Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-07-30

1
ruins OF democracy. TO restore the government
intended by the fathers and for the welfare and
| prosperity OF this and future generations, we
demand the establishment OF an economic and
financial system which shall make us masters
| OF our own affairs and independent OF European
| control by the adoption OF the following dec
laration OF principles:
i. I'VE demand a national money, safe and
souhu, issued by the general government ohl!,
| be full legal tender for all debts. public and
| private; just, equitable and efficient means
OF distribution direct to the people and through
| the lawful disbursements OF the government
z. We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage OF silver and gold at the present legal
| ratio of 16 10 /, without waiting for the con-
sent OF foreign powers
3. 1--WE demand that the volume of circulating
medium be speedily increased 10 an amount sur
| hcient 20 meet the demands OF the business ana
I population OF this country and to restore the
| just level OF prices OF labor and production.
4. We denounce the sale of bonds and the IN
crease of the pulse Understanding bond debt
| made by the present administration as unneces-
| sary and without authority OF law. and that no
more bonds be issued except by specific act or
| congress.
| 3. We demand such legislation as will prevent
| the decentralization of the lawful money of the
United States by private contract.
u. We demand that the government. In pay
| ment 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 surrendering this
option TO the holders of government obligations.
2. 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, a misinterpretation OF the
constitution and invasion of the rghtful
powers of congress over the subject OF taxation.
8. We demand that postal savings banks be
established by the government, for the safe de-
post OF the savings of the people and TO facili-
| tate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION
!. Transportation being a means OF exchange
and a public necessity, the government should
own and operate the railroads in the interest OF
the people and on partisan basis, TO the end
| that all may be accorded the same treatment in
| transportation and that the tyranny and poli.i
cal power now exercised by the great railroad
corporations, which result in the impairment, IL
not the destruction, of the political rights and
personal liberties OF the citizen may be de-
stroyed. Such ownership is to be accomplished
gradually in manner consistent with sound
public policy.
2 The interest OF the United States in the
public highways built with public rl0:seys and
the proceeds Of extensive grants Of ihpd To the
Pacific railroads should never be alienated,
mortgaged or Sold but guarded and protected
for the general welfare, as provided by the
laws organizing such railroads. The foreclo-
sure Of existing liens OF the United states on
these roads should at once follow default In
the payment thereof of the debt of companies.
and at the foreclosure sales OF said roads the
government snail purchase the same, II II be-
comes necessary, TO protect its interest therein
or IL they be purchased at 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 transportation
interests equal privileges and equal rates for
fares and freight
3. We denounce the present infamous schemes
for refundng these debts and demaLl that the
laws now applicable thereto be executed ana
administered according TO their true intent and
spirit.
4. The telegraph like the postofce system.
being necessity for the transmission of news
should be owned and operated by the govern
ment in the interest Of the people
/. The true policy demands that the national
and state legislation shall be such as VIII ulti-
mately enable every prudent and industrious
citizen TO secure home, and, therefore, 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 actual settlers
only and private land monopoly, as well as
alien ownership should be prohibited.
.. We condemn the frauds by which the land
grant to the Pacific railroad companies have.
through the connivance Of the interior depart
ment robbed mutitudes of actual bonafide set
tiers OF their homes and miners Of their claims,
and demand legislation by congress which
Will enforce the exemption of mineral land from
such grants after, az well as before. patent
3. We demand that bonafde settlers on all
public lands be granted free homes. pro-
vided 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.
DIRECT LEGISLATION
We favor system of direct legislation
through the initiative and referendum. under
proper constitutional safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
l. We demand the election Of president vice
president and United States senator's by direct
vote of the people.
.. We tender To the patriotic people OF Cuba
our deepest sympathy in their heroic struggle
for politica. freedom and independence and
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.
9, We favor home rule in the territories and
the District OF columbia and the early admis-
sion OF the territories states.
4. All public salaries should be made to cor
respond to the price OF labor and its products.
.. In times of great Industrial depression idle
labor should he employed on public works
far practicable.
g. The arbitrary course OF the courts in as
Stunning 10 imprison fitizens for indirect con-
tempt and ruling thtt by Injunction, should be
prevented by proper legislation.
I. We favor just pensions for our disabled
s. Believing that the election franchise and
untrammeled ballot are essential TO a govern
ment Of for and by The people, the Peoples
party condemn the wholesale system Of disfran-
chisement adopted In some Of the states as I'M
republican and undemocratic and we declare IL
to be the duty Of the several state legislatures
TO take such action as will secure full free
and fair ballot and an honest count.
.. While the foregoing propositions consti-
tute the platform upon which our party stands
tion VIII be maintained. We recognize that the
great and pressing issue of the pending cam
paign upon Which the presidential election Will
turn Is the financial question, and upon this
great e-td specific issue between the parties we
cordially invite the aid and cooperation OF ali
orgaLIya lions and citizens agreeing with us
upon this vital question.
The nomination of vice-president was
TIE next order OF business The states
were called for nominations When Ala
bama was called Col. III. q. bowman
placed in nomination Barney Gibbs, OF
Texas.
A recess was then taken. ana upon re-
assembling Chairman Allen introduced
Judge jefferson Pollard. of Missouri who
read the platform of the Silver conven-
tion and a message about the nomina-
ton of Bryan and Sewall Many of the
plenks of the Silver party's platform
were enthusiastically applauded. but
when the action of the silver convention
i'm nominating Bryan and Sewall was
read IL was jeered by the middle-of-the-
road contingent. Nominations were re-
sumed and the names of Arthur SewalI
OF Maine Hon. Harry Skinner, of North
Carolina; Hon. Thomas r.. Watson, of
Georgia: Frank Burkitt, OF Mississippi
and Hon. A. l.. Mimms, OF Tennessee
were presented.
The convention was being strung up TO
a high nervous tension as the roll call
proceeded. The Bryan men became de =
perate, and made an effort during New
Yorks time TO hold back the m'ddle-of-
the-road men by getting Senator Stewart
the venerable Populist OF Nevada to the
front. He was listened to patiently until
the crowds saw through the move. and
then they refused TO allow him to pro-
coed. Speeches were made for Sewali at
nnpOrfnnitN INT ata %