Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-01-12
foruI1sr NATIONAL rLArrosr.

lies. The influence OF Ruronean yno,,~.
GS an,sis mas been more potent In shaping
people. Executive power and patronsre
nsse oeen used TO corrupt our legislatures
r .sc oe.ea, she vii Of the people. and piutoc-
10y nes tnercDy Deen enthroned upon the
ruins of democracy. To restore the royern.
ment intended by the fathers, and for the vel
- y. ms sno future generations, we demand
tnc estapnsnment OF an economic and nnau-
cfal system. which shall make us mssters Of
our own affairs and independent OF Europesn
SOn.foi, oy the adoption of the following deo-
FINANCE.
FIRST We demand q national money. eafe
and sound, issued by the general goverument
sue to be a full legal tender for ali debit nub-
lie and private-a just, equitable and ef3cient
means OF distribution direct to the people and
ernmeut
Second-We demand the free and uure-
s.rie.ed coinage OF silver and gold at the pres-
emit iegai ratio or sixteen TO one, without watt
ing Tor the consent Of foreign nations.
Iniro-"e demand that the volume of cir
culating medium be speedily Increased To nm
business and population of This countrT s snS
70 restore the just level of prices of labor and
Fourth-we denounce the sale Of bonas nd
the increase OF the public interest bearing
oeot made by the present administration ~
. unnnsecessary ana without authority of lava
tnat no more bonds be issued except bv ana
chic act of congress. -
Hfth-We demand such legislation AZ will
prevent the demonetization of the lawful
money OF the United States by private con-
tract
sixth-we demand that the government. I'm,
payment OF its obligations, shall use its OPTION
as to the kind of lawful money in which thex
are to be paid. and we denounce the present
ano preceding administrations for Surrender.
ing .n,s option TO the holders OF government
Seventh-we demand a graduated income
TAX 10 the end that aggregated wealth shall
nrnr ion 90
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative to the income tax law al a mia
Interpretation of the constitution and an IN.
tb Sa Tue powers OF congress over
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
par banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATIONS.
neutrality-suspicious. being a means OF ex.
cnange and necessity, the government should
own ana operate the railroads in the interest
OF the people and on a non-partisan basis: TO
the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment In transportation and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations. which result
IN the Impairment. If not the destruction of
tne pontical rights and personal liberties OF
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
ship 10 to be accomplished gradually In A man.
ner consistent with sound public policy.
Second-The interest of the United States I'm
the public highways built with public moneye
and the proceeds of extensive rrants OF Iand
to the Paeific railroads, should never be alien
a sd MORTGAGE or sold. but guarded and pro-
the laws organizing such railroads. The fore
closure OF existing liens of the United States
On tneSe roads should at once follow default IN
payment thereof by the debtor com pa mics and
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov.
eminent should purchase the same II Il be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
In. or If they can be purchased at q reasonable
price, and the government shall operate AID
railroads as public highways for the benefit Of
- "A
few. under suitable provisions for protection
OF life and property. giving to all transports.
non interests equal privileges and equal rates
Third-We denounce the present Infamous
schemes for refunding these debts, and de-
mand mat the laws now applicable thereto be
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post once
of news. should be owned and operated nv
the government in the interests OF the people.
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the m.
uonal and state legislation shall be such ~
Will ultimately enable every prudent and IN.
dustrious citizen to secure a home. and thar
rore the land should not be moRopoiized 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 yate land monopoly,
as well as alien ownership should he nrohih
tied.
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad Companies
nave, through the connivance OF the interior
department robbed multitndes of actual bons
| noe settlers OF their homes and miners OF theiI
claims. and we demand legislation by cou9reaI
which will enforce the exemption Of minera
land from such grants, after as well as befors
| patent,
Third-we demand that all bona ide settler,
| on all public lands be granted free homes a
PROVIDED In the national homestead law, and
| that no exception be made I'm the case Of IN
dian reservations when opened for settlement
and that all lands now patented come under
| Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor 4
system OF direct legislation through the initia
| i've aLo referendum under proper constitu
| tonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First-We demand the election OF president
vice president and United States senators BIZ I
direct vote of the people.
second5We tender 10 the patriotic people o.
CUBA our deepest sympathy in their struERI,
Tor political freedom and Independence anS
we believe the time has come when the Unitet
1 states, the great republic OF the world, should
| recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought Il
be. a free and independent state
| Thfrd-we favor home rule I'm the territorie,
ana tne District OF Columbia and the early I'D
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 publ,
works as far as practicable.
Sixth-The arbitrary course OF the courts n
assuming TO imprison citizens for indirect con
| tempt and ruling them by Injunction shoul<
De prevented by proper legislation.
disabled Union soldier. :
Eighth Believing that the elective frauchis,
| and untrammeled ballot are essential to row
| eminent OF, for and by the people. the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
| frsnchisement adopted In some of the state,
1 as un-republican and un-democratfc, aud w
declare IL to be the duty of the several states
| legislatures to take such action as will secur'
| full free and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth-whiie the foregoing propositions COZ
| stitute the platform upon which our part
| stands. and for the vIndication Of which ifs or
| ganizatiOn will be maintained. we recognlz'
| that the great and pressing issue Of the pend
ing campaign upon which the present preGi
dental election will turn Is the financial cues
ton. and uDon this great and specific Issue Be