Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-07-30
HUTCHINSON, KANSAS, THURSDAY NOON. JULESA 1896

change ana a necessity, the government shoul,
own and operate the railroads in the interes
OF the people and on a bipartisan basis: Il
tho end that all may be accorded the sam,
| treatment In transportation and that tn,
tyranny and political power now exercised b,
the great ratirOad corporations, which result
IN the impairment, II not in the destruction, o.
the political rights and personal liberties o.
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner.
ship is to be accomplished gradually in man.
hef consistent with sound public policy.
Second-The interest OF the United States In
| the public highways built with public moneys
end The proceeds Of extensive grants of land &c
the Pacific railroads, should never be aliepht.
ed, mortguged or sold, but guarded and pro.
tected for 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 ut once follow default In
ctyment thereof by the debtor companies: aud
at The foreclosure sales Of said roads the gov
ernnlent should purchase the same II it be-
comes necessary TO protcct its interests there
liz. or II they can be purchased ut reasonable
price, and the government shall operate sale
railroads as public highways for the benefit OF
the whole people and not in the interest of the
few, under suitable provisions for protection
Va AiAS UhN PAOPSA W. kANluh " hll tIhlollOILu-
ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and freights.
Third-We denounce the present infamous
schemes for refuniing 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 necessity for the transmission
OF news should be owned and operated by the
governmental the interests of the people.
LAND.
First-The true policy demands that the ma
ttonal and state legislation shall be such as
will ultimately enable every prudent and in
! dustrlous citizen to secure a home, and there
fore the land should not be monopolzed for
speculative purposes, All lands now held by
railroads and other corporations In excess OF
their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed b. the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only, and private land monopoly,
as well as alien ownership, should be prohib-
tied
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
! have, through the connivance OF the interior
| 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
Thrd-We demand that all bona nde 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,
and that all lands now patented come under
! this demand
Fourth-Dlrect Legislation: We favor sys-
TEN 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 u
| direct vote OF the people.
Second-We tender to the patriotic people OF
CubG 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, o free and independent state
Third-We favor home rule in the territories
and the District Of Columbia, and the early adj
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.
Slxth-The arbitrary course OF 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
Eigh;h-Believing that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential to gov
eminent Of, for and by the people, the peoples
party condemns the Wholesale system Of dis
reimbursement adopted In some Of the states
| as un-repuOlican and un-democratic, and we
declare 1t to be the duty OF the several states
legislatures to take such action rs will secure
fun. 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-
tween the parties we cordially invite the aid
and cooperation Of all organizations and citl-
zens agreeing with US upon this vital question.
At the conclusion of the reading Of
the majority report j. S. Coxey, of Ohio,
was recognized to read his minority
report recommending the issuance of
misunderstanding bonds for the inn
provement of the roads of the coun-
try.
Then Mr. Kirby, of Texas, read the
other minority report.
Finally, on motion of Mr.. Kelley, Of
Kansas, the previous question was or.
dered. All the amendments were laid
on the table, and the platform, as re-
ported by majority of the committee,
was adopted.
The convention then proceeded to
the selection of a candidate for vice
president When Alabama was called
it placed in nomination Barnett Gibbs,
of Texas. The convention then decid-
ed TO take a recess.
At 6:S2 p. m. the convention reas-
sembled and Congressman Skinner, of
North Carolina, and Thomas E. Watson,
of Georgia, were placed in nomination.
LATE Pence nominated the democratic
nominee, Arthur Sewall, and Col
Haines, of Kansas, seconded it A. L.
Mimms, Of Tennessee, and Marion
Page, of Virginia, were then named.
The roll of states was called for
q ballot after the speech-making was
through and at exactly 16 minutes to
one Watson was nominated for vice
president, and soon after motion was
carried to adjourn until nine o'clock
in the morning.
Bryan Nominated for President.