLm sales Of said roads the government
snAi purchase the same, II il becomes neces-
SaIy 70 protect its interests or il they can be
purchased at a reasonable price, and the
government shall operate said railroads as
pubic highways for the benefit OF the whole
people and not in the interest Of the few,
un1e1 suitable provisions for protection Of life
nu property, giving to all the transportation
Interests equal privileges and equal rates for
iaIes and freights.
lhird-We denounce the present infamous
ISuenes ioT retunding the said debts. and
Ss'nAnd that the laws now applicable thereto
IAeeu'ed and administered according to
~Slr true intent and spirit.
ou'n-the telegraph, like the postofhce
system, being a necessity for The transmission
=. news, should be owned and operated by
'e government in the interest Of the people.
LAND.
.St-lhe true policy demands that the
s,m Anonh and state legislation shall be such
;nd ultimately enable every prudent and
ssloas citizen to secure a home and,
s'o's, the land should not be monopoliEed
speculative purposes. All lands now held
railways and other Corporations in excess
eH actual needs should. by lawlnl means.
sc,unS .sSeialned by the government and for
mooo mel settlers only; and private land
oe prohibited.