Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-04-20

PorULIsr NATIONAL PLATFORM.
The Peoples party. assembled in national
convention. reafiirms its allegiance to the
public, and also to the fundamental principles
or Just government, as enunciated IN the plat
form OF the party in 1892 We recognize that
tnrougn the cOnniyance OF the present and
preceding administrations the country hae
reached crisis in it's national life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago, and that
duty Of the hour. We realize that while Nc
have political independencee our dnanofal
ana industrial independence 10 yet to be at
talneo oy restoring to our country the copstf-
tutionai control and exercise of the funcfione
necessary 70 q peoples government, which
n dunctlons nave been basely surrendered By
our our p1nnc servants to corporate monopo-
lies. The influence OF European mooev
cnsngers has been more potent in shaping
LEGISLATION than the voice OF the American
people Executive power and pafronrr1
nave Deen used TO corrupt our legislatures
ana and de.ea, the viii OF the people. and plutoc-
ruins OF democracy. To restore the royern-
ment intended by the fathers, and for The vel
tsa Is ana future generations. we demand
cfal system. which shall make us master OF
our own affairs and independent of Europesu
sSon,fOi, oy the adoption of the following dee
FINANCK-
FIRST We demand a national money. ssfs
ana sonnd, issued by the general governmen
sue TO be full legal tender for all debts pub
NC ana pr1vate-a just, equitable and eficteut
Means OF alsfrioution direct to the people and
eminent.
second-we demand the free and unrs.
stricted coinage of silver and gold At the pres
emit legal ratio OF sixteen to one without wait.
ing Tor the consent of foreign nations,
Tnird-We demand that the volume OF cir
culating medium be speedily increased 10 an
amount sufficient TO meet the demands OF the
business and population of This connfrT ~
TO restore the just level OF prices Of labor and
Fourth-we denounce the sale of bonds md
she increase OF the public interest bearipg
oeot made by the present administration a.
unnecessary and without authority of law, and
ac ac, 1at Oonos De issued except by spe-
Hfth-We demand such legislation as viii
prevent the demonetization of the lawful
money OF the United States by private con.
tract. VII
Sixth-We demand that the government. I'm
menu OF It's opiigations, shall use its option
as 70 the kind OF lawful money in which they
are to be paid, and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender-
ing TINS option to the holders of government
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
TAX TO the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear It's Just proportion of taxation and we
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative to the income tax law as a mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal ssyings
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
neutrality-suspicious. being a means of q r
cnange ana necessity the government shout 1
own and operate the railroads in the Interest
OF the people and on non-partisau basis: to
the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment in transportation and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised nv
the great railroad corporations which result
In the Impairment, If not the destruction of
| the political rights and personal liberties of
| the citizen, may be DESTROYED Such owner
| snip Is 10 De accomplished gradually in a man.
ner consistent with sound public policy.
| Second-The interest of the United States in
| the pubnc highways built with public moneys
| and the proceeds of extensive grants of land
10 the Pa:lnc railroads. should never be alien
| ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded and pro-
| tected for the general welfare, as provided nv
| the laws organizing such railroads. The fore.
| closure OF existing liens of the United States
| On these roads should at once follow default IN
payment thereof by the debtor com panies and
| at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
| eminent should purchase the same IL IL be-
| comes necessary to protect its interests there
| In. or IL they can be purchased at a reasonably
price, and the government shall operate said
| railroads as public highways for the benefit of
| the whole people and not in the interest of the
| few. under suitable provisions for protectio1
or NE and property, giving to all Transports
| for fares and freights
Third-We denounce the present infamous
schemes for refunding these debts. and de-
mand tnat the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according to their
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph. like tho post once
| system, being a necessity for the transmission
of news, should be owned and operated bY
the government in the interests OF the people.
LAND.
Flrst-the true policy demands that the M.
tional and state legislation shall be such A
VIII ultimately enable every prudent and In
duetrious citizen TO secure a home, and there
| tore the land should not be mORopolizcd 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 &C.
tual settlers only, and pri Sate land MONOPOLY
as well as alien ownership, should be prohIb.
tied.
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
have, through the connivance of the interior
department, robbed multitudes of actual bona
noe settlers of their homes and miners OF their
claims, and we demand legislation by congress
Mmcn VIII ENFORCE the exemption of mineral
land from such grants, after as well as before
patent,
Third-we demand that all bona fide settler.
provided in the national homestead law, and
mat no exception be made in the case Of In
olan reservations when opened for settlement.
ana tnat all lands now patented come under
| this demand.
| Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor q
SyetcIn Oi o1rect legislation through the inftia.
| tive and referendum under proper oopstitu-
tfonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First-We demand the election of president
vice president and United States senators by :
| direct vote of the people.
| Second-We tender to the patriotic people of
CuDa our deepest sympathy in their struggle
| Tor political freedom and Independence and
we believe the time has come when the United
| states, the great republic of the world should
| recognize that Cuba is, and OF right ought to
/ be. free and independent state
Tn1rd-We favor home rule IN the territories
| ana the District OF Columbia. and the enrly adj.
| mission OF the territories states.
Fourth-All public salaries should be made
to correspond to the price of labor and it's pro
ducts.
Fifth-1n these times of Industrial depre,
| sion idle labor should be employed on public
| works as far as practicable.
SHtn-The arbitrary course of the courts In
assuming 10 1mprfsOn citizens for indirect con.
| tempt and ruling them by Injunction should
| De prevented by proper legislation.
Seyenth-We favor just pensions for every
| disabled Union soldier.
| Eighth Believing that the elective franchise
| and untrammeled ballot are essential to gov.
| eminent of, for and by the people the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of ola.
| franchisement adopted in some of the sta tes
as un-republican and un-democratfc aud We
declare IL to be the duty of the several states
/ legislatures TO take such action as will secure
| full,free and fair ballot and an honest count.
Ninth-WhiIe the foregoing propositions CON.
| stitute the platform upon which our party
stands. and for the vIndication of which fts or.
ganizatiOn will be maintained, we recognize
tnat the great and pressing issue of the pend.
ing campaign upon which the present presi-
Dental election will turn Is the financial oue~-
a nd orff A. Ca -