Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-06-15

PoPULIsT NATIONAL PLATFeRH.
The Peoples party. assembled in national
convention. reaffirms it's allegiance to che
public, and also to the Fundamental priuoipIes
OF Just government, enunciated IN the Plat
form OF the party I'm 1892. We recognize that
through the cOnniyance OF the present and
preceding administrations the couutry ms
reached crisis in it's national life as prerijcted
IN our aeciaration four years ago, and that
promptand patriotic action Is The supreme
DUTY OF the hour. We realize that while VIC
nave political Independence, our financial
tanned by restoring to our country the consti-
tutional control and exercise of the IN ncfions
nsecessary 10 q peoples government. which
functions have been basely surrendered by
our public servants to corporate Inonopo-
lies The influence OF European money
changers has been more potent I'm shaping
legislation than the voice of the Americe1
people Executive power and patronage
nave been used to corrupt our legislatures
ano oeieat the viii of the people. and pIutoc-
racy has thereby been erthroned upt,u the
RUNS OF democracy. To restore the govern
fare OF this and future generations we demand
the establishment of an economic and f3nsn
oial system. which shall make US masters of
our own anairs and independent OF European
control, by the adoption of the following dec
larstion OF principles:
FINANCE.
First-We demand a national monsv saf.
and sound, issued by the general government
only, without the intervention of hanks of is-
soC " Ot a lul iSRal tender Tor All 1ebtn
nc ana pr1vate-a just, equitable and efScisnt
means OF distribution direct to the peopIe and
through the lawful disbursements OF the gov
ernment.
Second-we demand the free and uurs.
str1cted coinage of silver and gold at the pres
r s egai ratIo or sixteen to one without wait
Ihird-We demand that the volume of cir
cuiaIing medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufhcient TO meet the demands of the
business and population of this country and
10 restore the just level of prices of labor and
production.
Fourth-We denounce the sale of bonds nd
the increase of the public interest bearinr
debt made by the present administration a
unnecessary and without authority of law and
cif1c act of congress.
Flfth-we demand such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization of tho lawful
money OF the United States by private con-
tract. WI
Sixth-We demand that the government. I'm
payment OF it's obligations. shall use it's option
as TO the kind of lawful money in which thev
| are To be paid. and we denounce the present
ana preceding administrations for surrender-
ing tnls option to the holders of governments
obligations.
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
tax tax 10 me end that aggregated wealth shall
Dear lts just proportion of taxation. and we
regard the recent decision of the sIIpreme
court relative to the income tax law as a mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vasion of the rightful powers of congress over
| the subject of taxation.
Eiehth-we demand that postal savings
banks be established 10y the government for
| the safe deposit of the savings of the peonI
and 10 facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
MISREPRESENTATION being n means NJ e,
| change and necessity the goyernment shonII
own and operate the railroads in the Interest
oil the people and on a non-partisan basis: to
the eDd tnat all may be accorded the same
treatment in transportation and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
ine ia, great railroad corporations. which result
n the Impairment, If not the destruction of
the political rights and personal liberties OF
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
snip is 10 DE accomplished gradually i'm a man.
ner consistent with sound public policy
Second-Thc interest OF the United States I'm
Ine puollc nlghways built with public moneys
ana the proceeds of extensive grants OF land
TO the Pacific railroads. should never be alien
ated. mortgaged or sold, but guarded and pro-
tecteu Tor the general welfare, as provided nv
the laws organizing such railroads The FORE
closure OF existing liens of the United States
On tnese roads should at once follow default in
pa! ment thereof by the debtor companies ;and
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the GOV
ernment should purchase the same II IL be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
in, or AZ they can be purchased at a reason ahIs
| price, and the government shall oDeraffs safI
railroads. "a public highways for the benefit OF
the whole people and not in the interest of the
few. under suitable provisions for protection
OF life and property. giving to all transporta-
ton interests equal privileges and canal r,te.
for fares and freghts.
1hird-We denOunce the present Infamous
schemes for refunding these debts. and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according IN their
| true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph. like the post ofioe
system, being necessity for the transmission
OF news, should he owned and Operated nv
the government in the interests OF the people,
| LAND.
fIrst-the true policy demands that the M.
tional and state legislation shall be such ~.
VIII ultimately enable every prudent and in
99ustriouS citizen TO secure home. and there
tore the land should not be moRopoIized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held nv
Iiallroaus ana otner corporations in excess OF
their actual needs should by lawful means be
recldlIneu by the government and held for ao-
tual settlers only, and pri @ate land mouopolv
a well as alien own ershin should - ,,SeeSttts
| tied.
| Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad COMMA nics
nave, through the connivance of the Interior
aaepartment, robbed multitudes of actual bona
/ noe settlers OF their homes and miners of their
claims, and we demand legislation by conRreea
Wnlcn VIII enforce the exemption OF mineral
patent, No
Third-We demand that all bona fde settIer,
ou All puonc lands be granted free homes as
| pfoNlded IN the national homestead law and
that no exception be made i'm the case OF In
dian reservations when opened for settlemenf
ana anu tnat all lands now patented come under
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor n
system OF direct legislation through the initia
| tive aLo referendum under proper conetftu
| uonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
,flrst-We demand the election OF president
vice president and United States Senator M :
| direct vote of the people. -
| SecOnd-We tender TO the patriotic peopIe nj
| Suoa our deepest sympathy in their strugrIe
| IoE polltlcal freedom aud Independence ana
We Delleye the time has come when the ITnited
States, the great republic OF lie world, sbonIS
| recognize that Cuba is, and of right Ought IA
De y Tree and independent state
| InIru-We favor home rule I'm the terrItorfes
anu tne Dletrlct or Columbus. and the early al
mission of the territories as states.
| fourth-All public salaries should he mads
10 correspond TO the price of labor and its pro-
tifth-In these times of Industrial depres.
| SION ldle labor should be employed ON D,IhIIs
works as Tar as practicable
ohtn-lne arbitrary course Of the courts I'm
assuming TO imprison citizens for fndrect con-
| tempt and ruling them by Injunction Should
ne prevented by proper legislation.
oeVentn-We favor Just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier SS
Eighth Believing that the elective francn,..
ana untrammeled ballot arc esseDtfaI to s,ov
eminent OF, for and by the people the Peo1Ies
party condemns the wholesale system ~ 40
| reimbursement adopted in some of the sfsfe.
| 4s gn-republican and un-democratic aud wa
neciaIe IL 10 De The duty OF the several states
e2Isiatures 10 take such action as will SECURE
d iuii'Iree and fair ballot and an honest count
hlnth-Whiie the foregoing propositions con.
ettute the platiOTn upon which our Dartv
elanus ahd iOr the vindicatiOn OF which fts or.
s,sl IN. .a VIII be maintained. we recognizes
thdt the great aud pressing Issue of the tsend-
| ing campaign upon which the present presI-
Dental election will turn IS the financial oues
tlon ana uDon this great and specific iseue be.
tween the par1ies cordially invite fhs asa
ain cooperation OF all organizations nd cfts-