Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1896-12-23
roruI1sr NATIONAL PLATFORM.

poPULIsr NATIONAL PLATFORM.
The Peoples party! assembled in national
convention, reafiirms it's allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the re-
OF just government, as enunciated In the plat
FORM OF the party In 1892 We recognize that
through the conniyance OF the present and
reached crisis in it's national life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
have political Independence, our financial
and industrial independence is yet to be at
talned oy restoring to our country the consti-
tutional control and exercise of the functions
necessary to q peoples government, which
functions have been basely surrendered by
our pubic servants to corporate monopo-
changers has been more potent in shaping
legislation than the voice of the American
people. Executive power and patronage
and defeat the will of the people, and plutoc-
racy has thereby been enthroned upon the
RUNS OF democracy. To restore the govern
fare of this and future generations. we demand
tne establishment of an economic and finan-
cal system. which shall make US masters of
our own affairs and Independents of European
control. by the adoption of the following dec
iaration OF principles:
FINANCE.
FIRST we demand q national money, safe
ana sound, issued by the general government
only, without the intervention of banks of is
sue to be a full legal tender for all debts pub
nc ana private-a just, equitable and efficient
means OF distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
ernment.
second.we demand the free and unre-
stricted coinage of silver and gold at the pres
ent legal ratio OF sixteen to one, without wait
ing Tor the consent of foreign nations.
Iniro-We demand that the volume of cir
I'M ha In, fr.x,,-n
amount sufficient to meet the demands of the
business and population of this country and
70 restore the Just Lowell of prices Of labor and
Fourth-We denounce the sale of bonds and
the increase OF the public interest bearing
deot made by the present administration as
unnecessary and without authority of Law, and
that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
CHIC act of CONGRESS.
Fifth-We demand shch legislation as will
prevent the characterization of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract. 60 :.
Sixth-we demand that the government. in
payment of its obligations, shall use its option
as TO the kind OF lawful money in which they
are to be paid, and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender
ing this option to the holders of government
obligations.
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
LAX tax 10 the end that aggregated wealth shall
Dear Its just proportion of taxation, and we
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative to the income tax law as mis-
yasion of the rightful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the people
and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
F1ret-TranspOrtatiOn being q means of ex-
change and necessity the government should
own and operate the railroads in the interest
or the people and on a non-partisan basis: to
the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment in transportation and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations. which result
the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
snip Is TO De accomplished gradually in man.
ner consistent with sound public policy
Second-The interest of the United States in
the public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of land
TO tne Pa:lnc railroads. should never be alien
ated. mortgaged or sold. but guarded and pro
tected for the general welfare as provided by
the laws organizing such railroads. The fore
closure OF existing liens of the United States
On these roads should at once follow default in
payment thereof by the debtor companies land
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
eminent should purchase the same if il be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
In, or II they can be purchased at reasonable
price, and the government shall operate said
railroads as public highways for the benefit of
the whole people and not in the interest of the
few. under suitable provisions for protection
of life and property, giving to all transporta-
non interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and freightS.
Third-We denOunce the present Infamous
schemes for refunuing these debts and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post Office
system, being necessity for the transmission
of news, should be owned and operated nv
the government in the interests of the people.
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the ma
tOnal and state legislation shall be such as
VIII ultimately enable every prudent and in
fore the land should not be moaopolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
railroads and other corporations in excess of
their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only, and pri yate land monopoly,
tied
Second-We condemn the frauds nv which
the land grants to Pacific railroad Companies
have, through the connivance of the interior
department, robbed multitudes of actual hons
fide settlers of their homes and miners of Their
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 fide settlers
on all public lands be granted tree homes. as
PROVIDED IN the national homestead law. and
that no exception be made in the case Of In.
dian reservations when opened for settlement
ana that all lands now patented come under
THIS demand.
Fourth-Direot Legislation: We favor q
system OF direct legislation through the initia.
I'VE and referendum under proper constitu.
donal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS
f1rSt-We demand the election of president.
wee president and United States senator's by q
direct vote of the people.
Second-We tender to the patriotic peorIe of
Cuoa our deepest sympathy in their strugele
for political freedom and independence ana
S We DeneEe tne time has come when the United
states, the great republic OF the world, should
recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought to
De- Tree and independent state
Tnlrd-We favor home rule in the Territories
anu tue District or Columbia. and the early adj
MISSION or the territories as states
rourtn-All public salaries should be made
ducts. 'OA on" i'e Pro-
Flfth-ln these times of Industrial denres.
sion idle labor should be employed On public
works as far as practicable.
cXtn-Ihe arbitrary course of the courts in
assuming to imprison citizens for indirect con-
ttelnpt ana ruling them by injunction should
De prevented by proper legislation.
disabled Union soldier 0''
Eigntn-Believing that the elective franchise
ana untrammeled ballot are essential to oov-
eminent of, for and by the people the PeonIes
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
reimbursement adopted In some of the sta tes
as un-republican and un-democratic aud we
declare IL TO De the duty OF the several states
a full, and fair ballot and an honest count
NlnthIWhile the foregoing propositions con
et1tute the platform upon which our marty
STANDS. and for the indication of which rs or
ganlzatiOn will be maintained we RECOGNIZE
mat the great and pressing issue Of the pend