Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-07-30
PEOPLES PARTY PLATFORM.

ciples and platform presented to and
adopted by the Populist national con.
vention at st. Louis:
The Platform.
The Peoples party, assembled In national
convention. reafhrm its allegiance to the prin-
ciples declared by the founders OF the repub-
lie. and also to the fundamental principles OF
Just government as enunciated In the platform
of the party in 1892 We recognize that through
the conniEance OF the present and preceding
administrations, the country has reached
crisis in its national life, as predicted In
our declaration four years age, and that
promFt and patriotic action is the supreme
duty Of the hour. We realize that
while we have present independence, our
financial and industrial independence is yet to
be attained by restoring to our country the
constitutional control and exercise OF the
functions necessary to q peoples govern
ment which functions have been baSely sur
rendered by our public servants to corporate
monopolies. 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 leRis-
latures and defeat the will OF the
people, and plutocracy has thereby been
enthroned upon the ruins of democracy. To
restore the government intended by thefathers
and for the welfare and prosperity of this and
future generations, we demand the establish
ment Of an economic and financial system
which shall make US masters OF our own af-
fairs and independent of European control, by
the adoption of the following:
Declaration OF Principles.
1. We demand q national money, safe and
sound, issued by the general government only,
without the Intervention of banks OF issue, to
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
We demand the free and unrestricted
coinage OF silver and gold at the present legal
ratio of 16 to l, without waiting for the con-
sent of the foreign nations.
g. We demand that the volume Of circulating
medium be speedily increased to an amount
sufficient to meet the demands of the business
and population 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 public interest-bearing debt
made by the present administration as unnec-
essary and without authority of law, and de-
mand that no more bonds be issued except by
specific act of congress.
5. We demand such legislation as will pre-
vent the decentralization of the lawful money
of the United States by private contract.
Il We demand that the government in pay
ment of it's obligations, shall use it's 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 obli-
cations
Z. We demand a graduated income tax to
Just proportion of taxation. and we regard the
recent decision of the supreme court relative
to the income law miSinterpretation of the
constitution and an invasion of the rightful
powers of congress over the subject Of taxa
lion.
8. We demand that postal saving banks be
established by the government for the safe
deposit of the savings of the people and to
facilitate exchange.
SecOnd-TranspOrtatiO
!. Transportation being a means of exchange
and public necessity, the government should
5wa AID operate the railroads in the interest
Of the people and on a non-partisan basis; to
the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment in transportation, and that the
tyranny and present power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations which result in
the impairment, If not the destruction OF the
present rights and personal liberties Of the
citizens may be destroyed; such ownership to
be accomplished gradually in a manner con-
sistent with sound public policy.
2. The interest of the United States in the
public highways built with public moneys and
the proceeds of extensive grants OF land to the
Pacific railroads, should never be altenated.
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 at once follow default in
payment thereof by the debtor compa-
MES; and at the foreclosure sales
Of said roads the government shall pur-
chase the same If it becomes necessary to pro-
tect it's interests therein or If they can be pur-
chased at a reasonable price; and the govern
ment shall operate said railroads as public
highways for the benefit Of the whole people
and not in the interest OF the few. under suita-
BILE provisions for protection of life and prop
erty, giving to all transportation interests
equal privileges and equal rates for fares and
.reights.
g. We denounce the present infamous
schemes for refunding these debts, and de-
Ill
executed and administered according to their
intent and spirit.
4. The telegraph. like the railroads. being
necessity for the transmission Of news should
be owned and operated by the government il
the interest of the people.
Ihird-Land.
l. True policy demands that the national ana
state legislation such as will ultimately enable
every prudent and Industrious citizen to secure
d home, and therefore the land should not be
monopolized for speculative purposes. All
lands now held by railroads and other corpora
lions in excess of their actual needs should be.
by lawful means, reclaimed by the govern
ment and held for actual settlers only. and
private land monopoly. well as alien owner
ship. should be prohibited
2. We condemn the frauds by which the
land grant Pacific railroad companies have,
through the connivance of the interior depart
ment, robbed muItitudes of actual bona fide
settlers OF their homes and miners OF their
claims, and condemn legislation by con-
greSS which will enforce the exception of
mineral land, both grants as well as before
patent
8. We demand that bona fde settlers on all
public lands be granted free homes, as provided
in the national homestead law, and that no ex-
ception be made in the case of Indian reServa-
lions when opened for settlement. and that all
lands not now patented come under this de-
mand.
Four-DirecL Legislation.
We favor a system Of direct legislation
through the initiative and referendum under
proper constitutional safeguards.
Five-GenerAI Propositions.
J. We demand the election of preSident,vice-
president and United States senators by di-
rect vote OF the people.
2. We tender to the patriotic people OF Cuba
our deepest sympathy in their heroic struggle
Tor present freedom and independence. and we
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
free and independent state.
3. We favor home rule in the territories and |
District OF Columbia and the early admission |
Of the territories as states
Ali public salaries should be made to cor !
respond to the price OF labor and it's products. |
5. In times of great industrial depression |
labor should be employed on public works as |
Tar as practicable.
q. The arbitrary course OF the courts in as
Stunning to imprIson citizens for indirect con- |
tempt and ruling them by injunction, should be |
prevented by proper legislation. |
Z. We favor just pensions for our disabled |
Union soldiers.
6. Believing that the elective franchise and |
su untrammelled ballot are essential to gov |
eminent of, for and by the people. the peoples |
party condemn the wholesale system of dis /
franchisement adopted in some of the states az |
unrepubIican and undemocratic, and we de- |
clare it to be the duty Of the state legislatures