Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-08-25
poruL1sr NATIONAL PLATFORM.

POPULIsT NATIONAL PLATFORM.
The Peoples party, assembled in national
reaffirms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the re-
public, and also 70 the fundamental principles
form OF the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the conniyance of the present and
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in its national life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
have political Independence, our financial
and industrial Independence is yet to be at
tanned by restoring 10 our country the consti-
tutionai control and exercise of the functions
necessary TO a peoples government, which
functions have been bssely surrendered by
lies. The influence of European money
changers has been more potent in shaping
legislation than the voice of the American
people Executive power and patronage
have been used tn corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the viii of the people and piutoc-
racy mas thereoy been enthroned upon the
ruins OF democracy To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers. and for the wei
rare OF this and future generations we demand
me {, Ia 'llshment OF an economic and finan-
ciaI sl 81 IN. which shall ma Ike us masters of
our; own affairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following dec
laration OF principles:
FINANCE.
First- We demand national money, safe
and sound. issued by the general government
o .l wlIhout the Intervention of banks of is
sue 70 DE a tiiii legal tender for all debts pub
Tic and private-a just. equitable and efficient
means OF distribution direct to the people and
erh ment. 80 eo'
Second-we demand the free and unre.
strlcleu coinage OF silver and gold ar the pres
ent legal ratio OF sixteen to one without wait
ing Tor the consent OF foreign nations
Inlrd-We demand that the volume of cir
summing meuium be speedily increased to an
amount suihcient TO meet he demands OF the
business and population of this country and
TO restore the just level of prices of labor and
production. -
Fourth-we denounce the sale of bonds and
the Increase OF the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration as
unnecessary ana without authority of law and
citc act of CONGRESS.
Fifih-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization of the lawful
money of the Chited States 10y private con-
tract. ~
Sixth-we demand that the rovern,nen, i'm
pay ment OF ats obligations, shall use its oDtion
as to the kind OF lawful money in which they
are TO toe paid, and we dsuounce the present
anu preceding administrations for surrender
obligations.
SeveDth-We demand graduated income
tax 10 the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear Its Just proportion of taxation ana we
regard the recent decision of the sunreme
court relative to the Income tax law as a mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
Naslon OF the T1ghtfGi powers OF conurress ox,.1r
the subject OF taxation. -
.i -, = uenstnu tnat postal savings
9dhAs DC established 10y the government for
the safe deposit Of the savings of the DeonI
and 70 facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATIONS
INSTRUMENTATION being n means or ar
ehange and a necessity,the government should
own anu operate the railroads in the interest
OF the people and on non-partisan basis: to
the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment IN transportation aud that the
tyranny and political power now Ncrcised Inv
the great railroad corpoTutisns which resnit
NOT
the political rights and personal ,ibertjes Of
inc citlzen, may be destroyed Sach owner
s,,p Is 10 nc gradually i'm man.
ner cohsistent with sound public policy
Second-1he interest Of fhe United States i'm
tine puhhc highways buiit with public moneys
ana me proceeds of extensive grants of land
10 the Ia ;lfc railroads, should never he alien
dteu. Inoilgaged or sold. hut guarded and pro-
tected Tor the general welfare, as provided by
the laws organ ziDG such railroads. The fore
closure OF existing leus of the United States
on these roads should at once follow default i'm
payment thereof 10y tie debtor companies land
At INT i.itct'S'iIc safes of said roads the gov
ernment should purchase the same il il be-
comes necessary To protect its interests there
IN. or IL they can hc purchased at a reasonahIa
price. and the GOV ernmenf shall onerafe sail
rallroads as public highways for the. benefit of
me "hoie people ana not in the interest of the
lew, under suitable provisions for protection
OF ME ard property. giving TO all transDorta-
non interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and frcigiss. -
Jhird-We dcnouuce the present Infamous
sentences Tor Tetundlng these debts and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according To their
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-Fhe telegraph. like the post office
system, being a necessity for the transmission
0f news, should lie owned and operated by
the government in the interests of the people.
LAND.
frst-the true policy demands that the ma
iionai ana STATE legislation shall be such as
VIII Ultimately enable every prudent and in
dIStr1ous citizen 10 secure a home and there
tore the land should not be monopolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
rutroadS and other corporations in excess OF
their actual needs should 10y lawful means lie
reciaIined by the government and held for ac-
tuai settlers only, and pr ATE land monopoly
As well as alien ownership shouId no nrpI,ih,
tied. " poHi"
Second-We condemn ihe frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
nave through the connivance of the interior
department. robbed multitudes of actual bona
hde settlers OF their homes and miners of their
claims. and we demaGd legislation by congress-
wnlcn WA enforce the exemption Of mineral
patent.
Third-ye demand that oil bona fidc settlers
on all public lands be granted free homes as
provided Ia the national homestead law. and
tnat no exception be made in the cise o. In
dlan reservations when opened for et:Icmeut
this demand
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor a
system OF direct legislation through the initia-
I've ai'G referendum under proper coustitu-
uonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS
First-We demand the election of president
vice prc>Ient and United States senators by a
direct vote of the people.
Second-We tender 10 the p:,t riotic Dcot To- of
Cuha our deepest sympathy in their struggle
Tor IoliIcai freedom and Independence and
we believe the time has come VIII N the United
states, the great republic of the world should
recoG NE that Cpba is. and of right ought TO
be, free and independent state.
ihlrti-We favor home -.ifle i'm the territories
ana the District Of Columbia and The carly adj
mission OF the territories Is states
tOuTih \ II public salaries should bc made,
10 correspond 10 the price Of labor and it's pro
ducts. -
Fitth-in these times Of industrial depres-
sion idle labor should be employed on publIo
works IA far as practicable.
SiAth-Ihe arbitrary course of the courts i'm
assuming 10 imprisOn citizens for indirect con-
tempt and ruling them 10y Injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation.
Seyeuib-We favor Just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Eighth-BeIievine that the elective franchise
ana GntFalnme!ed bal OF are essential to gov
eminent OF. for and by the people. the Peoples
party condemns tic wholesale system of dI--
reimbursement adopted in sosic of the states
as un-rcpubiicGn and un-demOcratit aud we
declare IL to be the dnty of The several states
LEGISLATURES TO take such action as will SEIZURE
Il full and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth-while the foregoing propositions con
stifiIte the platform upon which our party
n IL 1 81