Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-09-06

poPULIsr NATIONAL PLATFORM.
The peoples party, assembled in national
conventions. reaffirms its allegiance 20 the
principles declared by the founders or the re-
of lust government, as enunciated in the plat-
form of the party in 1897. We recognize tnet
through the cOnnivance or the present ana
preceding administrations the country has
reached a crisis in its national life as predicteo
In our declaration four years ago, ana tnat
DUTY S1 Of the the hour. We realize that while We
have political Independence. our nnancie
and industrial indev Evidence is yet to be at
tanned by restoring to our country the constr
tutionai control and exercise of the functions
necessary to q PEOPLES government, which
functions have been basely surrendered by
our public servants to 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
rauu has thereby been enthroned upon the
ruins of democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers. and for the wei.
the establishment of an economic and fnan-
cial system. which shall make us masters OF
control. by the adoption of the following dcc-
| larstion OF principles:
FINANCE.
First We demand a national money, safe
and sound, issued by the general government
only without the Intervention of banks of is
| sue to be full legal tender for all debts pub
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
ent legal ratio of sixteen to one, without watt
| ing for the consent of foreign nations.
| Third-we demand that the volume of cir
culating medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient to meet the demands OF the
| business and population of this country and
| to restore the just level of prices of labor and
| production.
| the increase of the public interest bearing
| debt made by the present administration
| unnecessary ana without authority of law, and
| that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
| citic act of congress-.
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 governments
obligations.
| Seventh-we demand graduated income
| tax to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation, and we
| regard the recent decision of tile supreme
court relative to the income tax law as a mis-
| Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vason of the rightful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
| ailu W AaSiheotO oAchduso.
TRANSPORTATION.
First-Transportation 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
| 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
tue poiulcai TIGHTS ana personal liberties of
ship is TO be accomplished gradually in man.
neE consstTht Win Stn so4h no puonc policy
the public highways built with public moneys
ana the proceeds OF extensive grants OF land
10 Tue railroaas; snould never De alien
a.eu n s , VI soiu, 1nt guaroed ana pro-
tec'eu LOT tue eenerai WeI1hre, as PROVIDED Dy
the laws organizing SUCH railroads. The fore
sh vi , iSns VI Tue Dn.eo STATES
On lnese roaos sn0ulu at once follow defaultin
payment tnereoI Dy the DEBTOR companies land
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
rniiient on s" purcnase Tue same II ~ De-
Cones reSessary 10 Prolect ltS INTERESTS tnere-
III; oe II ,He -, can oe Purcnasea al reasonaoie
rairoads as nnhIc hiuhways T .b sadS 10
tho ,Ufoio napno ond ~ -; ~, Lor sae oI
| tut "HoIe Peopie anu not III the interest or the
FEW We. under suitable provisions for protection
Oh me anu Property, Ewing 10 all transporta-
non lnterests equat privileges ana equal rates
FOR 1ares ana trelghts.
Third-We denounce the present infamous
schemes LOT reIundlng THESE debts and de-
manu- tna. .. I laws now applcaDe Inereto De
executed ana administered according to their
true intent ana spirit 80
| rouI -; ne .eiee apn, nhe INV post once
system, pelng necessity Tor the transmission
oI news, snouiu De owned ana operated by
the government IN the interests OF the people.
LAND.
Frst-the true policy demands that the ma
| tonal and state legislation shall be such as
! will ultimately enable every prudent and In
| dustrious citizen 10 secure home and tbere-
fore the land should not be monopolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
: | railroads q nd orhar cornoraf;ons IN axoass -
their actual needs should by lawful means he
| reclaimed by the government and held for so~
| tual settlers only, and pri yate land monoDciy
as well as alien ownership, should be prohjb.
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 ~ sct,,aIbnn.
| fide 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 fde settlArs
on all public lands be granted tree homes a
| provided in the national homestead law and
that no exception be made in the case ~ In
dian reservations when opened for settlement.
and that all lands now patented come under
| this demand.
Fourtb-Direct Legislation: We favor a
system of direct legislation through the initia
| tive ard referendum under proper conetitu
| tiOna safeguards.