The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-12-14
The PEOPLES PARTY
1T Is the Party of Labor and Advocates
Those Principles of Government
Necessary for the Welfare
of the People.
Why 1t Was Born and Why II
Must Live.


The Peoples party was formed in 1892
by the representatives of labor in all
walks, because it's founders no longer
trusted either of the old parties. The
Republican and Democratic parties had
alternated in power for third of
century. When either was in power it
served the monied interests and the
corporations; but when it was out OF
power, it always was a reform party.
Pledges had been made by both parties
only to be thrown aside when given
power to carry them out. So it seems
the founders of the Peoples party
sought to build up party that would be
true to it's pledges and not be an in
strument for their enslavement.
Since the formation of the Peoples
party, both old parties have been al
ternately in full possession of the gov
ernment Had either been friend of
labor, one or the other would have en-
acted some demand of labor into law
during their recent power; but | ask
you candidly, can you point to an act
of either of these parties which fulfills
a demand of labor? Not one. On the
ether hand. they have We'd with each
other in serving corporations and the
monied powers. For this very plain
reason. I say. then, that every wrong
that the Peoples party was formed to
correct still exists. and every reason for
its organization today. with double
force, calls for its continued existence
and its political asoendancy!
It is true there has arisen in these
claim that there is now no more need
for the Peoples party; that it has done
its work and that work is the Chica-
SO platform Of the Democratic party the
pledge of party to enact one small and
insignifqcant demand Of Populism into
law, after years of record against it.
These men would have the Peoples
party disband, and would destroy the
work of those reformers who have given
years of their life to it's upholding
If it were true that any stronger pO-
litical party was sincerely the advocate
of Populistic principles, it would be folly
to maintain our party in the face of
odds: but such is not the case. In the
first place. no other party advocates
Populist doctrines; and in the second
place, the Democratic party, which, it is
claimed, we should surrender our ship
to, and join it's ranks, does not sincerely
advocate even the bagatelle it promises
in the Chicago platform.
Many people believe the Populist and
Democratic parties are alike on the
money question. Nothing is more er-
roneous The Democratic party is near
er. the Republican party on the money
issue than it is to the Peoples party.
Let us see.
The Peoples party believes concern
ing money
l. That it is creature of legislation,
and that it does not matter of what ma
terial it is made-that dollar may be
made of paper as we'll as of silver or
gold. This both old parties deny
2. That no dollar should be redeem
able in any other kind of dollar, but
that the promise of the government to
receive it for all dues and the legal
tender power are sufficient to make it
good. Both old parties demand coin re-
demption
3. That the volume of money should
be increased to about $50 per capita.
Neither of the old parties advocates
any substantial increase Of the money
volume.
4. That the government should issue
and control all the money of the country
and that no corporation should have
the right to issue money. The Repub- |
lican party advocates national banks, to
control our paper money, and the Demo- |
cratic party, state banks of issue. both
of which are founded on an opnosite
principle to ours.
5. The Peoples party believes that |
the government should issue paper
money direct to the people, either at !
low rate of interest, or to employ the |
idle upon works of public improvement. |
This is opposed by both old parties.
6. The Peoples party believes in |
postal savings banks, for the safe de- |
posit of the earnings of the people. This |
is opposed by both old parties as pater-
nalism.
So you see there is no ground for the
plea that the Populists should leave the |
Peoples party and join the Democrats |
on the financial issue.
An issue of no less importance to the
people than the financial, is whether
The railroads shall own the government