The representative., 1899-08-03

the earth, then these few own the rights
Liberties and moral we'll being of the people
who must live upon the earth.
Inc corner stone of a free government is
free and untrammeled ballot. With the
election OF the people under partisan control
and subject to manipulation, republican gov
ernment is failure and liberty is at an
end. Bossism in politics whereby ambitious
persons may defeat the will of the people
through corrupt and unfair methods is an
abomination to all honorable citizens There
cannot be master unless there be slaves,
and political bossism breeds, as its other
extreme, political slavery, and makes escape
from present conditions impossible Boss
ism, coupled with the control by the bosses
OF the machinery of elections, the power to
subvert the will of the people, creates
political despotism not to be tolerated.
Such condition Is revolutionary and has
but one possible end-the complete subver-
sion OF republican form of government the
death of democracy, and the establishment
OF the worst form of despotism.
We, therefore, heartily sympathize with
those honest Democrats and Republicans of
Kentucky who refuse to submit to bossism
IN their several parties; especially do we
approve of all efforts to rid Kentucky of the
odlum OF the unfair and disreputable law
known as the "Goebel Election Law passed
by the recent Democratic legislature, in
dorsed by the Democratic convention at
Louisville, and to the retention of which
on the statue books of this commonwealth
the Democratic party Of Kentucky stands
committed. And we regret to see that Hon.
VIM. J. Bryan, for whom the Populists of
Kentucky voted in 1896 for president of the
United States, has by his public Endorsement
of the ticket nominated at Louisville and
the platform there adopted assumed the re-
sponsibility of indorsing the criminal at
tempts OF the corrupt elements of Ken
lucky politics to subvert the ballot.
In order that the Peoples party may be
preserved forever free from fraud bossism
and political corruption, such as now dom
mates both the Democratic and Republican
parties In Kentucky, as well as other states,
as exemplihed in the late spectacle of the
Democratic convention controlled by police
men and others sent there to defeat the will
OF the Democratic masses Of Kentucky; and
the Republican convention at Lexington,
controlled by Federal Office holders, we in
dorse the policy Of applying to the manage
ment OF the Peoples party, as far prac-
ticable, the principle Of direct legislation
in nominations and the conduct of party
affairs.
With firm faith in their ability and integ-
rity as representatives of the cause of the
plain people, this convention does most
heartily indorse for nomination at the con-
vention in 1900, as the candidate of the
Peoples party, Hon. Wharton Barker Of
pennsylvania, for president, and Hon. Ig-
natius Donnelly. of Minnesota, for vice.
president.
Believing the present to be a crisis in the
affairs of our nation, and indeed, of the
human family, we hereby invite the earnest
cooperation of those who favor a peoples
government, the preservation of liberty and
the elevation of the human race, to unite
with the Peoples party on the following
platform of principles:
Q). We favor direct platform legislation
through the initiative and referendum, pre-
serving to the people the opportunity Of
governing themselves by voting direct upon
the laws under which they must live.
(2) We are opposed to trusts and combi-
nations Of capital, whereby the fruits of
labor are boldly stolen to build up colossal
fortunes for the few; but we do not consider
it possible to regulate or abolish them by
state restrictive legislation. Trusts are
founded upon the monopolies of public util-
tiles, and the only solution of the trusts
problem is through the public ownership
and operation of such public utilities. AS
long as private corporations own and oper-
ate the means of transportation and control
the money Of the country, trusts will con-
tinue to multiply and thrive until they de-
stroy liberty and fasten upon the people
an industrial despotism. Therefore, we urge
as means of destroying trusts and prevent
ing monopoly:
First-The issuance and the control of all
the money of the country, gold, silver and
paper, by the government and that the VOL
ume of money shall, at all times, be kept
sufficient to maintain the stability of prices
the restoration of silver coinage at the ratio
of 16 to l with gold, and the issuance of a
full legal tender paper money.
Second-The public ownership and opera
tion of railroads, street railways telephones,
electric lights, waterworks and other public
utilities.
60 We denounce the infamous Goebel
election law a revolutionary and undem-
ocratic attempt to subvert the ballot, to
enthrOne in power in Kentucky a corrupt
political ring and practically destroy popu-
lar government. Therefore, we demand it's
speedy repeal and the enactment of law
which will preserve inviolate in the COM
monwealth of Kentucky the right Of free
untrammeled ballot and a fair and honest
count.
a. We favor an honest and economical
state government. and the reduction Of
taxation by the abolition of useless Offices
and the reduction Of extravagant prices.
(5) We favor the most liberal legisla- |
tion to advance the usefulness of our COM
mon school system, and means for fur |
nishing school books to the pupil children |
of the state at the cost of publication. We |
condemn the book trust, which, by extor- |
tionate prices, and monopoly levies tribute |
upon the people of Kentucky and we de- |
mand its speedy overthrow. We call the !
attention of the people Of Kentucky to the |
fact that the law permitting the present |
ScnOOl DOOk monopoly IN kentucky was |
passed by a Democratic legislature over
the emphatic protests of Populist members |
thereof, and that since its passage both the |
Democratic and Republican parties have had |
opportunities to repeal the same and de- |
stroy the monopoly. and that both have |
refused to do so. |
(6) We pledge the Peoples party to the |
enforcement of the law, the support of the |
constitution. and the protection of all men |
in their civil and political rights and guar |
antee to all men the right to enjoy alike !
the blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit |
of happiness.
After the adoption of the platform,
the nominations were taken up, with |
the result that the ticket above quoted |
was named The state committee was |
reorganized, and W. B. Bridgeford, OF |
Frankfort, retained as chairman, and |
w. p. Marsh, of Lawrenceburg, as Sec
retary. Every member of the commit
tee, as well as the chairman and secre- |
tary, are for the middle-of-the-road pol |
icy, for the Barker and Donnelly ticket, |
and everlastingly against compromise
in 1900. 80
One feature Of the convention was the
of many who had been at
filiating with the Democrats, many
more who had been fusionists, and some
who had never been Populists, but whol