Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-07-11
THE PLATFORM.
It Is Ready to Be Reported to the
Full Committee.
TIE MONEY QUESTION PARAMOUNT.
The Free and Unlimited Coinage of Gold
and Silver at the Ratio of Sixteen to
One Demanded-A Tariff for
Revenue Only.

CHICAGO, July s.-Following is the
platform as agreed to by the sub-com-
mittee to be submitted to the general
committee to-day. 1t is thought that
few, if any, notifications will be
made. The minority will present a
report taking ground against the free
coinage of silver:
We the democrats of the United States in
national convention assembled do reaffirm our
allegiance to those great essential principles
Of justice and liberty upon which our 1nst1tu-
tions founded, and which the democratic
party has maintained from Jeherson's time to
our own-freedom of speech, freedom OF the
press. freedom of conscience, the preservation
of personal rights. the equality of all citizens
before the law and the faithful observance OF
constitutional limitations.
Recognizing that the money question Is par
amount to all others at this time, invite
attention to the fact that the federal constitu-
tion names silver and gold together as the
money metals of the United States and that
the first CO image law passed by congress under
the constitution made the silver dollar the
unit of value, and admitted gold to free COIN
age at a ratio measured by the silver dollar
unit
We declare that the act of 1873. denonetiz-
ing silver without the knowledge or approval
OF the American people, has resulted in the
appreciation of gold and corresponding fall
in the prices of commodities produced by the
people, q heavy increase in the burden OF
taxation. and of all debts, public and private:
the enrichment of the money lending class at
home and abroad: paralysis of industry and
impoverishment OF the people
We are unalterably opposed to the single
gold standard. which has locked fast the pros
perity of an Industrious people in the paraly-
sis of hard times. Gold monometallism is a
British policy. founded upon British greed for
gain and power. and its general adoption has
brought other nations into financial Servitude
to London 1t is not only un-American. but
anti-American. and 1t can be fastened upon
the United States only by the sitting of that
indomitab be spirit and love of liberty which
proclaimed our political Independence In l116
and won it in the war of the revelation
We demand the Immediate restoration Of
the free and unlimited coinage of gold and
silver at the present legal ratio of sixteen to
one, without waiting for the aid or consent Of
any other nation We demand that the stand
ard silver dollar shall be full legal tender,
equally with gold, for all Debts public and
private aad we favor such legislation will
prevent the decentralization of any kind Of
legal tender money by private contract
We opposed to the policy and practice Of
surrendering to the holders of obligations of
the United States the option reserved by law
to the government of redeeming such obliga-
tions in either silver coin or gold coin
We are opposed to the issuing OF interest
bearing bonds OF the United States in times Of
peace. and condemn the traf1icing with banking
syndicates which, in exchange for bonds and at
an enormous profit to themselves. supply the
federal treasury with gold to maintain the
policy of gold recommendation.
Congress alone has the power to coin and
issue money. and President Jackson declared
porations individuals We therefore de-
mand that the power to issue notes be taken
from the banks. and that all paper money
shall be issued directly by the treasury depart
ment
We hold that tariff duties should be levied
solely for the purposes of revenue, and that
taxation should be limited by the needs Of the
government. honestly and economically ad-
ministered We denounce as disturbing to
business the republican threat to restore the
Mckinley law, which has been twice con-
n nv N national
| and which, enacted under the false plea Of pro-
lection home industry, proved prolific
| breeder of trusts and monopOlieS. enriched the
few at the expense of the many, restricted
trade and deprived the producers of the great
American staples of access to their natural
| markets
| Until the money question is settled. we are
| opposed to any agitation for further changes
| in our tariff laws except such as are necessary
to make up the deficit in revenue caused by
| the adverse decision of the supreme court on
| the income tax.
| There would have been no deficit in federal
revenue during the last two years but for the
eunulment by the supreme court of the income
tax law, placed upon the statute books by a
democratic congress The obstruction to ar
income tax. which the supreme court discov-
ered in the constitution, after it had lain hid
den for q hundred years, must be removed, to
| the end that accumulated wealth may be made
to bear its just share of the burdens of the gov
| eminent. We therefore favor an amendment
to the federal constitution that will permit the
levy of income tax.
! We hold that the efficient way of protecting
| American labor is to prevent the impo rtation
| of foreign pauper labor to compete with it In
| the home market, and that the value of the
home market to our American farmers and
| artisans is greatly reduced by a vicious none
tary system. which depresseS the prices OF
| their products below the cost of production
and thus deprives them of the means OF salts
flying their needs
| We denounce the prof1gate waste Of the
money wrung from the people by oppressive
taxation, and the lavish appropriations of re-
cent republican congresses, which have KEEP
taxes high. while the laborer that pays then
| is unemployed and products of the people to il
| are depressed in price till they no longer repay
the of production We demand return
to that simplicity and economy which bes
BELTS n democratic government and reduction
1 in the number OF useless Offices the salaries o
| which drain the substance of the people.
4 Confiding in the Justice of our cause and thu
necessity of its success at the polls, sub
init the foregoing declaration of principle
| and purposes to the considerate judgment o
the American people We invite the supper
of all citizens who approve them. and who de
sire to have them made effective through
legislation for the relief of the people and thi
restoration of the country's prosperity.
Halter Youmans and Wife Drowned.
| New YORK, July S.-Advices were re