Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-10-20
PEOPLES pARTY pIATFORM.
Adopted at Topel6a, Kansas, wedneS-
day, June I5, 1898.

=
it's efficient and economical conduct
OF state affairs, We commend the &C.
tlon of populst members OF the last
legislature In passing laws that nave
sayed hundreds of thousands OF dol
lqgs to the people of Kansas we
also commend me course OF our sem
ator and representatives In congress
for their opposition to issuance OF IN
terest-bearng bonds and the en-
croachments of corporate power upon
the rights OF the people and their
ylgllant devotion to the interests OF
their constituents,
We demand that the Initiative ana
referendum be embodied In our state
constitution, and favor proportional
representation,
We favor the public ownership OF
all public utilities and demand the
public ownership and operation of all
monopolies.
The state laws regulating the stock
yards charges having been resisted,
I'VE demand that the state of Kansas
shall provide adequate market facllI-
Ties by purchasing land and con-
etructmg necessary buildings yards
and other convcniences TO furnish
the people an open pUbllc market aud
under such regulations as will pre-
vent u combination OF buyers and
commission men from controlling or
regulating prices. Charges for such
services to cover actual cost OF oper-
alton and repairs only.
We demand that the state OF KAN
sas shall provide insurance protec-
tlon, both FIRE and life, as state
function, at cost. these being In OPP
position to the existing constitution
OF the state, we demand n constltu-
tlOnal convention TO the end that they
may be made eircctual ard that other
defects that now exist in our state
constitution may be remedled,
We demand the enactment OF o
freight rate law giving to court of
railway commissioners, TO be elected
by the people, the power TO fix rates
and classification Of railways and
The further power TO compel the rail-
ways to make full reports with refer
ence TO their business
Recognizing the great saving and
benefits to the people from the text
book law passed by Popullst legls-
lature and put into operation by a
Populst administration we favor its
extension along The same general
lines TO include all textbooks and
school supplies as far as possible.
We demand the enactment OF the
labor laws necessary for the public
weal Frst--A law making county
clerks offices free public employment
agencies, the state labor bureau to
constitute general clearing house
for the surplus applications of the
counties. Second--A law making the
bureau OF labor and industrial statls-
tics an Independent department. Of
dhe state government Third-A law
completely revising the mining laws
TO the end that 1t may be safer for
the miners TO work and more dam
gerous for the operators to dlsobey.
Fourth--A law taxing as costs in nc.
tions for the recovery Of wages q
reasonable attorneys fee for The col
slection OF the same and providing
ahat in case of an employers assign
ment or Insolvency, wages shall be
a prior lien to all attachments ana
mortgages, Fifth-Whle the law OF
1897, unler the operation Of which
oil 81 al. H..
than to the middle man under the
gulse Of a contractor was an i'm
proyement ON The old contract law,
we declare for "a law that will onine
the output of the peultentiary mine
to the needs Of the state institutions,
to the end that these institutions
shall not in the future be placed at
the mercy Of combination of pri-
waite corporations,
We demand the free and unlimited
coinage Of gold and silver at the
ratio Of sixteen OF silver to one OF
gold and the issue of legal tender
notes for all debts in preference to
the issue Of interest-beNrng bonds.
We oppose the issuance of all bond,
and we condemn the Republican par
ty for its action in fastening upon
the people large bonded debt osten.
sibly for war revenue, out in reality
for the perpctuOton Of the nAtlona
banking system
Resolved, That we send to our vol
unteer soldiers our high appreciation
Of their patriotic devotion to the
country and every facility be extend
ed to them TO vote at the coming
elections and that their pay be in
creased to $40 per month.
We favor service pensions for al
survivors of the Union armies of the
civil war.
We demand the immediate abolition
of the metropolitan police system.
We denounce the Republicans ia
both houses of congress for the unan
unity with which they have followed
the dictates of foreign and domesti,
bondholders in voting against an in
come tax and the one-fourth of one
per cent tax ON railroad corporation
which are being enriched by govern
ment contracts, and also their re
fusal to tax Wall street transactions
And we also denounce as unpatri
otto the action of the Republican
party in following the dictates o
Those who would speculate and max
gain out Of our present war while on