Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-06-14
ropuI1sr NATIONAL PLATFORM.

P0PULIsT NATIONAL PLATFORM.
The Peoples party, assembled in national
convention. reaffirms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the re-
public, and also TO the fundamental principles
OF just government, as enunciated In the plat
form OF the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the conniyance of the present and
preceding ADMINISTRATIONS the country mas
reached crisis in its national life as predicted
in our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
duty of the hour. We realize that while we
have political Independence. our finaneia
and industrial inde- endence is yet to lie at
tanned by restoring TO our country the consti-
tutional control and exercise of the functions
necessary TO u peoDle's government, which
functions have been basely surrendered by
lies lies. The The intiuence of European ln 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 plutot.
racy has thereby been enthroned upon the
ruins of democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers. and for the wei
fare of this and future generations. we demand
the establishment of an economic and finan-
cial system. which shall make us masters of
our own affairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following deo-
laration OF principles:
FINANCE.
First We demand a national money, safe
and sound. issued by the general government
sue to be a full legal tender for all debts pub
lie and private-a just, equitable and efficient
means of distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
eminent.
Second-We demand the free and unre-
stricted coinage of silver and gold ar 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 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 auo
the increase of the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration al
unnecessary ana without authority of law and
that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
cific act of congress.
Fifth-we demand such legislation as will
prevent the demonetiZaton 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 the recent decision of tie supreme
court relative to the income tax law as a mis-
| Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vasion of the rightfu 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 to facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATION.
First-Transportation being means of ex-
change and a necessity, the government shonIi
own and operate the railroads i'm 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
i n the impairment, if not the DESTRUCTION. of
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
ship is to be accomplished gradually i'm a 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, 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
on 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 IL il be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
IN, or IL they can be purchased at a 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 trans porta-
non interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and treights.
Third-We denounce the present jnfamoua
schemes for refunding these debts and de-
| mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
| true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post Office
| system. being Il 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 ma
uonal and state legislation shall he such "a
| VIII Ultimately enable every prudent and in
| dustrlous citizen TO secure a home, ani 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-
tnaI settlers only, and pri Iate land monopoly
as well as alien ownership, should he prohb-
| 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
hde 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 fide settlers
| on all public lands be granted tree homes an
| provided in the national homestead law and
that no exception be made in the case Of In
dian reservations when opened for settlement,
| ana that all lands now patented come under
| this demand.
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor q
system of direct legislation through the initfa
| tive and referendum under proper constitu
| tonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS
First-We demand the election of president
vice president and United States senators by 4
direct vote CT the people.
SecOnd-We tender to the patriotic peoI lie 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 Cubs is, and of right ought to
/ be- a free and independent state.
| Thlrd-We favor home rule i'm the territories
| and the District of Columbia and the early ad-
mission of he territories states.
| Fourth-All public salaries should be- made
| to correspond TO the price of labor and its pro-
4 duets.
| UFifth-In these times of industrial depres.
sion Idle labor should be employed on pubIie
works as far as practicable.
S1Xth-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.
Seyenth-We favor just pensions for every
| disabled Union soldier.
MISUNDERSTANDING that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential to gov
erDment of, for and by the people. the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
Reimbursement adopted in some of the states
| as un-repubcan and un-democratic aud We
declare il to be the duty of the several states
legislatures to take such action as will secure
full. free and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth-While the foregoing propositions con-
stitute the platform upon which our party
stands. and for the vIndication of which it's or
ga1ization Will be maintained. we recognize
that the great and pressing issue of the pend
ing campaign upon which the present presi-
Dental election will turn ia the financial uues-
ton, and uDOn this great and specific issue be-
and cooperation of all organizations and Cit
na