Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-04-13
ropuI1sr. NATIONAL rLArroar.

PoPULIsr NATIONAL PLAT1oRN.
The Peoples party. assembled In national
convention. reafirms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the 10
public, and also to the fundamental principles
form OF the party IN 1902 We recognize that
through the c0nniyance OF the present and
preceding ADMINISTRATORS the country has
reached crisis in its national life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action 10 the supreme
have political fndependencsc. our nnaneisi
and industrial Independence "a yen 70 be at
tanned by restoring to our country the consti-
necessary TO q peoples government. which
functions have been basely surrcudsred BY
our public servants to corporate monopo-
nes: The influence OF European money
changers has been more potent I'm shapinx
legislation than the voice Of the Amorican
Reopise: e., Executive . power and patronage
and defeat the will OF the people. and plutoc-
racy has thereby been enthroned upon the
ment intended by the fathers, and for he vel
fare OF this and future generations We denand
me me, estaolishment Of an economic and imam
our own affairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following deo-
laration OF principles:
FINANCE.
First We demand = national money, safe
ana sound Issued by the general goverumeu
only. without the intervention Of banks OF 10
sue to be fun legal tender for all debts pub
lie and prfvate-a just, equitable and ef3cieut
meaus OF distribution direct to the people And
through the lawful disbursements Of the row
second-we demand the free and unre-
etrleted coinage Of silver and Rold at the pres-
Ing for the consent or foreign nations
Tnird-We demand that the volume of cir
culat1ng medium be speedily increased to an
amount sumcfent TO meet the demands OF the
business and population of this country and
10 restore the Just level Of prices Of labor and
Lne increase OF the public interest bearing
debt made by the present admiuistratiou a
unnecessary and without authority of Iawand
I Inaa no more bonds be issued except by spe-
Fffth-we demand such legislation m will
prevent the decentralization of the lawful
tract.
Sixth-We demand that the government. I'm
payment OF its obligations, shall use its optjon
as to the kind of lawful money in which tbeT
are to be paid, and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender-
lhH THIS option to the holders Of governments
Seventh-we demand a graduated income
tax 70 the end that aggregated wealth shall
Dear It's Just proportion of taxation and We
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative to the income tax law as n mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vasion of the rightful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
aud to facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATION.
First-Transportation being a means OF e,-
cnange and necessity, the government shouli
own and operate the railroads in the interest
OF the people and on a non partisan basis: TO
the end that all may be accorded the same
tyranny and political power now exercised nv
the great railroad corporations. which result
70 the Impairment. If not the destruction, of
the pontlcal rights and personal liberties of
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
ship Is to be accomplished gradually in a man
ner consistent with sound public policy.
Second-The interest of the United States I'm
the public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of land
10 the IA clfc railroads. should never be Alien
ated, mortgaged or sold. but guarded and pro-
tected for the general welfare as provided nv
the laws organizing such railroads. The fore
closure OF existing liens of the United States
on these roads should at once follow default in
payment thereof by the debtor com pauies n nd
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
eminent should purchase the same IL IL be-
c )mes necessary to protect its interests there
In, or IL they can be purchased at q asonabIs
pIiEe, ana the government shall operate said
the whole people and not in the interest of the
Few, under suitable provisions for protection
OF life and property, giving to all Transports
for fares and freights
Third-we denounce the present infamous
ecnemes Tor refunuing these debts. and de-
msnd that the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according to their
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like tho post ONCE
system, being q necessity for the transmission
OF news, should be owned and operated by
the government In the interests of the people.
LAND.
Ffrst-the true policy demands that the na.
tional and state legislation shall be such a.
S Mil ultimately enable every prudent and In
fore the land should not be moRopolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
railroads and other corporations In excess OF
tneir actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only, and pri Sate land monopoly,
as well as alien ownership. should be prohib-
Second-we condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
have, through the connivance OF the interior
department., robbed multitudes of actual bona
nde settlers of their homes and miners OF their
claims. and we demand legislation by coueress
which will enforce the exemption Of mineral
land from such grants. after as well az before
Third-we demand that all bona fide settlers
on all public lands be granted free homes a.
that no exception be made in the case O; In.
dian reservations when opened for settlement,
and that ali lands now patented come under
Fourth-Dfrect Legislation: We favor q
system OF direct legislation through the initia.
i've AID referendum under proper coustitu.
tonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First-We demand the election of president
vice president and United States senators by n
direct vote of the people.
Second-We tender to the patriotic people of
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struSrje
Tor political freedom and independence. and
we believe the time has come when the United
states, the great republic OF the world should
recognize that Gu a Is, and OF right ought ia
be. free and independent state.
Thfrd-We favor home rule in the territories
ana the District OF Columbia. and the carly ad-
mission of the territories as states
Fourth-All public salaries should be made
ducts. nv
Fifth-In these times of industrial depres.
sion idle labor should be employed on public
works as far as practicable.
Slxth-The arbitrary course of the courts In
tempt and ruling them by injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation.
ceventn-We fayor Just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Misunderstanding that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential to gov
eminent OF, for and by the people. the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
as un-republican and un-democratic, aud we
declare II to be the duty of the several states
legislatures to take such action as will secure
full, free and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth-WhiIe the foregoing propositions con.
stltute the Platform upon which our party
STANDS. and for the vindication of which its or
ganizatiOn VIII be maintained we recognise
ing campaign upon which the present presI-
Dental election will turn the 6na ncnl ffr,es.