The record-union., 1898-07-14
THE PLATFORM.
1t Still Harps on the Sixteen-to-
One Idea.

1
One idea.
/ The first order of business after
! luncheon was the reading of the plat
form by Delegate Mason. It was
read and unanimously adopted. The
full text of the document is as follows:
The Peoples party of the State of
California, realizing the urgent neces-
sity of reform in State and nation. re-
affirm our convictions in the princi-
pies enunciated in our national plat
form.
Recognizing that the initiative and
referendum will assure government by
the people, therefore demand an
| amendment to the Constitution provid-
| ing:
First - That any law or ordinance
adopted by any legislative body of this
| State shall be subject to popular
vote when demanded by a properly au-
| thenticated petition signed by rea-
! sonable per cent of the electors of
the State, county or municipality, as
the case may be, and if such vote shall
show a majority against the law or
ordinance, it shall be invalid.
| Second-That upon petition of a rea-
sonable per cent. of the electors of the
! State county or municipality, as the
case may be- the respective legislative
bodies shall submit to the electors
| therein any question. the submission
of which has been demanded by such
petition, or shall submit to them for
their approval a law. a constitutional
| amendment or ordinance containing
such provisions as may have been de-
manded by such petitioners.
| Third-When legislation has been
adopted as herein provided by the peo-
pie, no legislative body shall have the
right to nullify such action without
! the consent of the people given at the
polls, and such action by the people
/ shall be imperative and not subject to
| veto.
| We demand the free and unrestrict-
| ed coinage of silver and gold at the
present legal ratio of 16 to /, without
waiting for the aid or consent of any
| other nation, and we are unalterably
opposed to the policy of the Repub-
| lican party in demanding the retire
ment of greenbacks, and the surrender
| to national banks of the sovereign
| power of issuing money; and we espe-
! cially denounce the avowed attempt
of said party to fasten upon the coun-
try irrevocably and forever the single
! gold standard.
we demand a not1Ondl money, sale
and sound, issued by the General Gov
ernment only, without the interven-
| ton of banks of issue, to be full legal
| tender for all debts, public and pri-
vate; also, a just, equitable and eff
| cient means of distribution direct to
the people through the lawful disburse-
ments of the Government.
We demand that the volume Of cir
culating medium be speedily increased
/ to an amount sufficient to meet the
| demands Of a growing business and
population Of the country, and to re-
| store the just level of prices of labor
| and production.
! We demand such legislation as will
prevent for the future the demonetiza-
tion 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 money in
which they are to be paid, and we de-
nounce the present and preceding Ad-
ministration for surrendering this op-
/ ton to the holders of Government OBJ
| legations.
| 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 deposit of the savings of the
/ people, and to facilitate exchange.
We oppose all funding bills calculated
to extend the time for payment of the
Pacific Railroad debt and we demand
| that our Government take the neces-
sary steps to Immediately foreclose it's
| mortgage upon the Central Pacific
Railroad and collect the debt in full,
and, if necessary, to bid it in at the
| sale. and operate the same in the in
| terest and for the benefit of the peo-
| pie.
We demand the construction, owner
shin and operation of a ship canal
across the isthmus of Nicaragua by the
United States Government or private
corporation.
The war against Spain. compelled by
the sentiments of the people of the
United States in vindication of honor |
duty. humanity and liberty, should be
prosecuted with overwhelming vigor
until the ends for which it was under
| taken have been fully and satisfactor-
lily achieved.
We deprecate the fact, however, that
in order to raise means TO prosecute
this war unjust and unequal systems of
taxation have been adopted by the Re-
publican Congress and Administration. |
by which wealth is enabled to escape its |
just burdens shifting the same to the
shoulders of those less able to bear
them.
We further deprecate the fact that in |
terest- bearing bonds have been issued |
which. although miscalled popular
loan" will absorb the product of toll |
for years to come, and greatly add to |
the burdens of the producing classes
We demand reform in our system of !
taxation to the end that taxes shall so |
be laid as to secure as far as possible |
equality of sacrifice; we favor the re- |
peal of all poll taxes and demand ex- |
emption from taxation of small home |
steads and personal property, the |
amount to be fixed by the LEGISLATURE !
We also favor a graduated State income |
and inheritance tax. |
We also favor the submission to the |
people of a constitutional amendment
which will give to counties and muni- !
cipal corporations the right to ADOPT |
such a system of taxation for local pur-
poses as the people of such locality NAV
desire.
Labor being the support of life. the
right to work is sacred as the right
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