Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-07-30
P0PULIS7S' PLATFORM.
Demand Free Silver, Government
Control Of Railroads and
Telegraphs.


convention, reatfirms its allegiance TO the
principles declared by the founders of
the republic and also to the fundamental
principles OF Just government as enunci-
ated i'll the platform of the party in 1892
We recognize that through the connyance
OF the present and preceding. adminstra-
lions the country has reached crisis III
its national life as predicted in our dec!ara-
ton four years ago. and that prompt and
patriotic action is the supreme duty of
the hour We realize that while we have
political independence our financial and in
dustral independence is yet to be attained
by restoring to our country the constitu-
tionai control ard exercise of the functions
necessary TO peoples government. which
functions have been hasely surrendered by
our public servants to corporate monopoies
The influence of European money changers
than the voice of the American people.
Executive power and patronage have been
used to corrupt our legislatures and defeat
the will of the people, and plutoeracy has
thereby been entHroned upon the ruins of
democracy. To restore the government in
tended by the fathers and for the welfare
and prosperity of this and future genera
tons, we demand the establishment Of an
| economic and financial system which shall
dependent of European control by the
adoption of the following declaration of
principles:
Financial Plank.
L. we demand national money, safe and
sound. issued by the general government
only, without the Intervention Of banks of
issue. TO be a full legal tender for all debts.
cient means of distribution direct " to- the
people and through the lawful disburse-
ments of the government.
coinage of silver ana gold at the present
legal ratio OF 16 to /, without waiting for
the consent of foreign nations
3. We demand that the volume of cir
cuating medium be speedily increased to
an amount sufficient to meet the demands
of the business and general population of
this country and to restore the just level
of prices of labor and production.
f. We denouncee the sale of bonds and
the increase Of the public interest -bea rim g
debt made by the present administration
I as unnecessary and without authority of
law, and that no more bonds be issued ex-
cept by specific act of Congress.
5. We demand such legislation as will
| prevent the demonstration Of the lawful
money of the United States by private con
| tract.
g. We demand that the government in
payment of its obligations, shall use it's
which they are to be paid, and we denounce
the present and Prieceding ADMINISTRATIONS
| of government obligations.
Z. 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 Su-
| preme court relative tc the income tax law
sa msinteIppetaf4 fbe of the
| Congress over the subject of taxation
s. 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.
! l. Transportation being a means Of ex-
| change and public necessity, the govern
ment should own and operate the railroads
| in the interest of the peOp-e and on non
partisan basis ps to the end that all may be
| ton and that the tyranny and political
power now exercised by the great railway
corporations, which result in the impair
ment. if not the destruction, of the political
| rights and personal liberties of the citizen
may be destroyed. Such ownership is to
| consistent with sound public policy.
2 The interest of the United States in
u0 nd fhe of Te pn2e
grants of land to the Pacific railroads
! should never be alienated. mortgaged or
general welfare as provided by. the, laws
organizing such railroads The foreclosure
Of existing liens Of the United STATES on
in the payment thereof of the debt of cons
panies and at the foreclosure sales of such
same if it becomes necessary to protect its
| interests therein or if they can be purchased
at a reasonable price. and the government
shall operate said railroads as public high
! ways for the benefit OF the whole people
and not in the interest of the few, under
| suitable provisions for protection OF life
|
interests equal privileges and equal rates
| for fares and freight.
| 3. We denouGce 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.
! 4. The telegraph. like the postoftice sys-
| tenn being a necessity for the transmission
of news. should be owned and operated by
! the government III the interest OF the PEG
! pie.
The Public Lands.
1. The true policy demands that national
and state legislation shall be such as will
rt dn :yue enable every prudent and INDUS
fore land should not be monoDolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held
excess of their actual needs should by law
full, means be reclaimed by the government
and held for actual settlers only, and pr-
ship should be prohibited.
2. We condemn the frauds by which the
land grant to the Pacific railroad companies
have. through the connivance Of the in.
terror department. robbed multitudes of
actual bona fde 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 patents
| 3. We demand that bona fide settlers OH
! all public lands be granted free homes as
provided in the national homestead law and
Indian reservations when opened for set
/ tlement and that all lands not patented
come Under this demand.
Direct Legislation.
We favor system of direct legislation
through the initiative and referendum, I'M
| der proper constitutional safeguards.
! General Propositions.
| 1. We demand the election of President,
| vice-president and United States senators
| by 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. 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
3. We favor home rule in the territories
4 and the District of Columbia. and the
early admission of the territories as states
| 4. All public salaries should be made to
! correspond to the price of labor and its
| products.
/ ). Ii times of great Industrial depression
! idle labor should be employed on public
| works as far as practicable.
/ 6. The arbitrary course of the courts in
| assuming to imprison citizens for indirect
contempt and ruling them by injunction
! should be prevented by proper legislation.
/ {. We favor just pensions for our dis
! ablCd Union soldiers.
| s. Believing that the election franchise
| and an untrammeied ballot are essential TO
| government of. for and by the people, the
! Peoples party condemns the wholesale sys-
| tenn of diSfranchisement adopted in some
! of the states as unreDublican and undenc..