Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-08-31
forULIsr NATIONAL PLAr7eRM.

sleeper and check baggage through.
PoPULIsT NATIONAL PLATFORM.
ThefPeeples party, -seseslisle.s- tiebal-
convention. reatiirins its allegiance to the
principles declared blythe founders of the re-
public, and also 10 the fundamental pl1ncipIes
OF JUST government. rs eGunciated in the plat
FORM or the party IN ISe---- We recogrifze that
through the cOnnlVsnce of the present snd
preceding administrations the country HAS
reached crisis in its atio nal life US predicted
In our declaration four Years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action IS the supreme,
have political <iBdepeIielsncee. onr tinanoi,,i
ana industrial independence is yet to be at
ialned by restoring 10 our country the cousti-
tutionai control ami exercise sof the functions
necessary 10 peoples government, which
functions have been bsSeiy surrendered by
our pubic servants TO corporate monopo-
lies The influence OF European money
changers has been more potent in .sllapirr
legislation than the voice OF the American
peopie. Executive power and patronage
nave been used TO corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the viii OF the people aud pIuIoc-
racy has thereby been eIlthroncd upon the
ment intended by the fstherss ana for the vel
fare OF this and future generations. I'VE de mand
the establishment of an economic and fnan-
cial sy stem, which shall MAKE. Us masters of
our own affairs and independent of European
control, by the adoption OF the following dec
laration OF principles; -
First We demand a national nlonev safe
and sound. issued blythe general government
only, without the interVen lion OF banks of is
sue to be fun legal tender tor an it.l,fs niih
lie ana private-a just. equitable and eficient
means of distribution direct to tins, 1,eo,,ie and
through the lawful disbursements OF the gov
ernment-
Second-We demand TIE fra. ot,d unre-
stricted coinage OF silver and gold Az thc pres
ent legal ratio OF sixteen 10 one. without wait
ing Tor the consent OF foreign nations,
Third-We demand that The Vo:nm,. of cir
cuating medium be speedily Increased IN an
amount sufficient To isi..cs ne demands of he
business and population Ci this country aud
To restore The just lowell OF prices oi iab;i- and
production.
Fourth-we denOunuc r sa.s or hon,,s and
the increase OF til. puh.ic interest bearing
uebt made by the presells aC.5li dis ration a.
unnecessary ana without authority of i.yyarld
that no more bonds lie isSued except 10y spe-
ciffc act of CONGRESS.
Fifth-we demand such legislation as will
prevent the Communication OF the lawful
money OF the United States Uy private CON
tract.
SiXth-We demand that zoe government, in,
payment of It's obligations, shall iiso is option
as to the kind OF lawful money in which they
are TO be paid. land we desounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender
obligations.
Seventh-We demand 4 graduated income
tax 20 the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion OF taxation aud we
regard the recent decision Of the supreme
Interpretation of the constitution aud AN in
Vaslon OF the rlghtfui powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal. savings
banks be established by The government for
the safe deposit of the savings o. the peupl
and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATIONS.
neutrality-suspicious. being a means of q
Change aud necessity, the government shoul 4
own aud operate the railroads I'm The interest
OF the people and on a non-partisau basis: to
end H.. .a,.g Al
treatment in transportation and that the
tyranny and political power BOW exercised by
the great railroad corporations. W hich result
u the impairment, II not the destruction of
the political rights ana personal liberties of
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
ship is to be accomplished gradually in man
ner consistent with sound public policy
Second-Thc interest of the United States in
the public highways bui't with public moneys
ana the proceeds of extensive grants of land
10 me PacIfic railroads. should never he alien
ated, mortSaged or sold. but guarded and prO-
tected for the general welfare, as provided nv
the laws organizing such railroads The fore
closure OF existing iieEs OF the United States
on these roads should at once follow default in
payment thereof by the debtor companies and
at the foreclosure sales OF said roads the gov
ernment should purchase the same IL il be-
comes necessary to protect lis interests there
in, or II they can be purchased at reas on1bIe
price, and the government shall operate saio
railroads as public highways for .he benefit of
the whole people ana not in the interest of ne
few, under suitable provisions for protection
trlnHDDrf1-
non interests equal privileges aud equal rates
for fares and fTeignis.
Third-We denouuce the present Infamous
scnemes Tor returning these debts and do
mand that the laws now applicable thereto he
executed and Administered ACCORDING 10 their
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph ike til most Office
system, being necessity FOR the ira nsmission
of news. should he owned and operated hy
the government in the interests OF the people.
FirSt-fhR trTra r,cl-f.x-
uonal and state legislation shalt he such as
VIII ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrlous citizen TO secure Il home. and there
tore the land should not be moBopolizcd for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
railroads. and other corporations in excess OF
tneir actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the governments and held for ac-
tual settlers only, and pri .atc land nionopoIy
tied.
Second-We condemn the frauts by which
tne land grants 20 Paciic railroad companies
have, through the cOnniVance OF the Interior
department, robbed multitudeS of actual bona
noe seiters OF their homes and miners OF their
cldiHs' anu we ueinasi,t l. SislatiOn by cODgrcss
Wnlcn VIII enforce :he exemption Of mineral
land from such grants, after as well as before
patent,
Third-We demand that all bona Ado set,lers
on all pubic lands tc granted tree homes as
provided IN the national homestead law and
s sis no exception be made ~ the case % In
ulau reservations when opened for settlement
ana that all lands now patented come under
this demand.
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor
system OF direct legislation through the iniiia
i've aI'o referendum under proper constifu
uonaI safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS
First--We demand the election OF president
wee president and United States senators by n
direct vote OF the people
oeconu-We tender to the Patriotic DeoI Ie of
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their STRUGGLE
lor polltlcal freedom and INDEPENDENCE and
we believe the time has come when tho I-,,;,cd
States, the great republic OF the world shan,Id
recognize that Cuba is, aud or right ought Ia
oe, Tree and independent state
IhIru-Me FAVOR home rule in the Territories
anu the instruct OF Cohiinbfa.Gnd the carly ad-
mission OF the territories a. states
fOurtn-Aii public salaries shunld 10, made
ducts. ' i'o pro-
Fifth-ln these times of industrial dcpre<.
SION idle labor should De employed ON Uubli,
works as far as practicable.
Sixth-The arbitrary course OF lne, courts in
assuming TO lmprison citizens for direct c1,r1
Tempt and ruling them by INJUNCTION should
be prevented b. proper legislation
oeNeutn-"e iayor JUS pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES that ne elective franchise
ana untramineled bal ot are essential TO poy-
eminent Cf, Tor ami by the people, the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dix
reimbursement adop ted in some u the States
as un-repuDlican and un-demOcratfc aud we
declare II to be the duty of the several states
legislatures to take such action AS will secure
Il full, free and fair baiio, and am honest count
Ninth-While tue foregoing propositions con-
stltute the platform upon which cur party
stands. and for the v:ndioaiion of which! rs or
ganZation WIFI be uliiigtaipcd. we recognize
mat INC ereat ana pressing issue of the pend
ing campaign upon which the present nrrci
1Bnflnt will 4