People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-02-27
UNION OF TIE PEOPLE.

ana co udl PRIVILEGES eStaDllSneQ Tor all the
men and women Of this country; We declare
therefore,
UNION OF TIE PEOPLE.
First. That the union OF the labor forces
bt the United States this day cOnsummated
shall be permanent and perpetual; may its
spirit enter into all hearts for the salvation
Df the Republic and the uplifting Of man
kind.
Second. Wealth belongs to him who Gre
ltes 1t and every dollar taken from industry
without an equivalent is robbery. III any
The interests Of rural and civil labor are the
Iame; their enemies are identical.
Third. We believe that the time has come
when the railroad corporations will either
own the people or the people must own the
railroads, and should the government enter
upon the work OF owning and managing all
railroads. we should favor an amendment TO
the Constitution by which all persons en-
gagged In the government service shall be
placed under q civil service regulation OF the
most rigid character, SO as to prevent the in
.rease OF the power OF national administra-
lion by the use OF such government en-
pioyes.
TIE QUESTION OF FINANCE.
We demand a national currency, safe,
found and flexible, issued by the General
Government only, a full legal tender for all
debt, public and private and that without
the use OF banking corporations Just
equitable and efficient means Of distribution
direct TO the people at tax not to exceed
two per cent. per annum, TO be provided as
yet forth In the sub-treasury plan OF the
Farmers Alliance, or a better system; also
hv Ne In Of ffc OH
Tor public Improvements.
We demand free and unlimited coinage OF
silver and gold at the present legal ratio Of
l6tol.
We demand that the amornt OF circulating
medium be speedily increased TO not less
than $50. per capita.
We demand a graduated income tar.
We believe that t1e money Of the country
should be kept, as much as possible, In the
hands OF the people. and hence we demand
that all state and national revenues shall be
limited to the necessary expenses OF the
government economically and honestly ad-
ministered. ..... .-..
CONTROL OF TRANSPORTATION.
Transportation being a means OF exchange
Ind public necessity, the government
should own and operate the railroads In the
Interest OF the people.
The telegraph and telephone, like the post
office system, being necessity for the trans
mission Of news, should be owned and oper-
ated by the government In the interest Of
the people.
RECLAInNG THE LAND.
The land, including all the natural sources
II wealth, is the heritage OF the people, and
should not be mOnOpolized for speculative
purposes, and alien ownership OF land should
be prohibited. All land now held by rail-
roads and other corporations in excess OF
thtir actual needs and all lands now owned
By aliens should be reclaimed by the govern
nent and held for actual settlers only.
The following resolutions we're offered In.
dependent Of the platform and we're adopted
as expressive OF the sentiment Of the con-
vention: t lr
Resolved, That we demand a free ballo,
and fair count In all elections, and pledge
ourselves TO secure II TO every legal voter
without Federal intervention through the
adoption by the States OF the unperverted
Australian secret ballot system.
Resolved, That the revenue derived from
graduated income tax should be applied TO
the reduction Of the burden Of taxation now
lev ed upon the domestic industries OF this
country.
Resolved, That we pledge our support to
lair and liberal pensions tOex-uniOn soldiers
and sailors.
Resolved, That we condemn the fallacy OF
protecting American labor under the present
system, which opens our ports to the pauper
and criminal classes OF the world and Crowds
out our wage-earners, and we denOuGce the
present Ineffective law against contract la
Dor, and demand the further restriction OF
undesirable emigration.
Resolved, That we cordially sympathiIe
with the efforts OF the organized wOrkingmen
70 shorten the hours OF labor, and demand a
rigid enforcement OF the existing eight-houY
Law on government work and ask that q
penalty clause be added to the said law,
Resolved, That We regard the mainten-
ance OF large standing army OF merce-
narleS, known as the PinkertOn system, as a
menace TO our liberties, and we demand It's
abolition, and we condemn the recent In
vasion Of the Territory OF Wyoming by the
hired assassins OF plutocracy, assisted by
Federal officers.
Resolved. That we commend TO the
thoughtful consideration OF the people and
the reform press the legislative system
known as the initiative and referendum.
Resolved, That We favor a constitutional
provision limiting the Office OF President and
ilce-President TO one term, and providing
Tor the election OF the senators by direct
vote OF the people.
Resolved, That we oppose any subsidy OF
national aid TO any private corporation for
any purpose.
e. TAUBENBEcK, Chairman, Marshall, III.
J. u. TURNER, secretary, Georgia, 0tfice 1904
Fennsylvania ave, y. W.. Washington, ID. U.
LAWRENCE McPARLN, Secretary New York.
Al. Z. RANKIN, Treas, Terre Haute. Ind.