Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-07-09
THE PLATFoRAf.
Text OF the Document NJ Agreed Upon by
the Sub Committee.

| Ab1s Va gho DOC4uGuS M &ASEgoA OpOu Uy
the Sub Committee.
CHICAGO, July 8.-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 reafirm our
allegiance to those great essential principles
! Of justice and liberty upon which our institu-
tions are founded. and which the democratic
! party has maintained from Jeiferson's time to
our own-freedom Of speech, freedom OF the
| press freedom OF conscience, the preservation
OF personal rights, the equality Of oil citizens
| before the law. and the faithful observance OF
constitutional limitations.
Recognizing that the money question is par
amount to oil others at this time, we invite
attention to the fact that the federal constitu-
ton names silver and gold together Us the
money metals Of the United States, and that
the first co Image law passed bv congress under
the constitution made the silver dollar the
unit OF value. and admitted gold to free coin.
nge at q ratio measured by the silver dollar
unit
We declare that the act OF 1873, demonetiZ-
ing silver without the knowledge or approval
OF the American people, has resulted In the
appreciation Of gold and y 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 Ut
home and abroad paralysis Of industry and
impoverishment OF the people.
No liz IN aluOla
gold standard. which has locked fast the pros
perlty 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-Amercan, and it can be fastened upon
the United States oaly By the sitting OF that
indOmitable spirit and love OF liberty which
proclaimed our political independence in 1910
and won 1t in the war Of the revolution.
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 as will
prevent the decentralization OF any kind OF
legal tender money by private contract
We are 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-
tlons 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 trafticing 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 mOnOmetallism.
Congress alone has the power to coin and
issue money and President Jackson declared
that this power could not be delegated to cor
porations or 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 adj
ministered We denounce us disturbing to
business the republican threat to restore the
Mckinley law, which has been twice con-
demned by the people In national elections,
and which, enacted under the false plea Of pro-
lection to home industry proved O prolific
breeder of trusts and monopolies, enriched the
lew AZ lnG C8ptu5G VI Ju6 Huuuy, TeSJTlCJeu
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 us are necessary
to make up the deficit In revenue caused by
theJldverse 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
annulment by the supreme court of the income
tax law, placed upon the statute books by u
democratic congress. The obstruction to an
income tax, which the supreme court discov-
cred in the constitution, after It had lain hid
den for 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 On amendment
to the federal constitution that will permit the
levy OF an income tax
We hold that the efIlcient way OF protecting
American labor is to prevent the importation
OF foreign pauper labor to compete with 1t In
the home market, and that the value OF the
home market TO our American farmers and
artisans is greatly reduced by 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 prohigate waste OF the
money wrung from the people by oppressive
taxation and the lavish appropriations Of re-
cent republican congresses, which have kept
taxes high, while the laborer that pays them
is unemployed and products Of the people to it
arc depressed in price till they no longer repay
the cost Of production. We demand q return
to that simplicity and economy which best
BELTS democratic government and reduction
in the number Of useless offices, the salaries Of
which drain the substance OF the people.
Confdlng in the Justice Of our cause and the
necessity Of its success at the polls, we sub
NIT the foregoing declaration Of principles
and purposes to the considerate judgment OF
the American people. We invite the support
OF all citizens who approve them, and who de-
sire to have them made effective through
legislation for the relief of the people and the
Of the country's prosperity.