The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1896-09-04
LAND.

/. The true policy demands that M,
tional and state legislation shall be such
rs will ultimately enable every provi
dent and industrious citizen to secure 4
home, and therefore the land should NOT
be monopolized for speculative purposes.
All lands being held by railways and
other corporations in excess OF their ac-
tual needs, should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held
for actual settlers only, and private land
monopoly as well as alien ownership
should he prohibited
2. We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to the Pacific railway
companies have through the connivance
of the interior department robbed null
titudes of equal bona fide settlers of their
homes and miners of their claims, and
we demand legislation by congress which
will inforce3 the exemption of mineral
lands from such grants after rs well as
before patent.
3. We demand that bona fide settlers
on all public lands be granted free
homes. as provided in the national
homestead law, and that no exemption
| be made in the ease of Indian reserva-
tions when opened for settlement, and
that all lands not now patened come un-
der this demand
DIRECT LEGISLATION
| We favor a system of direct legisla-
| ton through the initiative and referen-
dun under proper constitutional safe
guards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS
| 1. We demand the election of presi-
dent, vice president and United States
senators by a direct vote of the people.
2. We tender to the patriotic people
of Cuba our deepest sympathy in the
heroic struggle for political freedom and
independence, and we believe the time
has come when the United States, the
greatest republic of the world, should
recognize that Cuba Is, and has right
to be. free aud independent state
| B. We favor home rule in the terri
tories and the district of Columbia aud
early admission of the territories as
states.
4. All public salaries should be made
to correspond with the price oflabor and
its products.
5. In times of great industrial de.
preston. idle labor should be EMPLOYED
on public works rs far as practicable.
6. The arbitrary course OF the courts }
in assuming to imprison citizens for in
direct contempt should be prevented by
proper legislation.
2. We favor jnst pensions for our
disabled Union soldiers.
:. Believing that the elective fran
chise and an untrammeled ballot are es-
sential to "a government of, for and by
the people. the Peoples party condemns
the wholesale system of disfranchise-
ment adopted in some states as unre-
publican and undemocratic, and we de-
clare il to be the duty of the several
state legislatures 70 take such action as
will secure a full. free and fair ballot
and an honest count,
o, While the foregoing propositions
constitute the platform upon which our
party stands, and for the vindication of
which its organization will be maintain
ed, we recognize that the great and pres
sing issue of the pending campaign, up
on which the present presidential elec-
ton will turn, is the financial question.
and upon the great and specific issue be-
tween the parties we cordially invite
the aid and cooperation OF ali organ.
izations OF citizens agreeing with us
uDon this vital Question.