The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1898-05-27
Platform.

First--we declare our allegiance to those
principles of justice, liberty and equality OF
al cillzens before the law upon which our in
stituCons are founded.
Second-We demand the immediate restor-
alton of the free and unlimited coinage OF
silver at the present legal ratio of IL TO /,
without waiting for theGonsent 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 denounce 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 legis-
lation known as the initiatives and referendum
and imperative mandate.
cifth--Me G demand the election of all public
officers by direct vote of the people,
Slxth-we declare that money is the crea-
ton 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.
SeVenth-We demand q graduated income
tax TO the end that aggregate wealth shall
beur It's just proportion oftaxation.
Eighth-We are unateraDly opposed to the
issuance of interest bearing bonds. and we
favor the reduction of ali public expenses
within the limits of the public income so that
puzzle debts may be obllterated.
Ninth--W demand the construction ofsuch
locks or waterways at the Cello falls or rapids
OF the columbia river, as will obtain for the
use OF the producers of the inland empire, and
particularly of umatilla county, the Columbia
| river, provided by the God of nature for their
prosperity, and we denounce the insufferable
! triiiing upon the part of the republican sena-
tors and representatives in congress from this
state, during the last 20 years, that has per-
! mitted two decades to go by without any work
| being done att the Cello rapids, or any serious
effort TO DO any work there.
Tenth--NWe condemn our present republi-
can representatives and senators in congress
| FOR causing u tax TO be placed ON grain sacks,
| whicn has unnecessarily caused the farmers
S3O,OOO into the national treasury without re
celying the benefit of any compensating pro-
| lection.
Eleventh We demand such n reform In The
attachment laws of the state, that will give
| labOrers IN every instance, a first lien on all
| property their labor has created, or improved.
Twelith-We demand a labor lien law in
TINS state, that will give laborers in every in
stance, a first lien on all property their labor
| has created or improved.
| Thirtcenth--Ne demand q reform of the
law OF this state with reference 10 the collec-
/ tion ofnttorney's fees in civil actions, to the
end that all contracts for the payment OF at
! t0rney's lees in notes, bonds OF similar obliga.
tiOns, shall be void, but providing that the
| prevailing party In a tried action at law, may
nave Judgment in addition TO the amount OF
| the verdict for such sum as the court may ad-
! 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
4 IN interest, except the statutory cost provided
! by law.
konrteenth-we denounce the reckless
management ofthe financial affairs OF Uma
tilla county by the present administration, IN
! the payment OF large sums of money 70
various county officers IN addition to the
enoluments 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 school
superintendent in excess of the salary allowed
him bS law, and such reckless extrayagance
In other ways as has greatly increased the
county debt, while taxes nave not been
reduced.