Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-11-29
popULIsT NATIONAL PLATFoRM.

LUX L.
PoPULIsT NATIONAL PLATFORM.
The Peoples party. assembled in national
convention. reatiirms its allegiance to the;
principles declared by the founders of the re-.
public, and also to the fundamental Principles
OF just government. rs enunciated IN the plat.
form OF the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the couniyance OF the present ana
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in its natio mai life as predicted
In our declaration four years ago, and that
prom pit nj patriotic action is the stipFemc5
duty of the hour. We realize that while We
have political Independence. our fipancia
and industrial indeC endence is yet to be at
tanned by restoring 10 our country the constf-
tutional control and exercise of the functions
necessary TO peoples governments. which
functions have been bSsely 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
and defeat the will OF the people. and plutoc-
racy has thereby been enthfoued upon the
ruins of democracy. TO restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers. and for the well
fare of this and future generations, we demand
The establishment of an economic and hnan-
cial system. which shall make us masters OF
our own affairs and independent of European
control, by the adoption of the following dec-
iaration 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 70 be a full legal tender for all debts pub
lie and private-a juet, equitable and efficient
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
emf legal ratio of sixteen TO one, without watt
ing Tor the consent of foreign nations.
Third-We demand that the volume OF cir
cnlating medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient 10 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
| uebt made by the present administration as
| unnecessary ana without authority of Iawand
! that no more bonds he issued except by spe-
| cific act of congress.
Fifth-we demand such legislation as will
| prevent the characterization of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract.
Sixth-We demand that the governments 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 TINS option to the holders of government
obligations.
| Seventh-We demand a graduated income
tfxto the end that aggregated wealth shall
| bear its just proportion of taxation and we
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative To the income tax Law as a mis-
| Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vasion of the rightful powers of congress over
| the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postaI savings
banks be established by the government for
| the safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
and 10 facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
neutrality-suspicious. being Il means of @ r
! Change aud necessity the government shout
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 nv
the great railroad corporations which result
l II the Impairment, If not the destruction of
the political rights and personal liberties of
"a m no do
ship is 10 be accomplished gradually in Il man.
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 PacIfic railroads. should never be alien
ated, m0rtgaged 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
on these roads should at once follow defauItin
payment thereof by the debtor companies and
ct the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
eminent should purchase the same II IL be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
in, or If they can be purchased at a reasonable
price and the government shall operate said
railroads as public highways for he 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 trans porta-
tioh interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and freights.
lhird-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
Fourth-The telegraph, like the 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.
First-the true policy demands that the ma
tIon4I and state legislation shall be such as
will ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrlous citizen to secure 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 he
reclaimed by the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only, and pri Jate land monopoly
as wen as alien ownership, should be prohib-
tied.
Second-We condemn the frauds bv which
the land grants to Pacific railroad Companies
have, through the connivance of the Interior
department, robbed mutitudes of actual bona
fide settlers OF their bones and miners of their
claims. aud We demand legislation by congress
which viii enforce the exemption of mineral
land IRON such grants after as well as before
patent,
Ihird-We demand that all bona fde settlers
on ali public lands be granted free homes as
provided in the national homestead law and
that no exception be made in the case o. In
dian reservations when opened for settlement.
ana that all lands now patented come under
this demand
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We faxor a
system OF direct LEGISLATION through the initia
uonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
FIrst--We demand the election of president
vice president and United States SENATOR. nv .
direct vote of the people.
second-We tender 10 the patriotic peouleof
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their STRUGGLE
Tor political freedom and Independence ana
we believe the time has come when the Tnifed
States, the great republic of the world should
recognize that Cuba is. and of right ought to
be, a free and independent state.
1blrd-We favor home rule in the territories
ana me District OF Columbus. and the early al
mission OF the territories states
Fourth--Al public salaries should bo nade
10 correspond to the price of labor and it's pro-
ducts. 1870 ''s Pio-
: Fifth-In these times of industrial d.nro.
zion idle labor should be employed On nph,tc
works as far as practicable pe
siXth-The arbitrary course of the courts n,
assuming 10 imprfson citizens for Indirect con
tempt and ruling them by Injunction should z
De prevented by proper legislation
seVentn-Me favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier Siy
Eighth Believing that the elective franchise
ana untrammeled ballot are essential IN COW :
eminent OF. for and by the people the peoTie.
party condemns the wholesale system, of 49,
reimbursement adopted in some OF the States
as un-fepubitcan and Ir-democratir and No
declare u TO be the duty of the seyerai statess
legislatures TO take such action as Will secure
a IuH.Iree and fair ballot and an honest count
Nihth-H lille the foregoing propositions con-
sthute Tue PLATFORM upon which our party
stands. ana Tor the yInGieation of which its or
gafiilation VIII be maintained we recognize.
thAt tbe greht and pressing issue of the rsfs4lff-
ing campaign upon which the present nrcsi
aential election VIII turn is the financial uues-
lion. and upon this great and SPECIFIC. ises bss
tween the parties We cordially invite the ssd
ana cooperation of all organ izations md efts-s
. tIg