The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-18

the 18th day Of May, 1898, affrmS It's
unqualified allegiance to the principles
of the party, and hereby approves the
platform of the Peoples party adopted
at its national convention held in me
city of ST. Louis, July ID, 1896.
THE ELECTION LAW.
We hereby reaffirm our fixed determl-
nation to support and maintain free
ballot and a fair count in all electlohs
held in North Carolina To this end
we contend that it is of vital importance
for each political party to have on all
election boards. representatives of their
own selection. We condemn the RepuD-
lican PARTY and those who joined with it
in the last legislature to strike this JUST,
essential and vital provision from the
election law of 1895: and we pledge our
selves to use our best efforts in the next
legislature to re-enact this provision
into law.
LOCAL SELF-GOVERNIENT.
We are in favor of guaranteeing to the
respective counties the right of local
self-government by the election of their
county commissioners and justices of the
peace by the vote of the people. under
proper safeguards, to guarantee the
best possible government to each county;
and we pledge the Peoples party to the
continued support and maintenance Of
that principle. and warn the voters Of
the danger of electing members of tho
General Assembly hostile thereto.
GOLD NOTES AND MORTGAGES.
We believe that all money demands
should be payable in the lawful money
of the United States without preference
or discrimination, and therefore favor
the passage by the General Assembly of
n law to prohibit the taking or giving
of gold notes, bonds, and mortgages in
this State, and to make all the money
demands solyable in any kind of lawful
money of the United States.
To ayenge the Maine. to advance Re
publican institutions. and in the inter
ests of humanity, the brutal and treach-
erous Snaniards should be driven from
the Western hemisphere. and a Repub-
lican form of government established
in the islands which she has misgovern-
ed, robbed. prosecuted and pillaged.
AGAINST ISSUING INTEREST,"
BEARING BONDS.
We condemn the present national adj
ministration for its efforts TO fastcn
upon the people and future generations
the burden of interest bearing bonds
and for endorsing and carrying out the
infamous bond and monopoly policy
of the preceding administration of Grov-
er Cleveland.
We commend the action of the Popn
lists, silver Republicans and silver
Democrats in Congress for their wise.
brave, and patriotic course in solidly CO..
operating to strike out the bond pro-
vision Of the pending war revenue bill
and to substitute therefor an ie".'n Of
greenbacks and the coinage of the silver
seinorage to carry on the war.
INTEREST.
We pledge ourselves to maintain tho
six percent interest law enacted by the
General Assembly of 1895.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The action of the Peoples party mem
hers of the last two General Assemblies
has demonstrated beyond question that
the Peoples party has been true to its
antecedent platform declarations in ia
vor of public education. We demand
still further improving and broadening
the public school system of the State
interests of the taxpayers and the re-
sources of the State will permit. We
also favor such revision of our present
school system as may increase the eff
cheney of our public schools and insure
the most competent and effective super
vision.
-PARTIZANs JUDICIARY.
Our Judiciary should be kept above
the plane of partisan politics. TO this
end we appeal to all good citizens to join
us in our efforts to make a non-partisan
judiciary an established and permanent
feature of our State government.
REFORMATORY FOR YOUNG
CRIMINALS.
We favor the establishment of a State
institution for the reformation of young
criminals.
FREE PASSES.
We call attention to the interference
Of railroad corporations in our politics
as one of the greatest sources of COR
ruption in our State and national gov
ernments. Free passes and other fa-
yoritisms and determinations are among
the most poisonous and effective weap-
ons 70 corrupt politics and defeat the
will of the people in legislative halls.
Therefore we favor law not only for
bidding the giving of free passes and
other favoritisms and determinations,
but also forbidding anyone except the
actual employees of said corporations
from receiving the same.
ELECTION OF RAILROAD COM
MISSIONERS BY THE PEOPLE.
% State has better railroad com
mission law than North Carolina but the
pnD--c has not received the benefit tht
law was designed to produce on account
of the failure of our railroad commits
siOners to do their duty under the law.
AS one remedy for this evil we are in
favor of the election of railroad com
missioners by direct vote of the peo-
pie.
REDUCTION OF FREIGHT AND
PASSENGER RATES.
We favor IA reduction of freight. ex-
press and passenger rates, telegraph and
telephone tariffs to the same level IA
which the general range of prices OF
products has fallen under the gold stand.
ard. If the Railway Commission con.
tinues to refuse to do its duty in this
respect we are i'm favor Of such reduc