Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-02-02

porUIIsT NATIONAL PLATFORM
The Peoples party, assembled In ,st,,,.1
convention. reafnrms its aileeiance ~ az
principles declared by the founders Of the -
ppHen PIC and also to the fundamental principles
~ ~ !ust government. as enunciated IN thu plat
form OF the party in 1892 We Recognize fhrt
snrougn the conniyance OF the present and
Ieacned crisis in its national life as preiIcfed
IN our declaration four years aro and fhSf
p pr1upt and s PATRIOTIC action is The supreme
have political Independence. our fin.nci.i
and Industrial independence il YET to be A..
tutlonal control and exercise OF the n, ncffons
1eeeesssary 20 peoole's government which
Iunctlons have been basely surrendered by
lies. The influence OF European moner
enangers mas been more potent in shapin9
, nsonIa tnan the voice Of the American
nsse oeen used to corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the win OF the people. and plufoc-
| ruins OF democracy. To restore the ~overn.
ment intended by the fathers and FOR the wei
the establishment of an ecopomic and 6ner
cal system. which shall make us masterT OF
OUT ort Own snairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following deo-
iaration OF principles:
FINANCE.
First We demand n national money. s.fe
only. without the intervention OF hanks ~ -.
sue TO be a full legal tender for ali debts pub
means of distribution direct to the peonIs sna
snrougn the lawful disbursements Of the row
| Second-we demand the free and unrr.
stncted coinage of silver and gold at the pres-
emit legal ratio OF sixteen TO one, without wnft.
| ing Tor the consent OF foreign nations
Third-We demand that the volume Of cir
cuiating medium be speedily increased tn an
/ amount suhcient TO meet the demands OF the
business and population of this country and
| 10 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 adminisfrafion a.
| unnecessary ana without authority of Jaw and
tnat no more bonds be issued except by spe-
Fffth-We demand such legislation IA will
prevent the decentralization of the Invfni
money OF the United States by private con-
Sixth-We demand that the government. I'm
| payment OF Its obligations, shall use its option
| as 10 the kind OF lawful money in which thev
are to be paid, and we denounce the preeent
and preceding administrations for SURRENDER.
Ing TINS option to the holders of government
Seventh-we demand a graduated tnoome
tax 10 the end that aggregated wealth shall
pear It's Just proportion of taxation, and We
regard the recent decision OF the supreme
court relative to the income tax law as a mia
,n.ssapresation OF the constitution and an In
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal savinrs
banks be established by the government for
| the safe deposit of the savings of the neoni
and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATIONS.
.first.Iransportation being means OF ey-
cnange ana necessity the government shouli
own and operate the railroads in the fntereet
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
n mt
the political rights and personal Iibertjea Of
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
nar .s 10 pc accomplished gradually in man.
Second-The interest of the United States In
the public highways built with public moneys
ana the proceeds of extensive grants OF land
| to the Pacific railroads. should never be Alien.
ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded and prc,-
te tee for the general welfare. provided By
the laws organizing such railroads. The fore
closure OF existing liens of the United States
on THESE roads should at once follow defaulttn
payment thereof by the debtor companies and
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the INV
eminent should purchase the same IL 81 he
comes necessary to protect its interests there
In, or IL they can be purchased at q reasonable
price, and the government shall Operate aid
railroads as public highways for the benefit Of
the whole people and not in the interest OF the
| few, under suitable provisions for protection
OF HE and property. giving to all transporta-
f , interests equal privileges and equal rates
Third-We depounce the present infamous
schemes Tor refunuing these debts and de-
APPLICABLE tb6rafO ha
executed and administered according to their
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post once
| system. being necessity for the transmission
of news, should be owned and operafed In
| the government in the interests of the people,
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the na-
uOnal and state legislation shall be such A.
Will ultimately enable every prudent and IN.
dustrious citizen TO secure a home and there
tore the land should not be moRopolized for
1nf Hot iva.
railroads and other corporations in ercess ~
their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only, and pri .ate land mopopolv
| tied ~ 10 Pionio-
Second-We condemn the frauds nv which
Sne Iana grants TO Pacific railroad companies
nave, through the connivance of the interior
department. robbed multitudes of actual hona
noe settlers OF their homes and miners OF their
claims, and we demand legislation by cou1ress
winch viii enforce the exemption OF mineral
land from such grants, after as well as before
Third-We demand that all bona fide settlers
on all public lands be granted free homes A
PROVIDED In the national homestead law, and
mat no exception be made in the case Of In
olan reservations when opened for settlement
ana mat all lands now patented come under
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor n
system OF direct legislation through the initia-
Nv. i've aho referendum under proper constitu-
First-We demand the election of president.
vice president and United States senators BY A
direct vote of the people,
Second-We tender to the patriotic peopIe of
Cuoa our deepest sympathy in their STRUGGLE
IOr polltlcai freedom and Independence and
we Deneye the time has come when the United
states, the great republic of the world should
recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought n
De- "a a Tree and independent state.
Inlrd-We favor home rule in the territories
and the District of Columbia and the earIv Al.
mission of the territories as states
fourth-All public salaries should be made
ducts. f'o
Fifth-In these times of industrial deprea.
SION IDLE labor should be employed on public
WORKS as far as practicable.
Slxth-The arbitrary course Of the courts I'm
assuming 10 1mprisOn citizens for Indirect con-
tempt and ruling them by Injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation
Seyenth--We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Eighth-BeIieyin2 that the elective franobtse
and untrammeied ballot are essential 70 row.
eminent of, for and by the people the PeoDIes
party condemns the wholesale system Of dis-
reimbursement adopted in some of the states
as un-republican and un-democrafic aud We
declare II to be the duty of the several etatess
legislatures to take such action as will eecnra
full free and fair ballot and an honest couns.
Ninth-WbiIe the foregoing propositions CON
stitute the Platform upon which our party
stands. and for the vIndication OF which ia or.
ganizatiOn Will be maintained, we recognize
that the great and pressing issue Of the ueud-
ing campaign upon which the present presI-