The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-08-18
A CONVENTION.


Populists met in this city last Thurs
day. The work was done in less than
twenty four hours, for the convention
adj burned by 1870 Friday morning.
Senator Butler and Congressman
Skinner were the star actors. There
was plenty of speaking, and some good
talks, but Messrs. Skinner and Butler
agreed to disagree oftener than any
body else.
Mayor L @. Caldwell, of S~tatesville,
a new convert, was made temporary
chairman. Colonel Harry Skinner was
elected permanent chairman and made
a strong speech.
AS we are crowded for space this
week on account OF the State Alliance
proceedings, we will not publish imma
terial matter, but get down to business.
THE PLATFORM
The Peoples party of North Carolina,
in convention assembled at R4leigh on
the 18Th day Of August, 1896, hereby
re-affirms it's unqualified allegiance
to the principles of the party, and
hereby approves the platform of the
Peoples party adopted at it's National
Convention held in the city of st. Louis
July %, 1896.
We hereby re-affirm u fixed deter
mination to support and maintain a
free ballot and a fair count in all cleo
tions held in North Carolina; and the
election law passed by the General AS
sembly Of 1895 meets OR hearty en-
dorsement and approval; and we here
by pledge the Peoples party to the
policy of upholding the principle of
free and honest elections provided for
in said election law, and warn the
voters of the State against the threats
which have been made to repeal the
same.
The act of the last General Assembly
restoring to the people the right of local
self government by the election of their
county commissioners and justices OF
peace by the vote of the people in the
respective counties, and the safe guards
therein provided, meets with our hearty
approval, aud we pledge the Peoples
party to the continued support and
maintenance o. hat legislation, and
warn the voters of the necessity Of
preventing injurious changes in that
act, and of the danger Of electing
members of the G eneral Assembly hos
tile thereto.
We favor the exercise by the State
Of North Carolina of the reserved con.
stitutional power to make all gold and
silver coins of the United States Gun
Guiding the trade dollar a legal tender
for the payment of debts, and that
this right be enforced by the passage
of an appropriate act by the General
Assembly.
We believe that all money demands
should be payable in the lawful money
of the United States without prefer
ence Or discrimination, and therefore
favor the passage by the General AS
sembly of a law { prohibit the taking
or giving of gold notes. bonds and mort
cages in this State, and the making
Of all money demands payable in any
kind of lawful money of the United
States.
We pledge ourselves to maintain the
six per cent, interest law enacted by
the last General Assembly.
The action of the Peoples party
members of the last General Assembly
has demonstrated, beyond question,
that the Peoples party has been true
to its ~antecedent platform declarations
in favor of public education. We
favor stillfurther improving and broad
ening the public school system Of the
State as rapidly as a proper regard for
the interests of the tax payers and the
resources of the State will permit. We
also favor such revision of our present
school system as may increase the Ell
cheney of our public schools and insure
the most competent and effective su
o ,rvision. We think that the committee
OF education of the next General AS
s mbly should invite and secure, as far
as possible the CO operation of the lead
ing teachers and educators of the State
in framing and perfcc5ing the school
law.
Our judiciary should be lifted above
the plane of partisan politics.
We favor the establishment of q State
institution for the reformation Of young !
criminals.
We c1ndamn the Democratic admin