The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-07-31
LIVE ISSUES.
Platform Adopted by the Populists.

Platform Adopted by the Populists.
Following is the platform as
agreed upon by the Committee on
Resolutions, and adopted by the
Populists' convention
FINANCE.
First-We demand national
money, safe and sound, issued by
the general Government only, with
out the intervention of banks of
issue, to be full legal tender for
all debts, public and private; also,
a Just, equitable and efficient
means of distribution direct to the
people and through the lawful dis
bursements of the Government.
Second-We demand the free
and unrestricted coinage of silver
and gold at the present legal ratio
of 16 to l without waiting for the
consent of foreign nations.
Third-We demand the volume
of circulating medium be speedily
increased to an amount sufficient to
meet the demands of the business
population of this country and to
restore the just level of prices of
labor and production.
Fourth-Wed enounce the sale of
bonds and the increase of the pub
lie interest bearing bond debt made
by the present Administration as
unnecessary and without authority
of law, and that no more bonds be
issued except by specific act of
Congress.
Fifth-We demand such legal
legislation as will prevent the de-
monetization of the lawful money
of the United States by private
contract.
Sixth-We demand that the Gov
eminent in payment of its obliga-
tions 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 Admin
istratiOns for surrendering this OPP
ton to the holders of Government
obligations.
Seventh-We demand grad
mated income tax, to the end that
aggregated wealth shall bear its
just proportion of taxation; and we
denounce the Supreme Court, rela-
tive to the income tax law, as a
misinterpretation of the Constitu-
ton and an invasion of the rightful
powers of Congress over the subject
of taxation.
Eighth-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.
Transportation being a means OF
exchange and public necessity, the
Government should own and oper
ate the railroads in the interest OF
the people and on non-partisan
basis, to the end that all may be
accorded the same treatment in
transportation and that the tyran-
ny and political power now exer-
cised by the great railroad corpora
tions, which result in the impair
ment il not the destruction of the
political rights and personal liber-
ties of the citizen, may be destroy
ed. Such ownership Is to be ac-
complished gradually, in manner
consistent with sound public policy.
Second-The interest of the
United States in the public high
ways built with public moneys and
the proceeds of extensive grants of
land 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 foreclosure of existing liens OF
the United States ON these roads
should nj once follow default in the
payment thereof Of the debt of com
panies, and nj the foreclosure sales
of said roads the Government shall
purchase the same If il becomes
neeesSary 10 protect the interests
therein, oF IL they can be purchased
at = reasonable price; and the Gov
ernmeut shalt operate such rail
rsasls a. public highways for the
lemelit III the whole, anil NOT in the