Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-03-02
roruIIsr RATIONAL rIArrorn.

- @-@~- 4t--@ 4S@t@A - = 4A4 ~
The Peoples party. assembled in national
convention. reafitmS it's allegiance to the
prlncfpies declared by the founders of the re-
pubic. and also 10 the fundamental principles
OF JUST government as enunciated in the plat
FORM OF the party In lS92. we recognize that
through The conDivance of the present and
precedlng administrations the country has
reached crisis IN its nsltio mai life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago. and that
prompt ana patriotic action is the supreme
1uty OF Inc nour- We realize that while VIC
have political indepe ndeneee. our financial
and industrial independence is vet to he At
.ained ny restoring to our country the consfi-
tutlonai control and exercise of the functions
necessary 20 ii peupie's government which
functions have been bSsely surrendered nv
our pubic servants 10 corporate tuoDopo-
mes The influence of European money
changers has been more potent in shapinS
legislation than the voice of the American
people Executive power and patronage
nave been used 10 corrupt our legislatures
ana defeat the viii Of the people and plutoc-
racy has thereby been cnthroned upon the
ruins OF democracy. To restore the govern
ment INTENDED by the fathers. and for the WeI-
fare of this and future generations we demand
tne establishment OF an economic and finan-
cial system. which shall make US masters OF
| our own affairs and independent of European
controi, by The adoption of the following dec-
larauon OF principles:
FTNANCS.
FIRST W e demand national money safe
and sound. issued 10y The general government
only. without the intervention of hanks of is
sue 10 be a fun Legal tender for ali debts pub-
TIC ana pviyate-a just, equitable aud efficieut
means Si Distribution direct TO the people and
throsigh the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of the GOV.
ernmenf-
Second-We demand the free aud uure.
stricted co mage OF silver and gold ar the pres-
ent legal ratio of sixtern TO one without wait.
ing FOR the consent of foreign nations
Ihird-We demand that the volume of cir
culating medium he speedily increased to an
auiount sufnelent 10 meet the demands of the
business and population of this country and
10 rsstoie the Just level of prices OF labor and
Fourth--We denouuce the sale of bonds and
the increase OF the public interest bearing
DEBT made by the present administration as
unnecessary ana without authority of law and
tnat no more bonds be issued except by spe-
cific act of conaresS
Fifth-we demand such legislation as will
prevent the demonetization OF the lawful
money OF the UHited States by private con-
tract.
SiNth-We demand that the government. in
payment of It's obligations shall use its option
| as to the kind uf lawful money in which they
are TO be paid. aud we denounce the present
ana preceding administrations for surrender
ing TINS option 10 the holders of government
Obligations.
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
tsNto the end tust 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-
lnterPfe. ation OF me constitution and an in
vaSion of the rightfui powers of congress over
the subject OF taxation.
Eiehth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
the safe d post OF the savings of the peopl
and TO facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATION.
rst-Transportation being a means or en-
cbange and necessity the govern ment shouli
own ana operate the railroads in the Interest
OF the people aud on 4 uOn-partisan basis. tn
the end thar all may be accorded the same
treatment IN transportation aud that the
tyranny ana political power now exercised by
the great rlilroad corporations. which result
IN inc impairment, II not the destruction. of
the political ri9his ana personal liberties of
tue citizen, may Toe destroyed. Such owner
ship Is To be accom- pished gradually in man
| ner consistent with sound public policy
Second-Ihc interest of the United States in
the public highways built with public Inoneys
and The proceeds of extensive grants of land
to the Pa tiiic railroads. should never he alien
ated. morisaged or sold, INT guarded and pro-
teeted for the general welfare, as provided by
lne laws organizing such railroads.. The fore
closure of existing liens OF the United States
On these Tuad> should a once follow default in
payment iheicof 10y the debtor companies land
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
erllnneni ShDuid purchase the same il il be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
in, or II thcy can be purchased at reasonable
price. and the govern rleut shall operate said
railroads n r.tlfii i,i,.,x To- ~ = -
the whole people Hnd not in the interest of the
few. Hnder suitable provisions for protection
OF NE ana property giving to all TRANSPORTS
tlon interests equal privileges and equal rates
Tor iafeS and frelEhts-
Ihird-We denouncc The present infamous
schcmes Tor returning these debts. and de-
mand that tho Jaws now applicable thereto he
executed aud admin isfered according 10 their
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph. like the post Office
system. beiu@ necessity for the tran smission
| Of news. should @ owned and operated nv
tue government ~ the interests of the people,
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the ma
tlonal ana state legislation shall be such as
|. VIII Ultimately enable every prudent and in
dusirious citizen TO secure a home. and there
tore the iand should not be moRopcliZed for
speculative purposes. All lands now held nv
raIlIOaGE md pIHgF In 30
their actusl needs should by-lawfuI means be
reclaimed TO- the government and held for ac-
tt'il settlers only. and pri ate land monopoly,
as well as alien ownership, should be prohib-
| tied.
second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants w Pacific railroad coInpanies
have. through the connivance of the interior
department. robbed multitudes of actllaI bona
nee settlers oi their bones and miners or their
claims. ana we demand L. gisiation by congress
which viii enforce the exemption Of mineral
and from such grants, after as well as before
patent,
Thiri-wc demand that all bona f,de se,,Ier.
on il public lands be granted free homes as
provided IN the national homestead law and
that no exception be made in the case OF In
dian reservations when opened for settlenenf
ana ana mat all lands now patented come under
Fourth-Direct Legislation. We favor q
system 81 direct legislation through the initia-
I'VE nfc referendum under proper constitu-
uonal SAFEGUARDS.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS
IhSt-- - Z uttildiii tDe election OF president
vice president and United States senators by a
direct vote of the people.
Second-we tender TO the patrioti,. moor Ia ~
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their etruU0Ia
Tor political freedom and independence and
We believe the time has come VIII n the United
STATES, the great republic Of the world should
recognize that Cuba *. and of right ought to
Uc. a Tree ana independent state
1hlrd-~c faYcr home rule ia the territories
ana tue District Cf Columbia and the early adj
mission oi the territories as states
Fourth All public salaries should be- made
duets. 80 ~"
Eifth-ln these times of industrial depres
sion Idle labor should &c employed on pubffo
WORKS IS far as practicable.
siXih-fhe arbitrary course Of the courts i'm
assuBIHg TO iinDTisOn citizens for Indirect com
teInPt anu ruling Them 10y Injunction should
DC pleVe AID by proper legislation.
seventh Ne favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Eighth Belle sfnv that the g cctive franchise
ara uHfiauineie6 bai OF are essential to gov
eminent OF, for aud by The people the Peoples
part condt-tn1 Is the wholesale system of dis
reimbursement adopted in soate of the states
as un-repuoiIcdn and uu-defnocratis. aud wa
declare II 70 BE- he duty of the several states
ieSis iaturrs 20 take such action as will secure
a fuli,free and faiF ballot aud an honest count
Ninth-whiie the foregoing propositions con-
elitLie the PLATFORM upon which our party
STANDS ana ioE ibe glndicatlon of which its or
xanIzation VII i'c maintained. we recognize
tist the great and pressing issue Of the pend
Dental election VIII turn Is tie financial ones