Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-07-30

| through the lawful disbursements OF the gov
| ,rnment
| ~Second-We demand the free and unre-
| .tricted coinage OF silver and gold at the pres
ant legal ratio OF sixteen to one. without wait
ng for the consent OF foreign nations.
Third-We demand that the volume OF Cir
.ulating medium be speedily increased to an
| mount sufficient to meet the demands OF the
business and population of this country and
| 80 restore the just level OF prices OF labor and
| production
| Fourth-We denounce the sale of bonds and
| the increase OF the public interest bearing
| debt made by the present administration as
| unnecessary and without: authority OF law, and
/ that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
| .ific act Of congress
| Fifth-We demand such legislation will
| prevent the demonstration of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract.
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
tax to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation and we
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative to the income tax law as a mis-
| Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vaSion 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.
First-TranSportation being Il means OF ex-
change and a necessity, the government should
own and operate the railroads in the interest
OF the people and on non-partsan 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
In iaSf fIO-1 of
the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen, may be destroyed Such owner
ship is to be accomplished gradually in a 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
the Pacific railroads, should never be alienat-
ed mortgaged 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: and
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
eminent should purchase the same II it be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
in. or if they can be purchased at a reasonable
price. and the government shall operate said
railroads 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-
ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and freights.
Third-We denounce the present infamous
schemes for refun ling these debts, and de-
Anand that the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according to their
true intent aud spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph. like the post office
system. being 4 necessity for the transmission
of news should be owned and operated by the
governmental the interests of the people
LAND
First-The true policy demands that the ma
ticEal and state legislation shall be such as
Will ultimately enable every prudent and in
0uStriouS citizen to secure home, and there
fore the land should not be monopoliZed 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-
tua1 settlers only. and private land monopoly,
as well as alien ownership, should be prohib-
tied.
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
have through the conniyance of the interior
department.. robbed multitudes OF actual bona
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 before
patent.
Third-We dena and that all bona f1de settlers
on all public lands be granted free homes. as
provided in the national homestead law. and
that no exception be made in the of In
dian reservations when opened for settlement.
and that all lands patented come under
this demand.
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor sys-
tenn of direct legislation through the initiative
and referendum under proper constitutional
safeguards
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First-We demand the election OF president,
vice president and United States senators by
direct vote OF the people.
Second-We tender to the patriotic people of
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
Tor political freedom and independence, 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.
Th1rd-We favor home rule in the territories
and the District of Columbia, and the early adj
mission OF the territories states
Fourth-Aii public salaries should be made
to correspond to the price OF labor and its
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 be
prevented by proper legislation.
Seventh-We favor just pensions for every
disabled union soldier.
Eighth-Beiieving that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot essential to gov
eminent of, for and by the people, the peoples
franchisement adopted in some of the states
declare it TO be the duty of the several states
full. free and fair ballot and an honest count.
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