Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-05-07
UNION PLATFORM

The following is the platform adopt
Cd by the Peoples, Democratic and
silver Republican parties assembled in
state conventions at Portland, March
1926, 1898:
Unitad in a common cause for the
sacred purpose of preserving the prin-
ciples of government by the whole peo-
pie, in fact as well as in name, restOr-
ing and maintaining equality, under
that government, of all classes, we, the
Peoples Democratic and Silver Repub-
lican parties of the state of Oregon,
waving all minor points of difference,
and uniting for the purpose of carrying
out the great underlying principles
upon which we are all agreed, do make
and present to the people of this state
the following declaration of principles
and to the carrying out of which we
snlemnly pledge each and every candi-
date upon our united ticket:
First-We demand the free and unre-
stricted coinage of silver and gold at
the present legal ratio of 16 to l, with
out waiting for the consent of foreign
nations; and we are unalterably op-
posed to the policy of the present re-
publican administration in demanding
the retirement of greenbacks, and the
turning over of the money-making
power of the government to the ma
tional banks as presented by the bill
drawn by the republican secretary of
the treasury, and indoTsed by Pres
dent Mckinley; and we especially de-
nounce 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 gov
ernment only, without the intervention
or banks of issue, to be a full legal
tender for all debts public and private,
also a just, equitable and efficient
means of distribution direct to the peo-
Dle through the lawful disbursements
of the government.
We demand that the volume of circu-
lating medium be speedily increased to
an amount sufficient to meet the de-
mands of the business and population
Of this country, and To restore the Just
level of prices of labor and production.
We favor such legislation as will pre-
vent for the future the decentralization
of any kind of legal tender money by
private contract.
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 pre-
ceeding administrations for surrender
ing this option to the holders of gov
ernment obligations.
We demand that there shall be no
further issue of United States interest
bearing bonds.
We demand that postal savings banks
he established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the
people and to facilitate exchange.
We demand the election of United
States senators by direct vote OF the
people.
| We demand the initiative and refer
endum system of law-making in its
/ optional form, local, state and national
and the submission by congress of all
important national questions for an ad-
vlsory vote of the people, until such
| time as the national constitution shall
/ have been amended so as to provide for
! direct legislation.
We condemn as dangerous and un-
just the surrender in all departments
OF the government, to the influence OF
! trusts. corporations and aggregations
of wealth generally; and the packing OF
!
poratlon 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 flimsy
pretexts, at the behests of such insti-
tutions.
We are opposed to government by
injunction.
In state matters, we demand:
A simple and well-guarded registra.
| tion law.
A more equitable mode Of appointing
judges OF election.
Stringent laws to regulate the opera.
tion OF fish traps, fish wheels and al
fishing gear In the waters within tn,
! Jurisdiction OF the state.
We denounce and condemn the cor.
rupt and extravagant republican legis-
lative assemblies, and charge that the
republican party. In its eagerness fol
the spoils OF Office. has become divided
into warning factions, so that II is in
capable OF government as exempliied
by the condition existing in the Office
OF the state treasurer, there being al
this time more than S5O0.0Oe therein
wrung from the people by the process
u tsxatlon. while state warrants arS
stamped "Not paid for want of funds
We demand that all district and
county officers be placed upon salaries
commensurate with the duties TO be
performed by them.
InSsmuch as railroad and other cor
porate property Is not bearing It's pro-
portion Of taxation We demand that
such property shall bear its Just and
equal share g the expenses of govern.
ment.