Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-02-22
PoPULIsT Ma T1oNAL PLATFORM.

P0PULIsT Ma TIONAL PLATFORM.
The Peoples party. assembled i'm nationa
convention. reaftirms it's allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the re-
public, and also TO the fundamental principles
OF just government, as enunciated In the plat
form OF the party in 1892 We recognize that
through the conniyance of the present and
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in its national life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
DUTY OF ihe hour. We realize that while VIC
have political Independence. our financial
and industrial independence is yet to be at
tanned leg restoring to our country the consti-
tution3l control and exercise of the functions
necessary to IL PEOPLES government, which
functions have been bssely surrendered nv
our puhic servants TO corporate monopo-
lies. The influence of European money
changers has been more potent in shaping
eeisiaJion than the voice of the American
people. Executive power and patronage
have been used 10 corrupt legislatures
and defeat the viii OF the people and plutoc-
racy has thereby been enthroned upon tho
RUNS OF democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers and for the well
fare of this and future generations, we demand
the establishment of an economic and finan-
cal system, which shall make us masters of
our own affairs and independent of European
control, by the adoption OF the following dec-
lar0tion OF principles:
FINANCE.
First We demand national money, safe
and sound. issued by the general government
only, without the intervention of banks of is
sue to be a full legal tender for all debts pub
lie and priVate-a inst equitable and efficient
means OF distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
ernment.
Second-We. demand the free and unre-
stricted coinage of silver and gold AT the pres
eut legal ratio Of sixteen to one without watt
ing for the consent of foreign nations.
Third-Wc demand that the volume of cir
culating medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient 10 meet the demands of the
business and population of this country and
10 restore the just level of prices of labor and
production.
FUurth-We denounce the sale of bonds ana
the increase of the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration a.
unnecessary ana without authority of Iaw,and
that no more bonds he issued except by spe-
clncHct OF cODgrcsS.
Fiith-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
Sixth-We demand that the government. i'm
payment of its obligations, shall use its option
as to the kind of lawful money in which they
are to be paid. and we denOunce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender-
ing this option to the holders of governments
obligations.
fSeventh-we demand a graduated income
tex to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation and We
regard Tue recent decision of the supreme
court relative to the income tax las as a mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vasion of the rightfui powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
Eghth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
and 70 facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
neutrality-suspicious. being a means of ex
charSe and u necessity the govern ment shouli
own and operate the railroads in the Interest
OF the people and on non-partisan basis: to
the end that all may be accorded the came
treatment in transportation and that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations. which result
in the impairment, If not the destruction of
the political rights and personal liberties Of
| the citizen, may be destroyed Such owner.
ACCOMPLISHED tiv i'm a
ner consistent with sound public policy.
Second-Ihe interest of the United States in
the public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of land
to the Pacific railroads, should never be alien.
ated, mortgaged or sold, but guarded and pro-
tected for the general welfare, as provided by
the laws organizing such railroads. The fore
closure OF existing liens of the United States
On these roads should at once follow defaultiu
payment thereof by the debtor com panies land
at the foreclosure sales OF said roads the gov.
eminent should purchase the same il il he.
comes necessary 10 protect its interests there
in, or If they can be purchased at a rea sonable
price. hrd the government shall operate said
raiiroa "a public highways for ;he benefit Of
the WI ale people and not in the interest of the
few, under suitable provisions for protection
OF life and property, giving to all transporta-
non 1nicieStS equal privileges and equal rates
for fares s'ld freights.
Ihicd-We denouuee the present infamous
schemes for returning these dpbts and de-
maud that the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according to their
true intent and spirit.
system. being necessity for the transmission
OF news. should be owned and operated by
the government III the interests of the people.
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the ma
tlonai anu state legislation shall he such
VIII Ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustriClls citizen 10 secure a home and there
fore the land should not be moHopolzed for
speculative purposes. All lands now held nv
railroads. and other corporations in excess OF
their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed b3 the government and held for
Eelg FtaanG ftTalN
tied
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
hde settlers OF their homes and miners of their
claims. and we demand legislation by congress
which viii enforce the exemption of mineral
Iaiid from such grants, after well as before
Third-'yc demand that all bona fide settlers
on all psible lands be granted free homes AZ
provided III the national homestead law and
that 10 exception be made in The case o. In
dian reservations when opened for settlement
ara that al lands now patented come under
this demand.
Fourtis-Direct Legislation: We favor a
system 81 direct legislation through the initia
i've af.G referendum under proper coDstitu
uonai saseGnartis.
GEEEEAL PROPOSITIONS
ffrst--sfe demand the election of president
wee ples{dcut ard United States Senators bv n
Direct vote Of the people.
secoaa-Wc tender 10 the patriotic peol lie of
ItA Ger deepest sympathy in their struggle
Tor political dom ard Independence. and
we bei!eFe the time has come whsn the United
stsfeS- the great republic of the world, should
iecozs.iiIc mat Cuba Is, and of right ought to
be. q tree aud Independent state.
fhsrG-fte favor home rule in the territories
ard tfae District OF Columbia and the early adj
mission Of the territories states.
tonrl a-Ail public salaries should be made
20 correspond 10 the price of labor and its pro-
Fitfh-In these times of industrial depres-
sion Idle iator should be employed on public
WORKS as far as practicable.
SiStn-Ihe arbitrary course of the courts in
assuming 10 imprison citizens for indirect con-
tempt and ruling them by Injunction should
be pa eyented by proper legislation.
seFenth--We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier
Eighth Believing that the elective franchise
ana untramTneied ballot are essential TO gov
ernment of. for and by the people. the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
franchiseInent adopted in some of the states
a. un-republtcHn and un-demoeratic aud We
declare II 70 be the duty of the several states
legislatures TO take such action as will secure
a fIli.free and fair ballot and au honest count.
Nintb--hh'l II the foregoing propositions COM
stitute the platform upon which our party
stands and for the vIndication of which its or.
paTiizatiou will he maintained. we recognize
tnat the great and pressing issue of the pend
ing campaign upon which the present presi-
dental election will turn is the financial orIe~
ton and upon this great and specific issue he
tween the part1 IS we cordially invite fhe afx