The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-08-01

ests therein. or if they are purchased at a
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 such
provisions for the protection of life and
property. giving to ali transportation in
terests equal privileges ana equal rates for
fares and freight.
We denounce the present infamous
schemes for %refunding these debts and de
mand that the laws now applicable thereto
be executed and administered according to !
their true intent and spirit.
The telegraph, like the postotfice system,
being a necessity for the transmission of
news. should be owned and operated by
the government in the interest of the
people.
True Public Land Policy.
The true policy demands that the ma
tional and state legislation shall be such
as will ultimately enable every prudent
and industrious citizen to secure a home,
and therefore the lard should not be mo-
nopolized for speculative purposes. All
lands now held by railroads and other cor
porations in excess of their actual needs
should by lawful means be reclaimed by
the government and held for actual set
tiers only and private land monopoly as
well as alien ownership, should be pro-
hibited.
We condemn the frauds by which the
land grant to the Pacific railroad com-
panies have. through the connivahce CT
the interior department robbed multitudes
of actual bona foe settlers'of their homes
and miners Of their claims, and we de-
mand legislation by congress which will
enforce the exemption Of mineral land
from such grants after as well as before
patent.
We demand that bona fide settlers on
all public lands be granted free homes. as
provided in the national homestead law,
and that no exception be made in the 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
through the initiative and referendum,
under proper constitutional safeguards.
General Propositions.
We demand the election of president,
vice president and United States senators
by a direct vote of the people
We tender to the patriotic people of
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their heroic
struggle for political freedom and indie
pendence, and 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 to be a
free and independent state.
We favor home rule in the territories
and the District of Columbia and the early
admission of the territories as states.
All public salaries should be made to
correspond to the price OF labor and It's
products.
In times of great industrial depression,
idle labor should be employed on public
works as far as practicable.
The arbitrary course of the courts in
assuming to imprison citizens for indirect
contempt, and ruling by injunction,
should be prevented by proper legislation.
We favor just pensions for oar disabled
Union soldiers.
Believing that the election franchise and
untrammelled ballot are essential to d
government of, for, and by the people, the
Peoples party condemn the wholesale
system Of Acknowledgement adopted il
some Of the states as unrepuhlican and
undeniCcratic. and we declare it to be The
duty OF the several legislatures to TAKE
sue action as will secure Il full, free ant
, fair ballot, ana an honest count.
5 While the foregoing propositions con
stitute the platform upon which our party
stands. and for the vindication of which
its organization will be maintained, w
5 recognize that the great and pressing ISSUE
of the campaign upon which the politica
presidential election will turn, is thu
t financial question, and upon this grea
5 and specific Issue between the parties W,
cordially invite the aid and cooperation o
: all officers and citizens agreeing with u
| upon this vital question.