Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-08-04
popuL1sr NATIONAL PLATFORM.

PePUL1sr NATIONAL PLATFORM.
The Peoples party, assembled in national
| convention, reatfirms its allegiance to the
/ public. and also TO the fundamental principles
| or Just government, as enunciated IN the plat
| form OF the party in 1892. We recognize that
| through the conniyance of the present and
| preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in It's national life as predicted
| IN our declaration four years ago. and that
| prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
duty OF the hour We realize that while VIC
and industrial independence is vet to be at
| tanned by restoring to our country the consti-
Intionai control and exercise of the functions
| Hnecessary 10 peoDies government, which
| functions have been bSsely surrendered by
our public servants to corporate monopo-
mes. me influence of European money
changers has been more potent in shaping
LEGISLATION than tho voice of the American
people Executive power and DafrunaOe
have been used TO corr,Ipt our lesrsslafnres
ana defeat the viii OF the people and pIutoc-
rac g mas thereby been enthroRed upon the
tuins ot democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers. and for the wei
.are O, ms and future geueraiions,we demand
cial - st m. which shall make us masters of
our own affairs and independent of European
Gont .f 10y the adoption of the following dec
FINANCE.
first-Ne demand u national money safe
UNI sou.u Issued 10y the general governments
oni!, Mlincut the intervention of banks of Is
sue 10 be fun legal tender for am debts n,,h-
nc ano psIvaie-a Just, equitable and efficient
means OF distribution direct to the peoDIe and
through the lawful disbursements of The gov
ernment. - S eO'
stricted coinage % silver and gold an the pres-
eht ieSai ratio OF sixteen TO one without wait
ing Tor the consent OF foreign nations
Third-We demand that the volume ot cir-
cuiatnS medium be speedily increased to an
amount suihelent To meef he demands of the
business and population of this country and
TO restore the just level of prices of labor and
production. ""N
FUurth-Te denounct. the sale Of bon5s and
the decrease OF the public Interest hesrins-
DEBT made by the present administrator as
unnecessary anu without authority OF iaw-and
cihc act of cCnarcss. spy
til,h-We demand sueh legislation as will
prevent the dcnonet ization of the lawful
| tract. N'i-
SiXth-We demand that the government. in
payment 81 lis obligations. shall use its Dfion
rs 10 ii.c kind Of lawful monoy in which tbev
are 10 ne i'.lid, and We dsnounce the present
ana preceding administrations for stIrren,Ier~
ing thlS op.ioa 10 the holders of governments
| obligations. HN
SeveDth-We demand a graduated income
| tt,A 10 the ead that aggregated wealth shall
bear its l"st proportion uf taxarinn ana rra
IeSatd the recent decision Of the supreme
court feidfiye 10 the income tax law as !, mis-
Interpretation OF The constitution and an in
vasion OF the riEhttGi powers of congress over
the subject OF taxation. "
EighCh-We demand that Dostai sa,.i,,
BANKS be established by the government for
te saIs DEPOSIT OF the savings OF the peopl
aha 20 iacilitaic exchange.
TRANSFORMATIONS
| Flrst-Transp ortatinn being 4 means OF ev--
Change ANA Il necessity the government shonld
own and operate the railroads in the interest
~ ~ tVV!.ic eiiu on 4 non-partisan basis:
me end mat ali msy be accorded tue same
| treatment in transportation aud that the
- - T6iai9 anu i'oiilcal power now Exercised by
the great railroad corpor, items IA mich resni,
~ the IN iltif'n,ht. II not tie obstruction of
the Pniiilcat rights ana personal liberties of
| the citizen may he destroyed Sucl oNncr
snip Is 20 DC cc9mp!ished gradually in man
uCr consistent VITA sound public policy
| Second-lhc interest OF the United States i'm
" pIouc hi4h"ays built with public moneys
and the proceeds 81 extensive grants ~ ia,1d
20 the Ia lie railroads should meyer he ai;a,,
ated. mort s@.ee3 or sold hut guarded and rro
| tYcteu Tor the general welfare. as provided by
| the Jaws organ Ziug such railroads Th,. FORE
closure OF existing liens of the United States
On these roads should AT once follow default in
| pa! iiieHt thereof 10y the debtor companips and
| q 'ue IoleciusIfc sales OF said roads the gov
| eminent should purchase the same III il he-
S'''cr l.SSts>tt! 10 project its interests there
III, u II '.i.s can h- purchased at a reasonable
| price. ana the government shall oDerato said
| railroads a. public hi~ilways for the benefit Of
| me wh"le people ana not in the interest of the
! Few. under suitable provisions for proiectton
OF ME and property. giving to ali transDorta-
tl,h interests equal privileges and equal rates
| iOr itftS Gnd ifeiEits-
| Ihlfd-Ne deHounce the present Infamous
schemes for refunaing these debts and de-
mAhd that the laws now applicable thereto he
executed anu administered according to their
| true intent and spirit.
