The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-07-30
THE PLtTFORM
Majority and Minority Reports N''
preseufed

oommittao IL was received with applause.
He prefaced the reading by saying the con-,
mittee had had a protracted meeting ana
and that while its proceedings had oeen
harmonious there was not entire Immunity,
as Messrs. Kcarby of Texas sud t0xey OF
Ohio would both offer minority reports
Following are the planks not coltaincu III
the platform sent out last night:
w favor a system of direct legislation
through the initiative and referendum.
under proper constitutional safeguards.
1--WE demand the election of president
vice president and United States senators
by a direct vote Of the people. -.
1--WE tender 10 the patriotic people or
Cuba our deepest sympathy In their heroie
struggle for political freedom and lnae-
pendence: we believe the time has come
when the United States, the great repubLe
of the world, should recognize that CUBA
Is and OF right ought to be a free and inae-
pendent state.
1--WE favor home rule in the territories
and the District OF Columbia and the early
admission of the territories as states.
"All public salaries should be mad IL
correspond to the rice Of labor ana LIS
products.
In times of great Industrial depression,
Idle labor should be employed on pubilc
works as far as practicable.
1.-The arbitrary course of the courts In
assuming TO lmpr,on citizens for incireT
contempt and ruling that by HJunSl0n
should be prevented by proper legislation.
w favor just pensions for our Disabled
union soldiers.
believing that the election franchise and
untrammelled ballot are essential 10 a gov
M OF, for and by the people, the
Peoples party condemns the wholesale sys-
TEN of Observation-Disclosures adopted in some OF
the states As un-Republican and un-Demo-
cratic. ana we declare it 10 be the duty OF
the several state legislatures TO take such
action as will secure a full, free and fair
ballot and an homes. count.
while the foregoing propositions con-
stitute the platform upon which our party
stands. ana for the vindication Of which It's
organization will be maintained, we recoS-
nize that the great Aid pressing issue or
the pending campaign upon which tho
political presidential election will turn, is
the financial question. and upon this great
and specific issue between the parties we
cordially invite the aid and cooperation of
all officers and citizens agreeing with us
upon this yiral question"
The enunciation Of the different p!ankS
of the platform was received with slight
applause, which would evidently have been
greater. but FOR the fact that Gen. Weaver
declared that he would not proceed unless
there was absolute silence. The applause
W az dAhNt ApA W ~
Mr.. Weayer's frown upon the pronounce
ment for free coinage Of silver, against in
tereSt-bearing bonds and the deHunciation
of the position of the present administra-
ton on the bond question. The income
tax provision was also sharply applauded.
as was almost every sentence of the trans
portation plank. When the Cuban plank
was reached some one in a far away gal
lery shouted, Amen" and many handker-
chiefs and hats waved in manifestation Of
the conventions interest in the cause Of
the struggling islanders.
The Minority Report
At the conclusion of the 'eading Of the
majority report Mr.. Hearty of Texas was
recognized to read his minority report. 1t
vas as follows:
The Peoples party in convention assem-
bled denoance the methods and policies OF
the Democratic and Republican parties that
have brought distress and poverty to every
state in this Union by reason Of their ga
tual cooperation with the money power,
the ~mohpolistic Influence aud the corporate
greed that have characterized the. accuma-
latiOn OF wealth by reason OF class legisSa-
ton, formulated for the benefit Of the few.
and TO the oppression and wrong OF the
many. We denoul,ce the Republican apd
Democratic policies OF tariff. the one that
pretends to afford protection to the indus
trial classes. and the other that pretends
free trade by placing the raw material
produced by the Industrial man on the
free list and protecting the manufacturers
We denounce as un- AmcricaR the Repnbli-
can and Democratic policies which tolerate
the Invasion of sovereign states by auto-
cratic military power, thereby subvcrtiRg
independent government and state rights.
We denounce ths Democratic aud Repub-
lican policies that seek to enslaye people by
the Issuance Of interest bearing United
StatpS hnnNS I'm TINA NJ paapn 70 rniaa ray-
enue with which to defray current expenses,
and steadfastly adhere to the American
policy that Will produce revenue sufficient to
maintain the legitimate and economic ex-
penses.
We demand a national currency. safe
and sound, issued by the general govern.
ment only, a fnll legal tender for all debts,
public and private, without the intervention
of bonding corporations. and a just and
equitable means of distribution direct to
the people at Il tax not exceeding 2 per
cent per annum.
We demand tie free and unlimited coin
age of silver and gold at the present legal
ratio Of l6 To l.. We demand that the
circulating medium consist of gold, silver
and paper money. to be issued independent
OF the concurrence of other nations, and
In volume sufficient to answer the needs
and demands of III and our people.
We are unalterably opposed to a token
money, but declare for a legal tender dol
lar interchangeable and redeemable only
In debts and taxes.
We demand a graduated income tax. We
believe that the none of the country
should be kept as much as possible in the
hands of the people, hence We demand that
all state and national revenues shall be
limited to the necessary expenses of the
government, economically and honestly ad,
ministered. We demand that postal state
savings banks be established by the govern.
ment for the safe deposit of the earnings
of the people and to facilitate all ex.
changes.
Transportation being a means Of exchange
and public necessity. the government should
own and operate enough Of trunk lines OF
railroads TO forever put at rest the question
OF freight traffic. The telegraph and tele
phone. like the postoffice system, being a
necessity for the transmission of news