Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-01-18
PopuL1sr NATIONAL pLArfsIu,

PoPULIsr MA TIoNAL PLArfsRM.
The Peoples party. assembled in nationa
principles declared by the founders Of the Re-
public, and also to the fundamental principles :
OF Just government, as enunciated in the plat
form orthe party in 1892. We recognize that
through the connivance OF the present and
nrecedme neutrality-suspicious. the cpynsty has
In our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
duty of the hour. We realize that while NC
and industrial Independence is yet to be az.
tatned by restoring to our country the consti-
tutional control and exercise of the functions
necessary to peoples government, which
functions have been basely surrendered BY
our public servants to corporate 'fnonopo-
lies. The influence OF European money
changers has been more potent in shapinT
legislation than the voice of the: American
people. E1ecutive 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
ment intended by the fathers. and for the vel.
fare OF this and future generations, we demand
the establishment Of an economic and imam
our own affairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following dsc-
| larstion Of principles:
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
lie and private-a just, equitable and ef1cisnt
means OF distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov.
| ernment.
second-we demand the free and unrs.
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 sufficient to meet the demands OF the
| business and population of this country and
4 IN Gf yal nfr nrfpn - IAt.<
production.
| Fourth-We denounce the sale of bonds and
the increase of the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration as
unnecessary and without authority OF Jaws
| that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
cif1c 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 government
obligations.
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
| tax to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear it's just proportion of taxation, and We
| regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative to the income tax law as q mis-
| interpretation of the constitution and an i'm
vas1on OF the rightfnl powers of congress over
| the subject of taxation.
Eiehth-We demand that postal savings
1
the safe deposit of the savings of the peopi
| ana to facilitate exchange. y
| TRANSPORTATION.
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. being means of az
! change and necessity, the government shout
| own and operate the railroads in the interest
| of the people and on q non-partisan basis: to
the end that all may be accorded the same
treatment in transportation and that tho
| tyranny and political power now exercised by
in the impairment. If not the destruction, of
| the p0llticaf rights and personal liberties Of
the citlzs q. may be destroyed; Such owner.
ner Consistent with sound public policy.
second-The interest OF the United States in
| the public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of land
to the Pa CHIC railroads, should never be alien
ated. mortgaged or sold, but guarded and pro-
| tected for the general welfare, provided by
the laws organizing such railroads. The fore
| closure OF existing liens of the United States
| payment thereof by the debtor companies land
st the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
ernmept sbopld purchase the same IL il be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
| In, or IL they can be purchased at q reasonable
price, and tue government shall operate said
railroads as public highways for the benent of
| the whole people and not in the interest of the
few. under suitable provisions for protection
or me aDd properly, giving to all Transports
for fares and freights.
Ih1rd-We denounce the present Infamous
| schemes for refunding these debts, and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto DO
| executed and administered according to their
| true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph like tho most of3ce
| system, being necessity for the transmission
| of news, should be owned and operated by
the government In the interests OF tho people.
| LAND.
| First-the true policy demands that the pa-
tfonaI and state legislation shall be, such as
| VIII ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrious citizen to secure home and there
| fore the land should not be mORopolized for
railroads and other corporations in excess OF
I their actual needs should by lawful means be
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only, and pr rate land monopoly,
| 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
| nde 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
Third-we demand that all bona fide settlers
on all public lands be granted free homes. a.
provided in the national homestead law, and
that no exceptions be nsdefn ther ease o. In
dian reservations when opened for settlement,
| and that an lands now patented come under
| Fonrth-Direct Legislation: We favor q
system OF direct LEGISLATION through the initia
| IiVe aLo referendum under proper constitu
ttonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First-We demand the election of president,
vice president and United States senator's by 4
direct vote Of the people.
= o0cOud-We tender TO the patriotic peOL IL OF
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
Tor political freedom and Independence, and
we believe the time has come when tho United
states, the great republic of the world. should
recognize that Cuba is, and Of right ought to
be- free and independent state.
| Thfrd-We favor home rule in the territories
and the District OF Columbus. and the early al.
mission of the territories as states.
Fourth-All public salaries should be made
20 correspond to the price of labor and its pro-
1 ducts.
| SFifth-In these times of Industrial depres.
| sion idle labor should be employed on public
works as far as practicable.
Sixth-The arbitrary course of the courts in
assuming TO tmprieOn citizens for indirect con-
tempt and ruling them by injunction should
| be prevented by proper legislation.
Seyeuth-We favor Just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
MISUNDERSTANDING that the elective franchise
! and untrammeled ballot are essential IN roy
| eminent of, for and by the people, the Heap3es
party condemns the Wholesale system Of dis-
reimbursement adopted ia some of the states
as un-republican and un-democraffc, aud We
declare n to be the duty of the several states
leg1siatures to take such action as will secure
fuli.free and fair ballot and an honest count.
NinthIwhiIe the foregoing propositions con-
efitute the platform upon which our party
stands. and for the vIndication of which fts or.
ganjzatiOn will be maintained, we recognise
that the great and pressing issue Of the pend
Ing campaign upon which the present proei.
Dental election will turn IL the financial otles-
ton, and upon this great and specific issue be-
tween the partias we cordially invite the aid
and cooperation Of all Organisations and ciei.
zene agreeing with US uDOu this vital o17oGs