The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1896-08-14
LAND.

|. The true policy demands that na-
-tional and state legislation shall be such
Is Will ultimately enable every provi-
icnt and industrious; citizen TO secnra a
home. and therefore the Ian should not
cmonopolize ID for speculative nG~poses.
All lands being held by RAILWAYS and
other corporations in excess OF their az
tual needs, should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government AMI held
FOR actual settlers only. and private land
monopoly rs we'll rs alien ownership
should he prohibited
2. We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to the Pacific railway
companies have through the connivance
oi the Interior department robbed mul-
t'tudes ofcqual bona ti'le settlers os their
homes and miners Of their claims. and
We dem legislation by coagre5S-which
Will lniorce the exemption OF mineral
lands from sa:h grants after as well A.
before patent.
3. We demand that bona file settlers
on all public Lands be granted ire,
homes, Is provided in the national
homestead law. AMI that no exemption
De male in the ease OF lnaian re eserya-
tons when opened tor settlement and
that all lands not now pAtenel come an
der this demand.
DIRECT LEGISLATION
We favor a System OF direct lesisla.
ton through the initiative and reieran
dum under proper con5titItiCnil safe
guards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
l. We demand the election of pre,i-
dent, vice president aud United States
'elatorS ny 2 direct vote OF the people.
= We tender to the patriotic people
oi Clba our deepest sympathy in the
heroic struggle for political fre .lom and
independence. and we believe the time
has come when the United States the
greatest republic OF the world. should
recognize inst Cuba Is. AMI has 4 rirht
to b., free aud independent state.
3. We favor home rule in the terri
tories and the district OF Columbia ana
early admission OF tie territories n
states.
4. All public salaries should be n,de
to correspond with the price of labor ami
It's pro iuct'.
.. In times of great industrial d..
preston, idle labor should be emoIovet
on pu1.ic works as far rs practicable.
o. The arbitrary course OF the courts
IN ass,im:n to imprison citizens for in
direct contempt should be prevented by
proper legislation.
Z We favor Just pensions for orr
disabled Union soldiers.
:. Believing tilt tae elective firm.
chise and al uatramnele ballot are O..
s3nt'ai tp 4 government of, for and bv
the people, the Peoples party condemn.
the wholesale system of dislrlnchi, o
ment ioptcd in som, states as un,o.
pup. .cln an ultemlcTatic, aud we de-
clare il to be the dnty of the say,rl
state ieg'i'atlr,s t. tlIe such action qs
VIII secure a FIJI, frce and fair ballot
and an honest counf.
D. While the foregoing p-oposjtio,,
constitute tie platform upon which oIr
party stands, AMI for the win iicat,on of
winch its org IMITATION VIII be maintain
ed' we recognize that the great and pres
sing issue oi the pending campaien' up.
on wnct tie present presidential ele
tsoa VIII turn, j. the financial question.
ana upon the great aud specific issue be-
tween the parties we cordially invite
tie aij and corporation oi MI or,,.u,
izat'ons OF citizens yayroeing with MS
uDon this vtil 0pestion.