Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-08-16
ropuI1sr NATIONAL pLArroRr.

PoPULIsr NATIONAL PLATFORM.
The Peoples party. assembled In nationsd
convention. reafiirms its allegiance TO the
public. and Also TO the fundamental principles
of just government, as enuncieted In the plat
form OF the party in 1892. We recognize that
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 the hour. We realize that while we
have political Independence. our financia
and Industrial indeT endence IL yet to be at
tanned by restoring to our country the consti-
tutionai control and exercise of the functions
necessary to peoples government, which
our public servants 70 corporate monopo-
lies The influence OF European money
changers has been more potent in shaping
legislation than the voice of the American
people. Executive power and patronage
have been used to corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the will of the people. and plutoc-
racy has thereby been enthroned upon the
ruins of democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers. and for the well
the establishment of an economic and finan-
cial system. which shall make MS masters OF
our own affairs and independent OF European
control. by the adoption of the following dec-
laration of principles:
FINANCE.
I've demand a national money, cafe
only, without the Intervention OF banks of is
sue TO be full legal tender for all debts pub
lie ana privatena jnst equitable and encient
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
ernment.
Second-we demand the free and unre-
stricted coinage of silver and gold at the pres
ent legal ratio of sixteen to one, without wait
ing for the consent of foreign nations.
Third-We demand that the volume of cir
culating medium be speedily increased to an
amount suf1cient to meet the demands OF the
business ana populat1on oil this country and
to restore the just level of prices of labor and
production.
Fourth-we denounce the sale of bonds ana
the Increase of the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration as
unnecessary and without authority of law and
that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
Fifth-we demand such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization of the lawful
| money of the United States by private con-
| tract.
| sixth-we demand that the government, in
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 government
| Seventh-We demand graduated income
| tax TO the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear Its just proportion of taxation, and
| regard the recent decision of the supreme
| court relative to the income tax law as a mis-
| Interpretation of the constitution and an in
| vasiOn of the rfghtful 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
| and to facilitate exchange.
! TRANSPORTATION.
| First-TranSpOrtaton being means of ey-
| change and necessity, the government should
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 same
| 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
ship is to be accomplished gradually i'm 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
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
GA these roads should at once follow default in
| payment thereof by the debtor companies ;and
| at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
| eminent should purchase the same il il be-
| comes necessary to protect its interests there
| in, or If they can be purchased at q reasonable
price, and the government shall operate said
| railroads as 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 equal rates
| for fares and treightS.
Third-We denounce the present infamous
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according to their
| true intent and spirit
Fourth-The telegraph like the post Office
system. being necessity for the transmission
of news, should be owned and operated by
the government in the interests of the people.
LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the ma
| tlOnal and state legislation shall be such an
will ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrious citizen to secure a home, and there
fore the land should not be mOROpoized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
railroads and ether corporations in excess of
their actual needs should by lawful means be
| reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only, and pri |ate land monopoly,
| as well as alien ownership, should be prohib-
| 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
, fde settlers of their homes and miners of their
claims, and we demand legislation by congress
which will enforce the exemption of mineral
land from such grants, after as well as before
| patent,
, Third-We demand that all bona fidc settlers
| on all public lands be granted free homes, a
provided in the national homestead law, and
that no exception be made in the case Of In.
dian reservations when opened for settlement
and that all lands now patented come under
this demand.
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor 9
sy stem of direct LEGISLATION through the fnitia
| tive and referendum under proper constitu
| tionai safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
| First-We demand the election OF president.
| vice president and United States senators by q
direct vote of the people.
| Seconu-%e tender to the patriotic peoI le of
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
! for political freedom and independents, and
| we believe the time has come when the United
States, the great republic of the world. should
| recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought TO
| be, a free and independent state.
| Third-We favor home rule in the territories
| and the District of Columbia and the early ad-
mission of the territories as states.
Fourth-Ali public salaries should be made
to correspond TO the price of labor and its pro-
| ducts.
| SFifth-In these times of industrial depres.
| sion idle labor should De employed on public
works as far as practicable.
| Sixth-The arbitrary course of the courts In
assuming to imprison citizens for indirect con.
| tempt and ruling them by injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation.
| Seventh-We favor 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
| franchisement adopted in some of the states
as un-republican and un-demOcratic, aud we
declare it to be the duty of the several states
legislatures to take such action will secure
a full free and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth-Whie the foregoing propositions con
stitutc the platform upon which our party
stands, and for the vIndication of which its or.
| ganization will be maintained, we recognize
| ing campaign upon which the present preei
fol will fC rnfo