The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-08-01
Populists Adopt the Majority
Report Of the Committee
on Resolutions.
Radical Minority Report Read
by Coxey, but Promptly
Laid on the Table.
Free Coinage Of Silver Is, of
Course, the Main Plank
in the Platform.

pOTC OF the committee OH TeSOIutlCiiS
was adopted by the Populist convention
without a division. Coxeyof Ohio read
the minority report recommending the
issuance Of non-interest bearing bonds
for the Improvement Of the roads Of the
country. but it was promptly laid CD
the table, as was also the minority re-
port of Hearty of Texas. The platform
as adopted follows:
The Peoples party. assembled in ma
tional convention, reatfirms its allegiance
to the principles declared by the founders
CT the Republic and also to the funda-
mental principles Of just government as
enunciated in the platform of the PARTY in
1899. We recognize that through the con-
nivance of the present and preceding adj
illustrations the country has reached a
crisis in it's national life as predicted in
our declaration four years G ard that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
duty of the hour. We realize hat
while we nave political Independence
our financial and industrial indie
pendence is yet to be attained by
restoring to our country the constitutional
control and exercise of the functions nee
essary to a peoples government. which
functions have been basely surrendered
by II public servants to corporate mo-
nopolies. The influence Of European
money changers has been more potent in
shaping legislation than the voice of the
American people. Executive power and
patronage have been used to corrupt our
legislatures and defeat the will Of the peo-
pie, and plutocracy has thereby been en-
throned upon the 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 lis
master Of our own affairs and indepen-
dent of European control by the ADDITION
Of the following declaration of principles:
The Money Question.
First. We demand a national money.
safe and sound. issued by the general gov
me which. withou, intervention
of banks OF issue, shall be full legal
tender for all debts, public and private; u
just, equitable and efficient means Of dis
tribution direct to the people ard through
the lawful disbursements Of the govern
1neHt.
Second. We demand the free and I'M
restricted coinage of silver and sold at the
present. legal ratio Of Is to /, without wait
ing for the consent Ct foreign nations.
Third. We demand the volume of cir
culating medium be speedily increased to
an amount sufficient to meet the demands
of the business and population OF this
country and to 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 admin
istration, RS unnecessary and without
authority Of law. and that no more bonds
be issued except by specific act of congress.
Fifth. We demand such legislation as
will prevent demonstration of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract.
Sixth. We demand that the govern
ment in payment of its obligations shall
use it's option as to the naming of lawful
money in which they are to be paid, and
we denounce the present and preceding
administrations for surnendering his OPP
ton to the holders Of government obliga-
tons.
Seventh. We demand a graduated in
come II, to the end that aggregated
wealth shall bear its just proportion of
taxation, and we regard the recent de-
cision of the supreme court relative to the
income tax law as a misinterpretati0n of
the constitution and an invasion of the
rightful powers of congress over the sub
iect of taxation.
Eighth. We demand that postal say
ings banks be established by the govern
tment for the safe deposit of the savings OF
the people and to facilitate exchange.
Transportation.
Transportation being IA means Of ex-
change and public necessity, the govern
ment should WI and operate the rail
roads in the interest of the people and or
non-partisan basis, to the end that ALL NAV
be accorded the same treatment in trans.
portation, and that the tyranny and foiiti-
cal power now exercised by the great rail
way corpOratiOns-which result in the isn-
pairment if not the destruction of the pc
1itical rights and personal liberties of the
c~itizen-may be destroyed. Such owner
ship is to be accomplished gradually in a
n consistent with sound public pol
icy.
The interest Of the United States in the
public highways built with public moneys
anG the proceeds of extensive grants of
land to the Pacific railroads should never
be , a%lienated. mortgaged or sold, but
guarded and protected for the general well
fare as provided by the laws organizing
such railroads. The foreclosure OF exist
ing liens of the United States on these
roads should at once follow default iii the
payment thereof Of the debt OF c~onpaniey.
and at the foreclosure sales of said roads
the government shall purchase the sa M
II it heccmes necessary to project its inter.