Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-07-07
PoPUL1sr NATIONAL PLATFORM.

PoPUL1sT NATIONAL PLATFORM.
Inc Peoples party, assembled in national
convention. reaffirms its allegiance to the
pnhI;n "a 3eIi . py tpe founders OF the re-
OF just government, rs enunciated in the plat
FORM OF the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the c0nniyance of the present and
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in its national life as predicted
IN our deciaration four years ago, and that
DUTY or the hour. We realize that while we
have political Independence, our financial
talned by restoring to our country the consti-
tutional control and exercise of the functions
necessary TO a peoples government, which
1nnctions have been basely surrendered by
our public servants to corporate monopO-
lies. The influence of European money
changers has been more potent in shaninr
legislation than the voice of the American
people. Executive power and patronage
nave been used to corrupt our legislatures
ana dereat the viii of the people. and pIutoc-
racy has thereby been enthroned upon the
ruins of democracy. To restore the govern
ment Intended by the fathers. and for the well
rare OF TINS and future generations, we demand
the establishment of an economic and finap-
ciaI sy stem, which shall make us masters of
our own affairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following dec
laration OF principles:
First demand SAN Mat;o 49,,
and sound issued by the general government
only, w1fhout the intervention OF banks of is
sue 10 De Iuli legal tender for all debts Duh-
nc anu Prlvate-a just, equitable and efficient
means OF distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
ernment.
Second-We demand the free and unre.
strlcted coinage of silver and gold al the pres
emf legal ratio of sixteen TO one. without wait
Ing Tor the consent of foreign nations
Thlrd-We demand that the volume of cir
culatlng medlum be speedily increased to an
amount sufhcientto meet the demands OF the
business and population of this country and
to restore the just Lowell of prices of labor and
production. $500
Fourth-We denounce the sale of bonds and
the increase of the public interest hearing
debt made by the present administration as
unnecessary and without authority of law and
citic act of CONGRESS.
Fffth-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the RECOMMENDATION of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract.
Sixth-We demand that the government. in
payment OF its obligations, shall use it's option
as 10 the KIND or lawful money in which they
are to be paid, and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender
ing this option to the holders of government
obligations.
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
TAX 10 the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation and we
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative to the income tax law as n mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vasion of the rightful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal SAVINGS
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the neonI
and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION
neutrality-suspicious. being means of ex-
change aud necessity, the goyernm should
own and operate the railroads in the Interest
OF the people and on a non-partisan basis: to
the enu tnat all may be accorded the same
treatment In transportation and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
tue great railroad corporations. which result
In the Impairment, If not the destruction of
! the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen. may be DESTROYED Such owner
ship is to be accomplished gradually in man
ner consistent with sound public policy
| Second-The interest of The United States in
the public highways built with public moneys
ana the proceeds of extensive grants of land
TO the Paclnc railroads. should never be alien
ated, mortgaged or sold. but guarded and pro-
tected for the general welfare, as provided by
the laws organizing such railroads The. fore
closure of existing liens of the United States
! On these roads should at once follow default in
| payment thereof by the debtor com panies land
| at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
| ernment should purchase the same if il he
comes necessary to protect its interests there
IN, or II they can be purchased at a reasonable
| price, and the government shall operate said
railroads as public highways for the benefit of
| the whole people and not in the interest of the
| few. under suitable provisions for protection
| OF life and property, giving to all transDOrta-
| ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
| for fares and freights.
| ThirdAWe denOuncc the nresapt infor,ons
! schemes for refunding these debts and de-
| mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
| tn thair
| true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post Office
system, being necessity for the transmission
| of news, should be owned and operated by
| INC so'erhmenl III the interests OF tho people.
| LAND.
| First-the true policy demands that the ma
| tiona and state legislation shall be such ms
| will ultimately enable every prudent and in
| dustr1ouS citizen to secure a home and there
| fore the land should not be moaopojzed for
| speculative purposes All lands now held by
| railroads and other corporations in excess of
| their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
| tual settlers only, and pri |ate land MONOPOLY
| tied.
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
nave through the connivance of the interior
department, robbed multitudeS of actual bona
| fde settlers of their homes and miners of their
claims, and we-demand legislation by congress
which will enforce the exemption of mineral
land from such grants, after well as before
patent,
Third-We demand that all bona fide settlers
| on all pubic lands be granted tree homes as
provided in the national homestead law and
that no exception be made in the case Of In
dian reservations when opened for settlement,
| this demand.
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor a
system OF direct legislation through the initia-
tive and referendum under proper coustitu-
| tional safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
flrst-We demand the election of president
| vice president and United States senators by a
direct vote of the people.
Second-We tender to the patriotic peoI lie of
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
Tor political freedom and Independence and
we believe the time has come when the United
States the great republic of the world should
recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought to
be, free and independent state
Th1rd-We fayOr home rule in the territories
ana the District of Columbia and the early adj
mission of the territories as states
Fourth-All public salaries should be made
to correspond to the price of labor and its pro
ducts.
Fifth>-In these times of industrial depres-
SION Idle labor should be employed on public
works as far as practicable.
Slxth-The arbitrary course of the courts i'm
assuming to fmprisOn citizens for in direct con-
tempt and ruling them by Injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation
Seventh-We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Eighth Believing that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential to gov
eminent of, for and by the people, the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
reimbursement adopted in some of the states
as un-republican and un-democratir aud we
declare it to be the duty of the several states
legislatures to take such action as will secure
full, free and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth-Whie the foregoing propositions con
stltute the platform upon which our party
stands. and for the vIndioation of which its or
ganizatiOn will be maintained. we recognize
tnat the great and pressing issue of the pend
ing campaign upon which the present presi-
Dental election will turn is the financial uues-
t1on, and upon this great and specific issue be-
fr-o fhsaw&