People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1897-11-12
THE PLATFORM.
ADOPTED BY THE PEOPLES PARTY
ST. LOUIS CONVENTION.

ADOPT ED BY HE FEOFLE'O ram
ST. LOUIS CONVENTION.
A Declaration of Principles Which Should
Enlist the Hearty support of Every
American Citizen Who Loves His Coun-
try
The Peoples Party, assembled in ma
tional convention, reafflrms its allegi-
ance to the principles declared by the
founders of the republic, and also to the
fundamental principles Of just govern
ment as enunciated in the platform Of
the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the connivance Of the present
and preceding administrations the coun-
try has reached q 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 we have political
independence our financial and indus
trial independence is yet to be attained
by restoring to our country the const1-
tutional control and exercise Of the
functions necessary to peoples govern
ment. which functions have been basely
surrendered 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. Elk
ecutive power and patronage have been
used to corrupt our legislatures and de-
feat the will of the people, and plu-
tocracy has thereby been enthroned upon
the ruins of Democracy. To restore the
government intended by the fathers, and
for the welfare and prosperity of this
and future generations, we demand the
establishment Of an economic and fnan-
cial system which shall make us m asters
Of our own affairs and independent Of
European control by the adoption of the
following declaration of principles:
FINANCE.
1. We demand a national money,
safe and sound, issued by the general
government only, without the interven-
ton Of banks of issue, to be full legal
tender for all debts, public and private;
a Just, equitable and efficient means OF
distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursement Of the
government
3. We demand the free and unre-
stricted coinage of silver and gold at
the present legal ratio of 16 to 1, with
out waiting for the consent of foreign
nations.
8. We demand the volume Of circu-
lating medium be speedily increased to
an amount sufficient to meet the de-
mands Of the business and population Of
this country and to restore the just level
Of prices Of labor and production.
4 We denounce the sale of bonds and
the increase of the public interest bear
ing debt made by the present admins
tration as unnecessary and without au-
thority of law, and that no more bonds
be issued except by specific act of con-
gress.
8. We demand such legislation as
will prevent the demonstration of the
lawful money of the United States by
private contract.
i 6. We demand that the government,
in payment Of its obligations, shall use
its option as to the kind of lawful mon
ey in which they are to be paid, and we
denounce the present and preceding ad-
ministrations for surrendering this op-
ton to the holders of government obi
cations.
2. We demand a graduated income
tax, to the end that aggregated wealth
shall bear its just proportion of taxa
ton, and we regard the recent decision
Of the supreme court relative to the in
come tax law as misinterpretation of
the constitution and an invasion Of the
rightful powers of congress over the
subject of taxation.
s. 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.
1. Transportation being a means of
exchange and a public necessity, the
government should own and operate the
railroads in the interest of the people
and on a nonpartisan basis, to the end
that all may be accorded the same treat
ment in transportation, and that the
tyranny and political power now exer-
cised t. the great railroad corporations,
which result in the impairment, If not
the destruction, Of the political rights
and personal liberties of the citizens,
may be destroyed. Such ownership is
to be accomplished gradually in man
ner consistent with sound public policy.
O. The interest of the United States
in the public highways built with pub
lie 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 fore
closure of existing liens Of the United
States on these roads should at once fol-
low default in the payment thereof by
the debtor companies, and at the fore
closure sales of said roads the govern
ment shall purchase the same if it be-
comes necessary to protect its interests
therein or if they can be purchased at
a reasonable price, and 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 pro-
lection of life and property, giving to
all transportation interests equal privi-
leges and equal rates for fares and
freights.
3 We denounce the present Infamous
schemes for refunding these debts and
demand that the laws now applicable
thereto be executed and administered
according to their true intent and spirit.
4. The telegraph, like the postoffice
system, being a necessity for the trans
mission of news, should be owned and
operated by the government in the in
terest Of the neonle