San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-08-10
TEXAS POPULIsT PLATFORM.
Adopted at Galveston at the Convention
Just closed.
PREAMBLE,

Just closed.
PREAMBLE.
We demand change OF admin
istration in Texas for the reason
that during the twenty-three years
in which the Democratic party has
had control of this state 1t has
squandered our magnificent pub
lie domain in donations to cor
porations and sales at nominal
prices to syndicates and land grab
bers, and has thrown every imped-
iment in the way of the actual
settler. 1t has multiplied officers,
wasted the public revenues, in
creased our state debts and raised
our taxes to the point approaching
confiscation. 1t has increased the
expenses of the state government
from 81 100000 per annum to more
than 100000 per annum. By its
mal-administrstion of the public
school funds it has in open viola
ton of the constitution reduced
our public free school from six to
three months sessions per annum,
and at the same time it has in
vaded our permanent school fund
so that the same will be ultimate
ly extinguished, instead Of remain
ing as perpetual benefit to pos
terity, as designed by our fathers.
Though needlessly multiplying
courts, it has failed to enforce the
laws by refusing to repeal senseless
technicalities in our criminal pro-
ceedure; it has rendered necessary
reversals OF the judgments Of con-
victions against notorious crimi-
nails to such an extent that our
courts of final resort have been sub
jected to gross abuse and the ad-
ministration of our laws has been
brought into such contempt as to
incite mobs to deeds Of violence, to
the shame and disgrace of our
state.
We denounce the present ad-
ministration in the state as being
purely personal and dominated by
ring rule, as is evidenced by such
acts as tie payment Of extravagant
and unnecessary fees to it's bench
men and it's refusal to buy bonds
except through favorite brokers.
The administration, like its pred
ecessor, claims the right OF being
its own successor, and like them
will claim the right to pass the
office Of governor to "the next in
line," unless the citizens Of Texas
show by their votes that the office
Of governor belongs to the people,
and not to the official family. A
long lease of power tends to cor
ruption and is submissive of econ
omy and efficient government, and
we believe that the best interests
of Texas demand change of ad-
ministration and an inspection OF
the books.
We submit the following declar-
alton Of the principles Of the peo-
pies party of Texas in convention
assembled at Galveston, Tex, this
August 5, 1896:
NATIONAL POLITICS.
We indorse the principles of the
peoples party as set forth in our
national platform, adopted at St.
Louis, July %, 1896.
LAND.
The peoples party favors all
state legislation that tends to in
crease the number of home owners
and that will assist in the settling
Of our unoccupied land, hence we
demand that only the improve
ments and the amount actually
paid to the state upon school lands
be subject to taxation.
No nonresident alien owner
ship OF land should be allowed In
Texas.
Corporations shouldnot be allow
ed to own more land than they &C.
tually use in the prosecution of
their business.
TAXATION.
We favor constitutional
amendment exempting $3.50 of
personal property from taxation
in lieu Of the exemption of $3.50 of
household and kitchen furniture
and the exemption of $500 worth
of improvements on homesteads.
We are opposed to counties or
cities contracting a bonded debt
unless the same be ordered by a
majority vote of the people pro.
posed to be taxed to pay said debt.
We are In favor Of just and
equal rendition of all property for
taxation, and to that end demand
that all notes and other securities
shall be rendered for taxation.
We denounee the Democratic
party for their reckless extrava-