The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-09-02
NEW AMERICAN PARTY.
Platform AdOpted-COmmitt Head
quarters Located at Detroit.


st. Louis. No., Aug. 26.-The new
| American party was launched today by
Il convention of between forty and fifty
delegates, who have been in session In
| this city for the past few days. They
represent nine states and one territory
| and are said to have been active in d
large number of other states. A ma.
tional committee was elected, consisting
of ten members, with Col. II. Fl. Sellers
of Detroit as chairman. Among the
Campau of New Orleans, III. V. Thomp
son of st. Louis. J. w. Ellis of South
McAllister. |. ~.
A platform of declarat tons was adopt
ed, and Detroit was named for the com.
mittee headquarters for the ensuing
year. The convention was in executive
session from y II. m. until late this after
noon. considering and finally adopting
the report of the committees.
After the conclusion of its business
the convention adjourned sine die.
The platform: which is lengthy docu-
ment, pledges the party in return fer the
suffrage of the people that it will EN-
body into law for the benefit Of the
whole people the reforms named.
1t starts out with the declaration that
the most potent safeguard of prosperity
is an abundant revenue and therefore
favors such an adjustment of the tariff
and internal revenues as will produce
sufficient. money for the government 5
expenditures.
On the financial question the platform
has this to say:
""Since nearly 90 per cent of all bust
ness transactions of the country are ac-
complished without the aid of specie. we
favor the decentralization of both gold
and silver. the prohibition of contracts
for payment in coin of either metal and
the substitution of metallic tokens for
our present minor coins.
1--WE believe that all currency should
he in the form of treasury notes of I'M
limited legal tender quality and in such
quantity as shall facilitate free com
mercial exchange. to the end that every
other form of currency notes should DO
withdrawn from circulation.
''All outstanding obligations of the
government should he paid ut maturity
in strict conformity with their OK
pressed conditions. For this purpose the
gold and silver coins withdrawn from
circulation should he held in the treasury
for the redemption of such bonds as
are specifically payable in coin.
"Wc believe that the minis of the
times to all citizens free of charge for
the aSsaying. refining. casting into bars
and Stamping weight and fineness of
all gold and silver produced from mines
within our own territory"
Tn addition to these are favored the
issuance of low interest bearing savings
certificates for popular Investment, en-
changeabc for non-intercst-bearir
United States notes and payable in gold
or silver bullion and their offering in
sums within the reach of all of interest
bearing obligations of the United States
Among other things the platform ia
vors the submission of the question Of
equal suffrage for both sexes TO the diff
fercnt states: the election Of president,
vice president. United States senator's
and speaker of the house of representa-
tvcs by direct vote of the people. and
the enactment of legislation TO abolish
trusts. monopolies and combines