The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1898-05-20
Platform.

First-We declare our allegiance to those
principles OF justice, liberty and equality OF
all citizens before the law upon which our in
stitutions are founded.
Second-We demand The immediate restor-
alton of the free and unlimited coinage OF
silver at the present legal ratio of 1G to /,
without waiting for the consent of any other
nation or power, and that the standard silver
dollar shall be full legal tender for all debts,
public and private
Third-We denCunce as unbusinesslike, and
as fraud upon the industrial people OF the
United States, the surrender by the present
administration, to the bondholders, of the
option reserved to the government in its con-
tracts. to redeem its Obligations in either gold
or silver.
Fourth We favor that form of direct egis-
lation known as the initiative and referendum
and imperative mandate.
Iifth--We demand the election ofall public
officers by direct vote OF the people,
Slxth-We declare that money is the crea-
tton OF law, and we affirm the right OF the
people TO issue n sufficient quantity TO trans
act the business of the country without the
Intervention of any banking system
SeYenth-We demand graduated income.
tax to the end that aggregate wealth shall
bear It's just proportion oftaXation.
Eighth-Ne are unalteraDly opposed to the
issuance of interest bearing bonds and we
favor the reduction Of all public expenses
within the limits of the public income, so that
pulglic debts may be oblterated.
Ninth-We demand the construction ofSuch
locks or waterways, at the Cello falls or rapids
Ol lLG OOlullDld IlNcT, uS Will ODIttlu IOF Il6
use of the producers of the inland empire, and
particularly OF matilla county, the Columbia
river, provided by the God of nature for their
prosperity, and we denounce the insufferable
trifiing upon the part of the republican sena-
tors and representatives III congress from this
state, during the last 20 years, that has per-
mitted two decades to goby without any work
being done ut the Cello rapids, or any serious
effort 10 do any work there.
Tenth-We condemn our present republic
can representatives ana senator's i'll congress
for causing tax to be placed ON grain sacks,
which has unnecessarily caused the farmers
OF Umatilla county to pay approximately
$4,000 into the national treasury without re.
ceiving the benefit ofany compensating pro-
lection.
Eleventh-VVe demand such u reform in The
attachment laws of the state, that will give
laborers IN every instance, first lien on all
| property their labor has created, or improved.
TWelfth-We demand u labor lien law in
this state. that will give laborers in every in
stance, n first lien on oil property their labor
| has created or improved.
Thirteenth-NVe demand q reform of the
| law OF this state with reference To the collec-
| tion OF attorneys fees in civil actions, to the
| end that all contracts for the payment of at
torney's lees in notes, bonds or similar obliga-
| tiuns, shall be void, but providing that the
| prevailing party In Il tried action at law, may
| have judgment in addition to the amount OF
| the verdict for such sum AS the court may adj
Judge reasonable as attorneys fees And
| providing further, that nothing in the nature
| of attorneys fees be allowed in any case,
| mortgage foreclosure or Otherwise. where
| there Is no contest on behalf of the real party
| in interest, except the statutory cost provided
| by law.
| Fourteenth--V We denounce the reckless
| management of the financial affairs of Uma-
| tilla county by the present administration, in
| the payment of large sums of money to
| various county officers IN addition to the
| emoluments allowed them by law, in the
| employment of Unnecessary and useless
| deputies In the offices of the sheriff, clerk,
| recorder and assessor, aud the wrongful
| allowance OF large sums to the county scnool
| superintendent in excess of the salary allowed
| him bS law, and such reckless extravagance
| in other ways as has greatly Increased the
county debt, while taxes nave not been
reduced.