Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-01


TRANSPORTATION
F1rst-Transportation being means of ex-
cnange and necessity, the government should
own and operate the railroads in the interest
of the people and on a non-partisau basis. to
the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment in transportation AID that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations which result
IN the impairment. If not in the destruction of
the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen may be DESTROYED. Such owner
ship is to be accom- plished gradually in a man.
ner consistent with sound public policy.
Second-The interest OF the United States in
the public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of land TO
the Pacific railroads, should never be aIienat-
cd mortgaged or sold, but guarded and pro-
tected Tor 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 at once follow default in
payment thereof by the debtor companies: and
at the foreclosure sales Of said roads the gov
eminent should purchase the same if it be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
In, or If they can be purchased at a reasonable
price and the government shall operate said
railroads as public highways for the benefit of
the whole people and not in the interest of the
Few, under suitable provisions for protection
OF NE ana property, giving to all transporta-
ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and freights
Third-We denounce the present Infamous
schemes Tor refun ling 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 most office
system, being necessity for the transmission
OF news, should be own ed and operated by the
government in the interests of the people
LAND.
FirSt-The true policy demands that the ma
ttonal and state legislation shall be such as
viii ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustriouS citizen to secure a home and there
fore the land should not be mononoIjzed for
speculative purposes All lands now held by
railroads and other corporations in excess of
their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only and private land monopoly
as well as alien ownership, should be prohib-
tied.
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
nave through the connivance of the interior
department. robbed multitudes of actual bona
noe settlers OF their ZONES and miners of their
Claims, and we demand legislation by congress.
which will enforce the exemption of rnineras
land from such grants, after we'll as before
patent
Third-We demand thas all bona fide 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-Direct Legislation We favor sys-
tenn of direcs legislation throsgh the initiative
and referendum under proper constitutional
safeguards
GENERAL PRoPosrrrso=s
Ftrst-We demand the election of president
vice president aud United States senator's by a
direct vote OF the people.
Second-We tender to the ma tsr5,sfc ,,eo,,1o -,
Cuba our deepest sympathy in rheir strroole
for political freedom and independence and
we believe the time has come when the United
States the great republic of the world should
that Cuba is and of rfsss,r ought to
be, a free and independent state
Thlrd-We favor hauae rule in the territories
and the District of Columbia and the. early adj
mission of the territories as states
Fourth-Al1 public salaries should F- made
to correspond to the price of labor and its
products
F'ifth-In times of great Industrial derrrs-
sion idle labor should be employed ON public
works as far as practicabLe.
Sixth-The arbitrary course of the-courts in
assuming to 1mpr1Son citizens for indirect con-
tempt and ruling them by Injunction should be
prevented by proper legislation.
Seventh-We favor just pensions for enery
disabled union soldier.
Eishth-Believing that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential to a gov
eminent of, for and by the people, the peoples
party condemns the Wholesale system of dis
adopted in some of the states
as un-republicau and un-democratic- and we
declare it to be the duty of the several states
legislatures to take such ac.j as will secure
a full free and fair ballot an honest count
N1nth-While the foregoing propositions>cou-
stitute the platform upon which our party
stands and for the vindlcation OF which its orr
ganizatlon will be maintained. we recognize
that the great and pressing issue of the pend
ing campaign upon which the present presi-
1
tion- and upon thiS4kreat and specific issue be-
tween the parties cordially invite the aid
and cooperation of all org mutations andcitd-
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
Notwithstanding 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 a 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 recess.
At Csc p. IN. 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, We're then named.
The roll of states was called for
a ballot after the speech making was
through and at exactly 16 minutes to
one Watson was nominated for vice
president, and soon after a motion was
carried to adjourn until nine o'clock