Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-08-01
For Government railroads.

| Transportation being a means OF ex.
2ehange and a public necessity, the gov.
eminent should own ana operate the
railroads in the interest OF the people tt
The end that all men may be accorded
the same treatment in transportation
and that the tyranny and political power
now exercised by the great corporations
which result in the impairment, If moi
the destruction, Of the political rights
and personal liberty of the citizen, may
be destroyed. Such ownership is to be
accomplished gradually In a mannei
consistent with sound public policy.
The interest of the United tSates In the
and the proceeds of extensive grants OF
land. known as the Pacific railroads,
should never be alienated, mortgaged OF
sold. but guarded and protected for the
general welfare, as provided 10y the laws
organizing such Pacific railroads. The
foreclosure of the existing liens OF the
once follow default in the payment there
Of by the debtor companies, and that In
the foreclosure of said roads the govern
ment shall purchase the same II 1t be,
therein, or II the same can be purchased
at a reasonable price; and the governs
ment shall operate said roads as public
highways for the benefit Of the whole peo.
under suitable provisions for protection
OF life. and property, giving to all trans,
portation interests equal privileges and
equal rates for fares and freights.
We denounce the present infamous
schemes for %refundihg these debts, and de.
inand that the laws now applicable there'
TO be executed and administered accord
ing to their true intent and spirit.
Land Question.
A true policy demands that the national
and state legislation shall be such as will
ultimately enable every prudent and In
dustrious man TO own a home, and there.
fAnA thA nm A.Hl not hn a al
for speculative purposes. All agricul-
tural and grazing lands now held by rail.
road corporations In excess of their actual
needs should by lawful means be re-
claimed by the government and held for
actual settlers only, and private land mon
opoly should be prevented by appropriate
state and national legislation.
the land grant Pacific railroad companies
have, through the connivance of the in;
terror department. robbed multitudes oil
actual and bona f1de settlers OF their
homes aud miners of their claims, and We
demand legislation by congress which. will
enforce the exception of mineral land from
such grants, after as well as before patent
We demand that bona fde settlers on all
public lands be granted free homes, as pro.
vided in the national homestead law, and
that no exception be made In case OF indian
reservations when opened for settlement,
and that all lands not now patented come
under this demand
We favor a system of direct legislation
lnrOuRn the initiative anu REFERENDUM All
der proper constitutional safeguards.
General Propositions.
We demand the election Of president and
vice president and United states senators
by the direct vote of the people. .
We tender to the patriotic people OF
Cuba our deepest sympathy In their hero!c
struggle for political freedom and indie
pendence, and we believe the time has
COME when the United States, the greal
republic of the world, should recognize
(nhas that Clha ought 90 he "A free and
independent state.
We favor home rule in the territories and
the District Of Columbia, and the early ad'
mission of territories as states.
All public salaries should be made &c
correspond with the price OF labor and Its
products.
In times OF great Industrial depression
idle labor should be employed on public
works as far as practical.
The arbitrary course Of the courts n
assuming 10 impr.son citizens for indirect
contempt and ruling by Injunction should
be prevented by proper Legislation.
We favor just pensions for our disabled
union soldiers.
Believing the election franchise and an
untramelled ballot are essential TO a gov
erment OF. for and by the people. the peo-
Pies party condemn the Wholesale system
OF disfranchisement adopted In some oil
the states as unrepublican and undemo-
Of the several state legislatures TO take
such action as will secure a full, free and
fair ballot and an honest count.
While the foregoing propositions consti-
tute the platform upon which our party
stands and for the vind,cation of which
Its organization will be maintained, we
OF the pending campaign, upon which the
present presidential election will turn, is
the financial question, and upon this great
and specific issue between the parties we
of all organiza tons and citizens agreeing
with US upon this vital question.