Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-07-07

interests, while the taxes or the rest
of the people have constantly increased,
general assembly of laws to equalize
these burdens by bringing under the
purview OF the tax gatherers intangi-
BILE as well as tangible values.
Corporation Invited.
We go before the people OF this state
with the conviction that the interests OF
the whole people demand a change in
the policy and management OF our state
affairs, and we invite the cooperation
OF every patriotic citizen SO believing.
POPULIST.
The democratic, populist and free sill
Yer republican parties Of Iowa in con-
vention assembled unite in the follow
ing declaration OF principles. We con-
graduate our respective parties upon
having polled for their splendid leader,
Hon. VIM. j. Bryan OF Nebraska. the
largest vote ever cast in Iowa for
presidential candidate prior to the cleo
ton OF November, 1896, and we rejoice
in expressing our supreme confidence
that the vote for the state ticket in 1897
will be larger still.
We, the populists OF Iowa, in conven-
ton assem- bled, hereby declare these
our principles.
We are first and unalterably in favor
of the free and unlimited coinage Of
silver at the present legal ratio of is TO
/ with gold, and we heartily endorse
the declaration Of the republican party
of Iowa in 1877, that The silver dollar.
having been the legal unit OF value from
the foundation Of the federal govern
ment until 1873, the law by which its
coinage was suspended should be re-
pealed at the earliest possible moment
and silver made with gold full legal
tender for the payment OF all debts
both public and private.
We declare that the methods resorted
TO by the leaders of the republican
party in the late national campaign
have justly alarmed the entire country.
Their fragrant acts of bribery, intini-
dation, colonization and deception over
awed. and were intended to overawe,
the electorate and thus prevent free
and honest expression of public opinion.
We affirm this to be a direct attack
upon popular government and declar-
alton of war against free institutions.
II submitted to without rebuke the pres
idential office will be permanently UNI
der the domination of money and Of the
corrupt influences which money con-
trolls.
The purpose OF the high handed and
criminal methods is evident from the
results following their success. The
trusts, the combines, the syndicates.
the corporations, all united to make the
government an agency for the promo
ticn Of their special interests and well
fare They contributed millions upon
millions to make Hanna's campaign
fund, and having triumphed by the cor
rupt use Of these vast sums, they are
now about 70 recoup themselves from
the pockets otathe people. The notori-
Gus, almost avowed. purpose OF the
tariff bill now under consideration in
the senate is to repay the trusts and
the mine. the mill and the factory bar
ons for their pecuniary aid TO McKin-
ley; the railroads are to be compensat
ed by pooling law; and 1t Is on the
programme as announced by Secretary
Gage to requite the banking corpora
tions by returning the greenbacks and
Sherman treasury notes and increas-
ing the interest bearing debt $500, 900, 600
for their exclusive benefit. The pros
perity which was promised was pros
perity to these special interests and not
to the people at large. The people have
not realized it, and while legislation is
for the classes instead Of the masses.
they never will. 1t is further the ends
Of those who do not produce, but alb
sorb, wealth, and legislation in whose
behalf is rapidly segregating society
into the few very rich and the many
very poor. that Speaker Reed arbitrar-
lily refused to permit the national house
OF representatives to legislate, and de-
MES to the American people the repre-
sentation in the government to which
they are entitled by the fundamental
law.
That all supplemental currency
hn hxy
and should be full legal tender for
all debts, and we view with alarm the
threat Of the present administration to
withdraw and to destroy the govern
ment issue, and look upon the move
ment as a further crime in decreasing
the amount OF money in use. while
population is increasing, and increas-
ing the bonded debt in times Of peace.
We characterize the "anti-fusion"
law as the most infamous measure ever
enacted by a partisan legislature, and
one calculated to legislate the dominant
party into power in Iowa by disarming
and DISTINGUISHING the sovereign cleo
tors In whose hands there rests the Sc
curity Of our institutions and the rights
and liberties OF our people.
We denounce the republican party
sor its contemplate subserviency TO
corporate interests as demonstrated by
fecting employees of corporations.
We demand legislation to protect all
employees Of said corporations in their
natural rights.
We favor the economical administra-
tlon or national, STATE, count ana mu-
nicipal affairs, and recommend re-
trenchment in expenditures instead OF
increased taxation to meet the current
deficiencies In income.
We denOunce in unmeasured terms
the prevailing corruption in our state
administration, recently brought to
light, and we declare that the deplora-
BILE and humiiating disclosures call i'm
peratively for sweeping change of Of
ficials Throughout.
We also recommend to the favorable
consideration of the voters OF Iowa that
fundamental idea of peoples govern
ment the initiative and referendum.