The Louisiana populist., 1897-12-24
State Platform,

we denoance the attempt of tn
Legislature Of Louisiana To- call
limited constitutional conventio,
as an insulting invasion Of tn,
sovereignty Of the people, and W,
advise all self respecting citizen,
TO vote against such s. convention
we favor an unlimited constitu
tlonal convention which will estab
lish and preserve q clean and hon.
est government for ourselves and
our children. '''>
we declare that the paramount
Issue in the approaching campaign
is to put an end to the regime Of
fraud in Louisiana elections and
the restoration and maiutensnc. os
Il pure and honest bulIot. which
VIII express and enforce the will
of freemen.
We denounce the attempt to dis
franchise any class of citizens bv
devious, degrading and fraudulent
restrictions Of the suffrage which
are intended merely to perpetuate
a monopoly of the spoils of Office,
We declare that every man q |
years Ole, and Of the necessary
who discharges all the
duties OF citizenship, including the
payment Of a poll tax, shall have
The right Of suffrage in Louisiana:
-hat such poll tax should be devo,
.cd exclusively to the public school
suntIs and the poll tax recent con-
'iltule the voters registration pa
)erS.
We + favor the adoption Of an
Australian ballot system which
viii disfranchise no one, but shn|lI,
itectualiy preserve the secrecy Of ,
he ballot. )
we favor putting an end to the |
ne man power in Louisiana by S
tripping the Governor of his i'm
lense n patronage and making ali /
Ulcers elective and requiring ro-
ltion in Office.
we favor the reduction Of ex-
enses Of government, particular
; In the judicial and executive c
apartments, in which the number
officers and amohat of salaries
!ould be cut down.
We favor the reduction of state y
xatlon to g rate not exceeding a
re mills on the dollar, SO as to tt
1t stop to the nefarious hnan- "
Al system ct farming out to ia -
rite banks the keeping of taxes
necessarily extorted from an i'm
'verlshed people.
We oppose the scheme of per- "
'ttlng municipal and parochia! ,
operations to issue bonds to bur- a sn
n and enslave the people. ne
We favor and demand the ex. ne, Y
'ptlon OF the citizens homestead. :;n q,
thout registration or condition. ior
We demand a better system Of cas- cas-
bic schools. :, :
We pledge the delegates nomina s;Gj &c;
ny this convention TO submit
atever constitution may be
opted by the covention to a vote 4
the people for adoption or re- {
ton. A
iaving confidence and trust in B
men nominated by this convcn- 7
], we deem this enunciation of
nciples sufficient to guide them
heir duties. II
We reaf6rm the doctrines an sSss
need by Thomas Jefferson that s I
le whole art of government So
'lsts in the art of honesty" and 8; %,
onesty is the first chapter in the saa
k Of wisdom ssIs ssi,s'
n this platform we invite and ss's! ssa's!
,lt the support Of all elements ! s!sss
all forces in this state who are saaa uaSa
osed to fraud, Fosterlsm and to saes Gu
onest political and government eaesa
Methods and policies which have sa,c1 se cs
lght shame, suffering and de. frsng2 fi,sa ;
ID LOUISIANA. est vi
.ondly conscious of the high vi We
ION of the Peoples Party to s;9sd;; Ae. !;
nee, secure and elevate the book
IS OF humanity, we pledge our desa.s ton.
rates to leld 10 ihe fight for I
GO, liberty and prosperity and Eeuti