The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-27
The american Party" Has
Completed Its Organization
And Now Gives Its Principles
to the World.
WANTS ALL CHANGED,
Scarcely Anything Under the
SIN is Right.
Platform Includes All Gre
forms" Ever Thought Of.

St Louis, Mo, Aug. G.-The new
American party has been launched by
a committee of between 40 and 80 DEL
egates who have been in session IN
this city for the past few days. They
represent nine states and one terrific
ry. ..-.4,e,.r
was selected with Col z. H. Sellers OF
Detroit as chairman. Fred Carlisle OF
Detroit who was selected for the po-
sition of secretary of the committee, is
an old time Republican. He was sec
retary of the committee on resolutions
at the organization of the Republican
party 43 years ago.
The additional members OF the COM
mittee are:
Allison stocIer. Denver; w. c. Hol-
den, Galesburg, ILL.,; D. L. Tubbs, Bur
lington, Ia; A. J. Campau, New Or
leans, La: H. v. Thompson, st. Louis;
ia. Phelps, Carthage, NY; G. H. Ly-
tie, Cleveland, o., and J.W. Ellis, South
1feAllister. I. T.
The committee was empowered to en-
large itself. A platform was adopted
and Detroit was selected for the COM
mittee headquarters for the ensuing
year.
The platform starts out with the dec
laration that the most potent safeguard
of prosperity is abundant revenue,
and therefore favors such an adjust
revenues as will produce sufficient
money for the governments expendi-
lures.
On the financial question, the plat
form favorS the defnOnetizatiOn of both
gold and silver, the prohibition of con-
tracts for payment in coin of either
metal and the substitution of metallic
tokens for the present minor coins, and
declares that all currency should be in
the form of treasury notes of unlimited
legal tender quality. and that every
other form of currency notes should be
Withdrawn from circulation.
Ihe resolutions continue as follows.
''All existing obligations of the gov
ernment should be paid at maturity, in
strict conformity with their expressed
conditions. For this purpose the gold
and silver coins Withdrawn from circu-
Iation should be held in the treasury
for the redemption of such bonds as are
specifically payable in coin.
I'VE believe that the mints of the
United States should be open at all
times to all citizens free of charge for
assaying, refining, casting into bars
all gold and silver produced from
mines within our territory"
Among other things the platform IA
vors the submission of the question of
equal suffrage for both sexes to the diff
ferent states; control of all public con-
Veniences and utilities by the govern
ment national, state, county or muni-
cipal: enactment of an income tax law;
restriction and taxation of foreign i'm
migrants; protection to home labor
from foreign pauper immigration; re-
read and write the English language;
compulsory education; complete sepa-
ration of church and state; selection of
president, vice president, United States
senators and speaker of the house by
direct vote of the people; amendment
to the federal constitution to provide a
system of initiative and referendum;
uniform system nOn-Sectarian public
schools; proposed Hawaiian annexa-
tion treaty and enactment of legislation
TO abolish trusts, monopolies and COM
bines.
In addition to the national platform
adopted, the following statement of
principles is recommended as a plat
form for the several states:
FrSt-An public utilities inhering to
the states shall be placed under such
supervision and legislative control as
will best insure equal benefits to all
people.
of private armed bodies shall be pro-
hibited
,Third.-The Initiative and referen-
dunn to be used in the formation of all
laws and ordinances affecting the rights
OF the people We. approve of direct
legislation by the people, - =.
Fourth;-The best ballot system to be
adopted for all elections, in order that
corruption of the elective franchise be
entirely avoided. There should be but
one election heldin any one year for
national, state, county, town and muni-
cipal officers
F'ifth.-We favor such changes in the
registrat ton and election laws as will
secure to every lawful voter, the right
to cast a ballot at every election and TO
have the same correctly returned. The
TeSlstra tiOn of voters should be compile
ted ON the same day by a system of
Schooi district and neighbOrhoOd meet
1ngs, convened by due public notice at
such an hour as will not conflict with
general business pursuits, not less
than 80 days previous to the day of cleo
ton The nomination of candidates for
all official positions shall be made at
primary election, (and not by caucuses)
TO be held on a day fixed by law. moi
more than so nor less than 30 davs he
fore the date of general elections All
legislative officers to be so grouped as to
insure minority representation
Sixth-We favor equal suffrage for
both sexes, based upon an educational
qualification.
Seventh-Neither the state. nor the
county municipality shall contribute to
the support of any institution under de-
nominational, sectarian or private con-
troll
Eighth.-we insist upon the taxation
OF all property, real or personal not
owned by the public.
Ninth.-We consider the non-sectar-
ian free public school as the only place
where American children can obtain
a practical educa tions and we protest
against the employment of any person,
or persons, not in sympathy with our
American institutions of government as
officers or teachers therein.
Tenth-An corporations should be
aDOiiShed.
Eleventh-We demand that all hospi-
tails, asylums, reformatories and other
institutions occupied by persons of eth
er sex, voluntarily or involuntarily
whether public or private, or semi-pri-
vate be at all times subject to public
inspection.
Twelfth.-Labor must be recognized
as the direct source of wealth It's
rights must be maintained equally with
those of capital. All Industrial pursuits
should be fostered and encouraged in
every possible way and the better to
prevent strikes and lockoutS, co-opera-