Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-07-14
popuL1sr NATIONAL PLATFORM.


The Peoples party, assembled in national !
convention. reaffirms its allegiance to the |
principles declared by the founders of the re- |
pupllc, and also to the fundamental principles |
OF Just government, as enunciated In the plat |
form OF the party in 1892. We recognize that |
through the cOnniyance of the present and |
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in its national life as predicted |
In our declaration four years ago, and that |
prompt and PATRIOTIC action is the supreme |
duty of the hour. We realize that while VIC |
have political Independence, our financial |
and industrial independence is yet to be at J
tanned by restoring to our country the consti-
tutional controland exercise of the functions
necessary TO PEOPLES government, which |
functions have been bssely surrendered by
our pubic servants to corporate mOnOpO-
lies. 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 legislatures
and defeat the viii of the people. and plutoc-
racy mas thereby oeen enthrOned upon the
ruins of democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers. and for the well
the establishment of an economic and finan-
cfal system. which shall make us masters of
our own affairs and independent of European
| laration OF principles:
FINANCE.
FIRST w demand national money, safe
and sound, issued by the general government
| only, without the Intervention of banks of is
sue to be a full legal tender for all debts pub
means of distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
eminent.
Second-We demand the free and upra
stricted coinage of silver and gold at the pres
emit legal ratio of sixteen TO one without wait
ing for the consent of foreign nations
Third-We demand that the volume of cir
culating medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient to meet the demands of the
business and population of this country and
to restore the just level of prices of labor and
production.
Fourth-We denounce the sale of bonds and
the increase OF the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration as
unnecessary and without authority of Iawand
| that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
| citic act of CONGRESS.
| Fifth-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization of the lawful
| money OF the United States by private con-
tract.
Sixth-We demand that the government. in
payment of its obligations. shall use its option
| as TO the Kind or lawful money in which they
| are to be paid, and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender
Ing this option to the holders of government
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
| tax TO the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear Its just proportion of taxation, and we
| regard the recent decision of the supreme
| court relative to the income tax law as a mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
| yasion of the rghtful powers of congress over
| the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government, for
l
and to facilitate exchange.
| TRANSPORTATION.
| neutrality-suspicious. being means of ey-
change and necessity the government should
| own and 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 political power now exercised nv
the great railroad corporations. which result
In the impairment, If not the destruction of
the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen, may be destroyed Such owner
lscIa
| ner consistent with sound public policy
| Second-The interest of the United States in
tne PUBIC highways built with public moneys
| and the proceeds of extensive grants of land
TO the Pac1nc railroads, should never be alien
ated mortgaged or sold, but guarded and pro-
| tected for the general welfare as provided nv
| the laws organizing such railroads. The fore
| closure OF existing liens of the United States
On these roads should at once follow default in
| payment thereof by the debtor com Danies :and
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
| eminent should purchase the same If il he
comes necessary to protect its interests there
In, or IL they can be purchased at reasonable
price, ana the government shall operate said
railroads as public highways for the benefit of
the whole people and not in the interest of the
few, under suitable provisions for protection
OF life and property, giving to all transporta-
uon interests equal privileges and equal fates
for fares and freights.
! Th1rd-We denOunce the present infamous
schemes for refunding these debts and de-
mand That the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according to their
| true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post Office
system, being necessity for the transmission
| OF news, should be owned and Operated hy
the government in the interests of the people
LAND.
FIrst--the true policy demands that the ma
uonal and state legislation shall be such as
Will ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrlous citizen to secure home. and there
fore the land should not be moaopoliZed for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
ralirOads and other corporations in excess of
their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only. and pri Iate land monopoly,
as wen as alien ownership, should be prohib-
tied
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
| the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
nave, through the connivance of the interior
department, robbed multitudes of actual bona
noe settlers of their homes and miners of their
claims. and we demand legislation by congress
which will enforce the exemption of mineral
land from such grants, after as well as before
patent,
on all public lands be granted tree homes, as
provided in the national homestead law, and
| dian reservations when opened for settlement,
this demand.
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor a
system of direct legislation through the initia-
tive and referendum under proper constitu-
tional safeguards.
, GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
F1rst-We demand the election of president
wee president and United States senators by a
ulfeCI vote OF the people
Second-We tender to the patriotic people of
, Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
for political 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.
Th1rd-We favor home rule in the territories
, and the District of Columbia and the early ad
! mission of the territories as states
Fourth-All public salaries should be made
to correspond to the price of labor and it's pro
s ducts.
q Fifth-ln these times of Industrial depres
| sion idle labor should be employed On public
| works as far as practicable.
SXth-The arbitrary course of the courts in
assuming to 1mprisOn citizens for in direct con
tempt and ruling them by Injunction should
=, be prevented by proper legislation.
Seventh-We favor Just pensions for every
4 disabled Union soldier.
Eighth Believing that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential 10 gov
q erpment OF, for and by the people, the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
REIMBURSEMENT adopted in some OF the states
as un-rcpubcan and un-democratic. aud we
declare II to be the duty of the several states
I. legislatures to take such action as will secure
full free and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth-Whie the foregoing propositions cor
stitute the platform upon which our party
stands. and for the vlndication of which its or
' gan1ZauOn Will be maintained, we recognize
q that the great and pressing issue OF the pend
ing campaign upon which the present presi
dental election Will turn Is the financial cues
ton. and unon this great and specific issue be-
tween the parties we cordially invite the aid
and co-operationof all organizations Cit
A..