Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-06-22


cd and cleo
ton assIIr-
ed.
Following is the platform of the
Populist party of Kansas for 1898, as
adopted at the state convention in To-
peka.
We commend The state administra-
ton for its patriotic and vigorous de-
fense of the rights of the people and
its flicient ard economical conduct
of state affairs. We commend the
action of the Populist members of the
last legislature in passing laws that
have saved hundreds of thousands OF
dollars to the people of Kansas.
We also commend the course of our
senator AMI representative in congress
for their opposition to the issuance OF
interest bearing bonds and the Ell
croachments of corporate power upon
the rights Of the people, and their
vigiiant devotion to the interests OF
their constituents.
First-We demand that the initia-
tive and referendum be embodied in
our state constitution ard favor pro-
portional representation.
We favor the public ownership of
ali public utilities and demand tht
public ownership and operation of all
monopolies.
The state laws regulating the stock
yards charges having been resisted,
we demand that the state of Kansas
shall provide adequate market tacili-
ties by purchasing land and construct
ing necessary buildings, yards and
other convenionces to furnish tht
people an open public m ,rket and un-
der such regulations as will prevent
combila of buyers and commits.
sion men from controlling or regula-
ting prices. Charges for such SER
vices to cover actual cost of opera
alton and repairs only.
We demand that the state of Kan
sas shall provide insurance protec-
/ ton, both fire and life as state func-
ton at cost.
The demands being in opposition
to the existing constitution of the
state, we mand a constitutional
convention to the end that they may
be made effective and that other de-
fects that now exist IN our state con-
stitution may be remedied.
We demand the enactment of a
freight rate law giving to a court of
railway commissioners, to be elected
by the people, the power to fix rates
aud classifications of railways and
the further power to compel the rail-
ways to make full reports with refer
ence to their business.
Recognizing the great saving and
benefits to the people from the text
book law passed by Populist legis-
lature and put into operation by a
Populist administration, we favor
its extension along the same general
lines to include all text books and
school supplies as far as possible.
We demand enactment of the labor
laws necessary for tho public veal.
One-A law making county clerk g
Offices free public employment agen-
cies, the state labor bureau to con-
stitute general clearing house for
the surplus applications of the coun-
ties.
Two-A law making the bureau of
labor and industrial statistics an In
dependent department of the state
government.
Three-A law completely revising
the mining laws to the end that it
may be safer for the miner to work
and more dangerous for the operat-
crs to disobey.
Four-A law taxing as costs iiI
action for the recovery Of wages d
resonable attorney Is fse for the col
lection of the same, and providing
that in case OF an employers ss=ign-
ment or insolvency, wages shall be q
prior lien to all attachments and
mortgages.
FIve-While the law OF 1897, under
the operation of which all profits ac-
crued to the state rather than to the
middlemen under tue guise OF con-
tractor was an Improvement on the
old contract law, we declare for q
law that will confine the output of
the penitentiary mine to the needs
of the institutions shall not in the
future be placed at the mercy of q
combination or private corporation.