The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-07-29
executed and administered according to


their true intent and spirit.
4-the Telegraph like the postofice sys-
tenn, being necessity for the transmission
Of news, should be owned and operated by
the government in the interest Of the
people.
1.-The true policy demands that the
rationale and state legislation shall be such
as will ultimately enable every prudent and
Industrious citizen to secure home, and
therefore the land should not be monopo-
lied for speculative purposes All lands
now held by railroads and other corpora
tons in course of their actual needs should
by lawful means be reclaimed by the gov
eminent and held for actual settlers, and
mineral lands from such grants as alien
ownership, should be prohibited.
1--WE condemn the frauds by which the
land grant to the Pacific railroad COM
panies have, through the connivance OF the
interior department, robbed mult.tudes of
actual bono fide settlers of their homes and
miners Of claims and we demand legisla-
ton by congress which will enforce the
exemption Of mineral grants from such land
after as well as before patent
give demand that bona fide settlers on
all public lands be granted free homes as
provided IN the national homestead law,
and that no exceptions be made in the case
OF Indian reservations when opened for
settlement, and that all lands not now pat
en.ed come under this demand.
Y I've favor a system Of direct legisla-
ton through the initiative and referendum,
under proper constitutional safeguards.
I've demand the election of president,
w direct vote Of the people.
9th <ordor - tho vofrfnfin v>anv1a ~
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their heroic
struggle rOr p0l1Ccal freedom ana mde-
pendence; we believe that the time has
come when the United States, the great
republic Of the world, should recognize that
Cuba is. and Of right ought to be free end
independent state
3-We favor home rule in the territories
and the District Of Columbia, and the early
admission of the territories as states.
ALL pubic salaries should be made to
correspond to the price Of labor and its pro-
ducts.
+ Sin times Of great industrial depres-
sion. idle labor should be employed on pub
lie works as far as practicable.
. 6DThe arbitrary course Of the courts In
assuming to imprison citizens for indirect
contempt and ruling that by injunction
should be prevented by proper legislation.
I've favor just pensions for our dis
abled Union soldiers.
H-Bel.eving that the election franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential to a
government OF, for and by the people, the
Peoples Party condemn the wholesale sys-
tenn of Acknowledgement adopted in some
OF the ststes as un-Republican and I'M
Democratic, and we declare it to be the
duty OF the several state legislatures to
aEo n R,,11 -
and fair ballot and an honest count.
9-While the foregoing propositions con-
stitute the platform upon which our party
stands, and for the vindication of which its
organization will be maintained, we recog-
nize that the great and pressing issue Of
the pending campaign upon which the pres
ent presidential election will turn is the
financial question, and upon this great and
specific issue between the parties we cor
daily invite the aid and cooperation Of all
organizations and citizens agreeing with us
upon this vital question.
Washington, July 25.-Thomas e. Wat
son. of Thompson, Georgia, was born in
Columbia county. Ca, Sept. s, 1856. He
received a 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 unds and
taught school for two years. He read
law for few weeks under Judge w. r.
McLaws, of Augusta. Ca. and was admit
ted to the bar, commenting the practice Of
Der Of the Georgia legislature 1882 83; and
was Democrat elector for the state at
large in 1883 and besides the practice of
law has been and still Is largely inter-
ested in forming. He was elected to the
f1fty-second congress as a Democrat. re-
ceiving SASS votes against 597 votes for
Anthony E. Williams, Republican.
Mr.. Watson served but one term In con-
gress. being succeeded in the Fifty-third
by James G. Black, who was elected as a
Democrat, receiving 17,772. against II, 1888
votes received by Mr.. Watson who ran as
the candidate Of the Peoples party Mr..
Watson also ran as q oPpulist candidate
for the Fifty-fourth congress from the
same district, but was again defeated by
Mr.. Black. Watson's unique personality
made him a conspicuous figure in the
house of representatives. He was a fiery
'debater and took part In numerous hot
parliamentary fights. In personal appear
ance Watson Is thin and angular. with a
clean shaver face of intellectual cast. and
2 thick mop of auburn hair.