The Louisiana populist., 1897-12-17
Platform.

We favor poll tax qualification
for suffrage, not to exceed two
dollars, and such. other restric.
tions as will establish good gov.
ernment based on intelligence and
white supremacy.
We are opposed to the one-man.
power dominating the elections OF
this State as now authorized by
law, and believe it to be the source
of 9-tenths of the corruption in
politics with which our common,
wealth is afflicted. We favor the
election of Registrars, Supervi.
sors, Commissioners and all other
election officers, by the people d.
rect, Or else their appointment by
Parish officers who are themselves
elected directly by the people.
We are opposed to the appoint
i've power in our State government,
and favor the election of all Off
GERS from the Supreme Court down
to members of the Parish School
Board.
We believe the Judiciary of our
State is the most expensive, and
the most slothful in meeting the
ends OF justice, Of any State in the
Union, and favor the remodelling
Of same so as to correct these evils,
by cutting down both salaries and
number Of officers, and enlarging
the powers and jurisdiction OF our
magistrates courts.
We believe in a general reduc-
tion Of official salaries to cores
pond with the price Of farm pro-
ducts, the profits Of mercantile
and other interests and the salaries
earned in private and professional
lines.
We believe our Public School
system should have a larger per
cent of the taxes we pay, anr
should be SO improved as to place
its control more in the hands of
the people-taking it out of the
hands Of politicians who are now
using it as a means of paying po-
litical debts, and rewarding their
henchmen.
We believe that the free and un-
encumbered home is the union of
our civilization, the life of Ameri-
can liberty and the foundation of
oil republican forms of govern
ment, and therefore, we favor a
Homestead law in our constitution
that will exempt by right the home
and appurtenances, similar to the
law now in Cur constitution.
Believing that discrimination and
unequal charges are made by rail
roads and steamboat lines in this
State, to the detriment of all ship
pers, we favor an elective Railroad
Commission to regulate trafc on
all public carriers as well as tele-
graphs and telephones.
We are opposed to the lease of
one or more penitentiary convicts
to any person, company, firm or
corporation in competition with
free lobor ; but favor the employ
ment Of convicts, under the author
ity Of the Legislature, supervised
BY officers and employees in the SER
vice Of the State, to work on pub
lic roads, on State levees, on con-
vict farms, or on any work owned
and controlled by the State.
We arc opposed to what is styl-
ed dealing in futures. If it be a
business, a license or
tax should be levied and collected
from every person in the State
engaged in it. If it be gambling
or not legitimate business, then It
should be prohibited by penalty
for each violation.
We are opposed to the limita-
tions attempted to be thrown
around the approaching Constitu-
tional Convention, but since said
is not prohibited from
onacting any Of the foregoing leg
lslation, we favor voting for the
iall OF same, and pledge our dele
gates here0n nominated to the
lbove and all other needed reforms.
/ Respectfully submitted,
III. L. BRIAN, Ch.
]. j. HORTON. |
w. H. LOWE.