Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-07-31


and g increase of the public interest bear
ing bond debt made by the present admlnis-
tration as unnecessary and without author
itv 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 demonetization OF the
lawful money OF the United States by private
contract
"sixth-We demand that the Government
In payment OF its obligations shall use Its
ontion 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 oil
Government obligations.
"Saventh-We demand graduated income
tax, to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion OF taxa ion; and we
denounce the Supreme Court. relative to the
income tax law, as a misinterpretation OF the
Constitution and an invasion of the rgbtful
mowers OF Congress over the subject of taxa
ton
banks bo established by the Government for
tho safe deposit OF the savings OF the people
and to facilitate exchange.
Transportation.
Transportation being means OF ex-
change and public necessity, the Government
should own and operate 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 tyranny and political power now ex-
crcised by the great railroad corporations
which result in the impairment II not the de-
struction OF the political rights and person
al liberties OF the citizen, may be destroyed.
Such ownership is to be accomplished grad
ualy, In a manner consistent with sound
public policy.
Second 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 alenated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded
and protected for the general welfare as
provided by laws organizing such railroads..
The foreclosure of existing liens OF the Uni
tod States on these roads should at once fol-
low default in the payment thereof OF the
debt OF companies, and at the foreclosure
sales OF said roads the Government shall
purchase the same If it becomes necessary tc
protect the interests therein, or II they can
be purchased at q reasonable price; and the
Government shall operate such railroads as
public highways for the benefit OF the Whole,
and not in the interest Of the few, under
suitable provisions for the protectien OF lie
and property, giving to all transportation ln-
terests and privileges and equal rates Tor
fares an. freight.
"Third. We denounce the present IMAM
GUS schemes for refunding these debts. and
demand that the laws now applicable there
to be executed aud administered according
to their true intent and spirit.
"Fourtb. The telegraph, like the postof-
fee system, being necessity for the trans
mission Of news, should be owned aud oper-
ated by the Government in the interest OF
the people.
Land MonOpolics.
"Flrst The true policy demands that the
National and State legislation shall be such
as will ultimately enable every prudent and
industrious citizen to secure home. and
therefore, the land should not be monopol-
ized for speculative purposes.
"All lands now held 10y railroads and
other corporations In excess OF their actual
needs should, by lawful means, be rec aimed
by the Government and held for actual set
tiers only; aud private land monopoly, as
we'll as alien ownership, should be probi-
bited.
Second. We condemn the frauds by
which the land grant to the Pacific railroad
companies have, through the conniyance oil
the Interior Department robbed multitudes
Of equal bonaflde settlers OF their homes and
miners Of their claims, and we demand leg
is.ation by Congress which will enforce the
exemption OF mineral land from such grants
after as we'll as before patent
"Third We demand that bonafde set
tiers on all public lands be granted free
homes, as provided in the national home
stead law, and that no exception be made in
the case OF Indian reservations when opened
for settlement, and that all lands not now
patented come udner this demand.
"We favor a system of direct legislation
through the initiative md referendum, un-
der proper constitutional safeguards.
General Propositions.
"First. We demand the election OF Presi-
dent. Weep resident and United States Sen
ators by a direct vote Of the people.
"Second. We tender to the patriotic peo-
pie OF Cuba our deepest sympathy in their
heroic struggle for politica freedom and in
dependence. and we believe the time has
come when the United States, the great re.
public OF the world, should recognize that
Cuba is and Ct right ought to be free and
independent State.
"Third-We favor home rule In the Terri
tories and the District Of Columbia, and the
early admission of the territories as States.
Fourth. All public salaries should he
made to correspond TO the price OF labor
% its products.
Fifth. In times of great Industrial de-
preston, idle labor should be employed on
public works as far as practicable.
"Sixth. The arbitrary course Of the
courts In assuming to imprison citizens for
indirect contempt and ruling that by injunc-
Il.