Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-07-19
porur1sr rAr1oHAL pLArroRM.

POFULIST NATIONAL PLATfuhA'
Tbe PEOPLES party, assembled in nationM
conventions reaffirms its allegiance 20 tne
nrsrcir,.es declared by the founders OF the 70
puhlic and also to the fundamental prlnclples
of Just government, as enumerated IN .ue P,sa. pa.
form or the party in 1877 we aeeo ,sHant and
preceding administrations the country nas
reached crisis in its national life as preaicsea
in cur declaration four years ago, ana tuaI
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
duty of the hour. We realize that wnlie We
and industrial inder endence is vet to be at
tanned by restoring to our country the consul
tutioual control and exercise of the functions
necessary to peoples government, wnicn
funcrions 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
and defeat the will of the people. and plutoc-
racy has thereby been enthroned upon the
rnlns 6i bv sne fStbess and for the wei
fare of this and future generatione,we demand
the establishment of an economic and Imam
cial system. which shall make us masters or
our own affairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following deo-
laration of principles:
FINANCE.
First-we demand 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 efncient
means of distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements OF the gov
Second-we demand the free and unre-
strieted 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
cuiating 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.
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-
cifc act of congress.
Fiffh-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 a graduated income
tax to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation, and we
regard tue recent decision of the supreme
court relative To the income tax law as mis-
| Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vasion of the rightful 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 20 facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATION.
MISREPRESENTATION being means of ex-
change aud a necessity, the government SHOULD
own and operate the railroads in the interest
of the people and on a 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
| the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen. may be destroyed. Such owner
| ship is To be accomplished gradually in man.
ner consistent with sound public policy.
i 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 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
| Oh these roads should at once follow default in
| payment thereof by the debtor companies land
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
| eminent should purchase the same If il be-
| comes necessary to protect its interests there
! in, or II 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 freights.
Third-We denounce the present infamous
schemes Tor refunding these debts. and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according to their
| true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like tho 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.
FiTst-the true policy demands that the ma
tional and state legislation shall be such as
VIII ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustriOus citizen to secure a home, and there
fore the land should not be moRopolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
railroads and other 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 Jate land monopoly.
Is well alien ownership, should be DrOhib-
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
tide settlers of their homes and miners OF their
claims, and we demand legislation by congress
which viii enforce the exemption of mineral
land from such grants, after as well as before
patent
Third-we demand that all bona fide settlers
on all public lands be granted tree homes, as
| 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 a
| system of direct legislation through the initia
c tive and referendum under proper constitu
tional safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
First-We demand the election of president
= vice president and United States senators by q
direct vote OF the people.
Secono-He tender to the patriotic people Of
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
for political freedom and Independence, 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 Columbus. and the early ad.
| mission of the territories as states.
/ Fourth-All public salaries should be made
to correspond to the price of labor and its pro-
! duets.
HFifth-In these times of industrial depres.
sion idle labor should be employed on public
| works as far 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.
Seveuth-We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Eighth Believing 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
reimbursement adopted in some of the states
as un-republican and un-democratic, aud We
declare il to be the duty of the several states
legislatures to take such action as will secure
"a full free and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth-W bile the foregoing propositions con
stltute the platform upon which our party
stands. and for the yIndication of which it's or
ganization will be maintained, we recoguiz.
that the great and pressing issue of the pend
ing campaign upon which the present presi
|. dental election will turn is the financial uues
ton. and upon this great and specific issue be
tween the parties we cordially invite the ait
and cooperation of all organizations and Cit
zens agreeing with US upon this vital aues
ton.