The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-04-07
POLITICAL PARTIES COMBINE.
Populists, silver Republicans and Dom
4 crnts OF Oregon Join Issues.

PARTIES COMBINE
Populists, silver Republicans and Dom
Gratis OF Oregon Join IssueG
Three state conventions met in Port
land last week, the Populist. silve
Republican and Democratic. A uniol
Of forces or fusion is the result. Al
parties united on the platform adopte'
by the Populists at Fridays session
and agreed to division of the office
by conference committee. The plat
form as adopted reads:
United In 4 common cause for the sacred
purpose Of preserving the principles Of Gov
eminent by the whole people. in fact a. wen
as In name. restoring ana mainte INNS
equality. under that government OF Al
classes we, the peoples democratic and Atl-
Metropolitan parties Of the state OF orr
son. waving all minor points Of difference
and uniting for the purpose Of carrying out
the great underlying principles upon wnicn
we are all agreed. do make and present
to the people Of this state the following dec
laration Of principles, and to the carrying
out of which We solemnly pledge each ana
every candidate upon our united ticket:
Ffrst-We demand the free and unrestrict-
ed coinage OF silver and gold at the pres
ent legal ratio Of 16 to l, without waiting
for the consent Of foreign nations; and we
are unalterably opposed to the policy Of tho
present republican Administration In de-
manding the retirement OF greenbacks, ana
the turning over Of the money-making pow
er Of the government to the national banks.
a presented by the bill drawn by the repub-
lican secretary Of the treasury. and Endorsed
by President Mckinley: and we especially
denounce the avowed attempt by said bill to
fasten the country irrevocably- and forever
to the single gold standard
We demand a national money. safe and
sound, issued by the general government
only, without the intervention of banks. Of
issue, to be full legal tender for all debts.
public and private; also q just, equitable
and efficient means Of distribution direct to
the people through the lawful disbursements
OF the government.
We demand that the volume Of circulating
medium be speedily increased to an amount
sufficient to meet the demands of the BUSH
ness and population of this country, and to
restore the Just level Of prices Of labor and
production.
We favor such legislation as will prevent
for the future the decentralization Of any
kind Of legal-tender money by private con-
tract
We demand that the government. in pay
ment Of its obligations. shall use its option
az to the kind Of lawful money in which
they are to be paid, and we denounce the
present and preceding administrations for
surrendering this option to the holders OF
government obligations.
We demand that there shall be no further
issue Of United States interest : bearing
bonds.
We demand that postal savings banks be
established by the government for the safe
- 49, HA nn1A md n
facilitate exchange
We demand the election Of United States
senators by direct vote Of the people.
We demand the initiative and referendum
system Of law-making in its optional form,
local, state and national, and the submits
sion by congress Of all important national
questions for an advisory vote Of the peo-
ple until such time as the national consti-
tuition shall have been amended so as to
provide for direct legislation.
We condemn as dangerous and unjust the
surrender, in all departments OF the govern
ment, to the influence of trusts corporations
and aggregations Of wealth generally; and
the packing of the highest courts OF the land
with corporation lawyers too ready to do
the will Of their late employers, and to set
aside valid and wholesome laws passed by
the legislative departments of the states and
government, upon fimsy pretexts. at the be-
hests Of such institutions.
We are opposed to government by injunc-
ton.
In state matters, we demand:
simple and well-guarded registration
law.
A more equitable mode Of appointing
judges Of election.
Stringent laws to regulate the operation Of
nsh traps, fish wheels and all fishing gear
in the waters within the Jurisdiction Of the
state.
We denounce and condemn the corrupt and
extravagant republican legislative assem-
blies, and charge that the republican party,
In its eagerness for the spoils Of ONCE, has
become divided into warning factions. 20
that 1t is incapable Of government as ex-
emplihed by the condition existing in the Of
fee Of the state treasurer. there being at
this time more than $500. 900 therein wrung
from the people by the process Of taxation,
while state warrants are stamped mot
paid for want of funds
We demand that all district and county Of
hcers be placed upon salaries commensurate
with the duties to be performed by them.
Inasmuch as railroad and other corporate
property is not bearing its proportion of
taxation, we demand that such property
shall bear Its just and equal share Of the
expenses Of government