The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-07-30

How the Conservative People Worked
and What They Did-An Interesting
scens Caused by the North Carolina
Delegation.
For PgEsIpgsr-WM J. BRYAN,
of Nebraska.
For VICg-PREsIDEsT- THOMAS
f. WATSON, OF Georgia.
The above Is the ticket nominated
by the National Peoples Party Con-
which met at st, Louis ON
July 22d, 1896.
Thomas T.. Watson, of Thomson,
Ga, was born in Columbia comfy,
Ga, September 5, 1856. He received q
common school education, and was
then sent to Mercer University, Ma
con, Ga. At the end of the sophomore
year he left college for lack of funds,
and taught school two years. He read
law for a few weeks under Judge w.
Il. McLas, of Augusta, Ca, and was
admitted to the bar, commencing the
practice of the profession at Thorn
son, Ca, his old home, November, 1876.
He was member of the Georgia Leg
islature, lSS2-'S3; was a Democratic
electOr for the State at large in 1883,
and besides the practice of law has
been and still is largely interested in
farming.
Mr.. Watson was elected to the Fifty
second Congress as Democrat, re-
ceiving 1856 against 597 for An
thony f. Williams, Republican. He
served one term in Congress, being
succeeded in the Fifty-third by James
G. G.. Black, who was elected as Dem
ocrat, receiving l7,772 votes against
IL, 1913 votes received for Mr.. Watson,
who ran as the candidate of the PeO-
pies Party. This was the "machine'
count of the Democrats, about which
there has been so much scandal in
Georgia. Mr.. Watson also ran as q
Populist candidate for the Fifty
fourth Congress from the same dis
trict, but was again defeated by, OF
rather counted out, in favor of Mr.
Black. Watson's unique personality
made him a conspicuous figure in the
House of Representatives.. He was 8
fiery debater, and took part in numer
GUS hot parliamentary fights.
The Peoples Party Platform.
Following is the Populist platform a
adopted;
''rhe Peoples Party assembled IN Ma
to the principles declared by the founder
of the Republic and also to the fundament
al principles of just government as enunci
ated in the platform of the party in 1897
We recognize that through the connivanc
of the present and preceding administrs
tons, the country has reached a crisis in it
| e. or ,v,o 1no1 10
four years ago, and that prompt and patr
otto action is the supreme duty of the houl
We realize that while we have political ind'
pendenee our financial and industrial ind
pendence is yet to be attained by restorin
to our country the constitutional contrt
and exercise of the functions necessary to
peoples government, which functions hay
wants to corporate monopolies. The int1l
ence of European money changers has bee
more potent in shaping legislation than th
voice of the American people. ExecutiV
power and patronage have been used to CO
rupt our legislatures to defeat the will {
the people and plu,ocracy has been el
throned upon the ruins of Democracy. I
restore the government intended by tt
fathers and for the welfare and prosperit
of this and future generations we demar
: the establishment of an economic and
nancial system which shall make us ma
tiers of our own affairs, and independent
European control by the adoption of tt
following:
DgCLARATIoN OF PRINCIPLES.
l. We demand National money, sa
and sound issued by the general COVER
ment only without the Intervention
= banks of issue, to be full legal tender
, all debts, public and private, so that jul
4 equitable and efficient means of DISTRIBUTE
+, may be made direct to the people a
through the lawful disbursement of the &c
: eminent.
q 2. We demand the free and unrestrict
coinage of silver and gold at the present
= gal ratio of l6 to l without waiting for
consent of foreign nations.
g. We demand the volume of circulate
medium be speedily increased to an amou
sufficient to meet the demands of the bu
4 ness people of this country and to restC
the just level of prices of labor and p
e duction.
4. We denounce the sale of bonds and t
increase of the public interest bearing DO
n debt made by the present administration
a unnecessary and without authority of |.
l. and that no more bonds be issued exec
It by specific act of Congress.
I'll 5. We demand such legal legislation
II will prevent the demonstration of the Ia
n full money of the United States by priv,
contract.
= payment of its obligations shall use its
tons as to the kind of lawful money
re which they are to be paid and we denour
!. the present and preceding administrati
% surrendering this option to the hold
,e of government obligations.
7. We demand graduated income tax
IL the end that aggregated wealth shall b,
l. it's just proportion of taxation and we
nounce the Supreme court, relative to
" income tax law, as a misinterpretatiOn
l. the constitution and an invasion of
" rightful powers of Congress over the S,
D. ject of taxation.
= 8. We demand that postal sayings bar
~ be established by the government for
1T safe deposit of the savings of the PEG
and to facilitate exchange.
~ RAILROADS
g. l. Transportation being a means of
at change and public necessity, the COVE
ment should own and operate the railro
in the interest of the people ON a non-E
tisan basis; to the end that all may be
corded the same treatment in transpo
:, ton, and that the tyranny and polit
u power now exercised by the great railr
H. corporations, which results in the imp
:, ment if not the destruction of the polit
u. rights and personal liberties of the citizt
may be destroyed. Such ownership is tt
ACCOMPLISHED gradually in a manner c
.et sistent with sound policy.
ofI 2. The interest OF the United States in
public highways built with public mon,
and the proceeds of extensive grants of Ii
d. to the Pacific railroad should never be al
er, ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded
is protected for the general welfare, as pro,
on ed by the laws of organizing such railro,
H. The foreclosure of existing lines of the
:, ted States on these roads should at once
low default in the payment thereof of
debt of companies and at the foreclos
no sales of said roads the government 81
Ia purchase the same if it becomes necess
"a to protect its interest therein or if they
tes be purchased ut a reasonable price; and
,al government shall operate said railroad:
e. public highways for the benefit of
~ whole people and not in the interest of
l.e few, under suitable provisions for pre-
on ton of life and property; giving to all TT,
of portation interests and privileges and &c
n; rates for fares and freight.
Ter 3. We denounce the present infam
70 schemes for refunding these debts and
,ra mand that the laws now applicable the
be executed and administered accordin,
W their true intent and spirit.
IN l. The telepraDh like the D0sfOffico