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

We denounce the attempt of the
Legislature of Louisiana to call q
limited constitutional convention
as an insulting invasion of the
sovereignty of the people, and we
advise all self respecting citizens
to vote against such convention.
We favor an unlimited constitu-
tlonal convention which will estab-
llsh and preserve 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 maintenance Of
pure and honest ballot, which
will express and enforce tho will
of freemen.
We denounce the attempt to dis
franchise any class of citizens by
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 old, and of the necessary |
residence, who discharges all the
duties Of citizenship, including the
payment of poll tax, shall bayel
the right of suffrage in Louisiana:
that such poll tax should be deyo.
ted exclusively to the public school
funds and the poll tax receipt con.
stltute the voters registration "a.
pers.
We favor the adoption of an
Australian ballot system which
will disfranchise no one, but shall
etfectually preserve the secrecy OF
the ballot.
We favor putting an end to the
one man power in Louisiana by
stripping the Governor of his im-
mense patronage and making all
officers elective and requiring ro-
tation in Office.
We favor the reduction of ex-
penses of government, particular
ly in the judicial and executive
departments, in which the number
Df officers and amount Of salaries
should be cut down.
We favor the reduction of state
taxation to q rate not exceeding
i've mills on tho dollar, so rs to
put a stop to tho nefarious tinan-
:ial system ot farming out to fa-
7orite banks the keeping of taxes
unnecessarily extorted from an i'm.
ooverlshed people.
We oppose the scheme of per- +
hitting municipal and parochial i /
corporations to issue bonds to bur- ..
len and enslave the people. I.
We favor and demand the OK I
'mption Of the citizens homestead. !:
Without registration or condition. C
We demand a better system of ,
public schools. :,
We pledge the delegates nomina =
ed by this convention to submit ,;
whatever constitution may be I
dopted by the covention to u vote = =
t the people for adoption or re- g g
ection. IL
Having confidence and trust in d.
he men nominated by this conven- p
ion, we deem this enunciation Of 6
rincipIes sufficient to guide them :.
/ their duties. n n
We reafirna the doctrines an
ounced by Thomas jefferson that
The whole art of government
onsists.i In the art of honesty and
Honesty is the first chapter in the
ook Of wisdom"
On this platform we invite and
'llcit the support Of all elements
nd all forces in this state who are
opposed to fl,aud, Fosterlsm and 4
'shonest political and government
i methods ard policies which have S
rought shame, suffering and de. N
y to Louisiana. t..
Proudly conscious Of the high Ne
ission Of the Peoples Party to Vi
lvance, secure and elevate the -
ghts OF humanity, we pledge our
'legates to lead in the fight for s1A
stice, liberty and prosperity and Va