Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-04-27
popu1lsr NATIONAL pLArronx.

"a eA<&S4 Aa AA8xAAA 4AA6AE 0AAs
The Peoples party, assembled In national
convention. reafHrms its allegiance TO the
principles declared by the founders of the r.
public, and also to the fundamental principles
form or the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the cOnniyance OF the present and
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in fits national life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action Ia the supreme
6syys Oh me hour; we realze that While &c
ana industrial Independence 10 yet to be at.
tanned by restoring to our country the cousfi-
tutional control and exercise OF the functions
necessary to peoples government which
functions have been bssely surrendered BY
our public servants to corporate monopo-
changers has been more potent in shapinr
legislation than the voice of the Amerjcan
people. Executive power and patronage
nave been used to corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the viii of the people and plutoc-
racy has thereby been enthroued upon the
ment intended by the fathers, and for the wei
fare OF this and future generations we demand
the establishment of an economic and imam.
our own affairs and independent Of European
control. by the adoption of the following dec-
laration of principles:
FINANCE.
First We demand a national money. ssfs
and sound, issued by the general governmeu
only, without the intervention OF banks OF 10
lie and priyate-a just, equitable and eficteut
means of distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
ernment.
Second-we demand the free and uurs.
str1cted coinage OF silver and gold at the pres-
emf iega, ratio OF sixteen to one, without wait
ing Tor the consent Of foreign nations.
Third-We demand that the volume OF cir
culating medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient to meet the demands OF the
business and population of this country and
TO restore the lust Lowell of nrfRal IF m ~
production.
Fourth-we denounce the sale of bonds ana
the increase OF the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration a
unnecessary ana without authority of Iawand
| tnat no more bonds be Issued except by spe-
Fifth-we demand such legislation m will
prevent the decentralization of the lawful
money of the United States by private con.
Sixth-we demand that the government. in
payment of its obligations, shall use its option
as to the kind OF lawful money in which they
are to be paid. and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender
| ing this option to the holders of government
obligations.
SeveDth-We demand a graduated income
tax to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its 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 I'm
vaslon OF the rightful powers of congress over
Eiehth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
aud to facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
neutrality-suspicious. being a means or ey-
change and necessity the government shout 4
own and operate the railroads I'm the interest
| of the people and on a non-partisan basis; to
| the end that all may be accorded the eame
treatment in transportation and that the
| tyranny and political power now exercised by
| the great railroad corporations. which result
| In the Impairment, If not the destruction, of
4 no rlCyhf and g1-
| the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
| ship Is to be accomplished gradually in man.
neE consistent with With sound public policy.
| the public highways built with public moneys
| and the proceeds of extensive grants of land
| to the Pacific railroads. should never be alien
| ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded and pro-
| tected for the general welfare, as provided by
| 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 % uies 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 III they can be purchased AT a reasonable
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 protection
| or lie and property, giving to all transports.
ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and freights.
| Third-We denounce the present Infamous
| schemes for refunQing these debts and de-
mand that 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 necessity for the Transmission
of news, should be owned and operated by
the government in the interests of the people,
First-the true policy demands that the mn.
| t1onai and state legislation shall be such a
Will ultimately enable every prudent and In
austrious citizen to secure home. and there
| fore the land should not be moRopoized 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 ac-
tual settlers only, and pri Jate land monopoly,
as wen 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 bous
noe settlers OF their homes and miners Of theil
claims, and we demand legislation by congress-
which will enforce the exemption of minera
Iand from such grants, after as well as befors
Third-We demand that all bona fide settler,
on all public lands be granted tree homes, n
provided in the national homestead law, and
mat no exception be made in the case Of In
dian reservations when opened for settlement
and that all lands now patented come nnde1
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor I
system of direct legislation through the initia
tive AID referendum under proper constitu
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 peot Ia m
J Cuba our deepest sympathy in their strurrl
| Tor political freedom and Independence an,
we believe the time has come when the IJnite,
states, the great republic OF the world sbOult
recognize that Gu ba is, and of right ought 4,
be, free and independent state
Tnlrd-We favor home rule in the territori>
ana the District OF Columbia. and the early nd
mission of the territories as states
Fourth-All public salaries should be mad
10 correspond to the price of labor and fits pro
Fifth-In these times of industrial depres
sion Idle labor should be employed ON piIbIi
works as far as practicable.
Sl&tn-The arbitrary course of the courts n
assuming to tmprfson citizens for Indirect cor
tempt and ruling them by Injunction Shout
be prevented by proper legislation
Seventh-We favor Just pensions for ever
disabled Union soldier
: Misunderstanding that the elective francbis
and untrammeled ballot are essential to rov
eminent of, for and by the people the People
party condemns the wholesale system of ~
reimbursement adopted in some of the state
as un-republican and un-democratie aud W
declare II to be the duty of the several states
legislatures to take such action as will secur
fuli,free and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth-whiIe the foregoing propositions cor
sItute the PLATFORM upon which our part
STANDS. and for the vlndication of which its OF
Eanizaton Will be maintained, we recognlx
/ tnat the great and pressing issue Of the pend
| Dental election will turn fs the financial oue.
| tiOn and uDOU this nd apacfdo fonr.o -