f'uItii-Ihe telegraph, like tie post Office
| 'Estehi. beiils q necessity Tor the transmission
| 81 news, should lie owned and operated by
tue government III the interests OF the people.
LAND.
ttTSt-the true policy demands that the ma
uch'tl ana state legislation shall be such as
| VIII ultimately enable every prudent and in
| 9hstriouS citizen 10 secure Il home. aud there
! 'orc the land should not be muaouulizcd for
| speculative purposes. Ali lands now held hv
railroads ana other corporations in excess of
their actual needs should by lawful means he
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
tuaI settlers only, and pri ATE land monopoly,
a. wen as alien ownership, should be prohib-
| Second-We condemn The frauds br which
| the laIi grants 10 Pacific railroad COMPANIES,
| nave through the counivance OF the Interior
| department, robbed mnlfitudeS of actual hona
| nee settlers OF their BONES and miners of thejr
| claims. and we demand legislation by congress-
| which viii enforce the exemption of mineral
| iaid from such grants, after rs well as before
patent,
Ihird-We demand thar all hon. ide settlers
On All puth'c lands be granted tree homes as
provided in the national homestead law and
| tntt no exception be made in the case o. In
| dian reservations when opened for settlement
| this demand. ' ""ue'
FourtiierInireet Legislation: We favor a
system 81 direct legislation through the initia-
| I've tr,G referendum under proper constitn-
| uonal safeguards.
J GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
| First--iFe demand the election of president.
| vice president and United States senator's by a
| direct vote or the people.
| Setohd ~ tender To the patriotic neon ie OF
| Su't our deepest sympathy their struggle
| Tor political freedom and Independence and
| W. bcilefe the time has come wIienthe United
! states, TIE great republic of the world should
| fccoS. ilIe that Cuba *. and of right ought To
| DE- Il Tree ana independent state.
| thirc-Nc favor home rule in the territories
| ana tie DisiIlct OF Columbia and he early aG-
| mission OF the territories a. states
| Fourth All public salaries shOud be made
| ducts nv 'e P''
| Fifth-In these times Of industrial depres-
| sion idle labor should be employed on publi,
works as far as practicable.
| SIAth-Ihe arbitrary course OF the courts i'm
assuming 10 iinprison citizens for in direct con-
| tempt and ruling them by injunction should
| De prevented by proper legislation.
SeNenth-Me favor just pensions for every
| disabled Union soldier.
Eighth believing that the elective franchise
! and Hntrammeied bal OF are essential TO aov-
eminent o., Tor and by the peopIe.Iiic Peoples
/ party condemns the wholesale system of dis
frsnchisement adopted in eomc of the states
| "a un-repuDiicau and uH-deInOcrafic aud VIZ,
declare II 10 toe the duty OF tie several states
legislatures 70 take such action as will secure,
iuIl,free and fair ballot and an honest count.
hinih-Whiie the foregoing propositions con
siHute Inc platform upon which our party
STANDS ana for the vindicatiOn of which is or
that the great aud pressing Issue Of the pend
ing campaign upon which the present presi-
dental election VIII turn IS he financial aIes-
tIon ana uD9H this great and specific issue be-
tween the parties we cordially invite the aid
ana cooperation of All m II