Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-07-30

treatment In trAnsI OrtAtiUn uhu tn"s 'AS
tyranny and political power now exercised oy
the graf railroad corporations, which result
in The impsirment. II not in the destruction OF
the political rights aud personal liberties OF
the citizen. may DO destroyed such owner
sbIp Is to be accomplished gradually In man
per consistent with sound public policy
Sacond II a intarasf nj the TIniieh sfntns "
,ne nubilc highways built with pubic moneys
and The proceeds Of extensive grants Of lana "
the Pacific railroads. should never be allehaS-
cd mort0aged or sold, but guarded ana pro-
tected for the general welfare, as provloea w
the laws organizing such railroads. Iae ioie-
closure OF existing liens OF the uniten s'a'es
nm these roads should ut once follow defauN ~
navmeut thereof by the debtor companies anu
a. he foreclosure sales Of said roads the gov
eminent should purchase the same II ~ 70
comes necessary to protect It's Interests 'nesv.
in. or II they can be purchased W q 'easonapi.
price. and the government snali o. er"'c saiu
ra;roods as public highways for the oehen. VI
the whole people ind not in the interest OF .uc
few. under suitable provisions for protection
NJ lie md property Giving to oil transports
lion in, rests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and freights
Third-We denounce the present Infamous
schemes for refun ling these debts ana ae'
mand that the laws now applicable thereto %
erecuted and administered according TO tneir
true intent and spirit.
Fourtb-The telegraph, like the post once
system, being necessity for the TRANSMISSION
OF news, should be Owned and operateu ny 'n0
governments the interests OF the peop'e
LAND
First-The true policy demands that tne ma
tional and state legislation shall be sucn %
will ultimately enable every prudent ana IN
tustrious citizen TO secure home, and tDere'
fore the land should not be m0nopollzea ior
sneculatlye purposes All lands now held oy
railroads and other corporations In excess OF
their actual needs should by LAWFUL means %
reclaimed by the government and held ior ac-
tual settlers only, and private land monopoly
as we'll as alien ownership, should be pronio-
tied.
Second-We condemn the frauds by wnlcn
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
have, through the connivance OF the Interior
department, robbed multitudes OF actual bona
fide settlers Of their homes and miners OF tneis
claims, and We demand legislation by congress-
which will enforce the exemption OF mineral
land from such grants after as well as before
patent
Third-We demand that all bona fde settlers
on all public lands be granted free nomes' 90
provided In the national homestead low, ana
that no exception be made In the case OF In
dian reservations when opened for settlement
and that all lands now patented come unoor
this demand
Fourth-pirect Legislation: Wefavor sys-
TEN Of direct legislation through the Initiative
and referendum under proper CONSTITUTIONAL
safeguards
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First-We demand the election Of presldent
vice president and United States senators py
direct vote OF the people.
Second-We tender to the patriotic people OF
Cuba our deepest sympathy In their struggle
for political freedom and independence ana
we believe the time has come when the united
States, the great republic OF the world should
recognize that Cuba is, and OF right ought 70
be, free and independent state
Third-We favor home rule In the territories
and the District Of Columbia, and the early ad-
mission Of the territories as states
Fourth-All public salaries should be MADE
to correspond to the price Of labor and It's
products
Fifth-In times Of great industrial depres-
sion idle labor should be employed on public
works as far as practicable.
Sixth-The arbitrary course OF the courts IN
assuming to imprison citizens for indirect con-
tempt and ruling them by injunction should Dc
prevented by proper legislation.
Seventh-We favor Just pensions for every
disabled union soldier
Misunderstanding that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential TO gov
eminent Of, for and by the people, the peoples
party condemns the wholesale system OF DIS
REIMBURSEMENT adopted In some OF the states
as un-republcan and un-democratic, and we
declare 1t to be the duty Of the several states
legislatures to take such action as will secure
full, free and fair ballot and an honest count.
Ninth-While the foregoing propositions con-
stitute the platform upon which our party
stands, and for the vindlcation o. which lts or
ganization will be maintained, we recognize
that the great and pressing issue OF the pend
Ing campaign upon which the present presl-
dental election will turn is the financial ques-
ton, and upon this great and specific issue be-
tween the parties we cordially invite the AID
and cooperation Of all organizations and cit-
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 i'm
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 majority of the committee,
was adopted.
The convention then proceeded to
the selection OF candi late for vice
president. When Alabama was called
| it placed in nomination Barnett Gibbs,
of Texas. The convention then decid.
ed to take recess.
At 6:32 p m. the convention reas-
sembed and Congressman Skinner, of
North Carolina, and Thomas L. 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, were 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 motion was
carried to adjourn until nine o'clock
| in the morning.
cKErhL NE rNhN-> WArcn..