Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-07-05
popur1sr NATIONAL PLATFORM.

popULIsT NATIONAL PLATFORM.
The Peoples party. assembled in national
conyention rcaffirfns its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders OF the TO
public, and also to the fundamental principles
form of the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the conniyance of the present. ana
preceding administrations the country mas
reached crisis in its national life as preuictcu
in our declaration four years ago, and tnas
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
duty of the hour We realize that while we
have political independencee. our financia
and industrial indeT endence is yet to be at
tanned by restoring to our country the consti-
tutionaI control and exercise of the functions
necessary to a peoples government. which
functions have been basely surrendered ~
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
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 well
fare of this and future generations.we demand
the establishment of an economic and hnan-
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 II.
sue TO be a full legal tender for all debts pub
lie and private-a just, equitable and ef1cient
means of distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
ernment.
Second-we demand the free and unrs-
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
culatiDg 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
Fonrth-we denounce the sale of bonds ana
the increase of the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration a.
unnecessary and without authority of LAW, and
that no more bonds be issued except by sps-
cifc act of CONGRESS.
prevent the decentralization of the lawful
money of the United States by private con-
tract.
Sixih--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 governments
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
Tux 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 la " 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 postal savings
banks be established by the government for
| the safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
and TO facilitate exchange.
TRANSPORTATION.
MISREPRESENTATION being q means of &
change and n necessity, the government shouli
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 by
the great railroad corporations which result
i n the Impairment, If not the destruction, of
"a nd fiI,a
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 defaultin
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 If they can be purchased at a reasonable
price, and the govern ent shall operate said
railroads "a 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 treights.
Third-We denounce the present infamous
schemes for refunding these debts. and de-
maud that the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according to their
true intent and spirit.
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.
tIfst-fhe true policy demands that the ma
uenal and state legislation shall be such as
VIII ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustricus citizen TO secure n home, and there
| fore the land should not be moRopoized 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 yate land monopoly.
| as well as alien ownership, should be prOhib-
| tied
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 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 a.
provided in the national homestead law and
| that no exception be made in the case o. In.
| dian reservations when opened for settlement
and that all lands now patented come under
| this demand.
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor n
| system OF direct Legislation through the initia
| tive and referendum under proper copstftu
| tionai safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
Eirst-We demand the election of president
| vice president and United States senators by q
direct vote of the people.
Second-Ne tender to the patriotic people Of
CUBA our deepest sympathy in their struggje
| 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, q free and independent state,
Third-We favor home rule in the territoriea
| and the District of Columbia. and the early adj
| mission of the territories as states
Fourth-Alf public salaries should be made
| TO correspond to the price of labor and its pro-
ducts.
DFifth-In these times of industrial dcpres.
sion id'e labor should be employed on pubIfa
works as far as practicable.
Sixth-The arbitrary course of the courts in
assuming 10 imprison citizens for in Indirect con-
tempt and ruling them by Injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation.
|. SeVentn-We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Eighth Believing that the elective franchise
eminent of, for and by the people the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
reimbursement adopted in some of the states
a. un-republcan and un-democratic aud We
declare IL TO be the duty of the several states
leglsl atures To take such action as will SECURE
fn1,free and fair ballot and an honest count
Nfnth-Wbile the foregoing propositions con-
stltute the platform upon which our party
stands. and for the vlndication of which III or.
ganization 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 fs the financial 0ues-
ton and upon this great and specific issue be-
tween the parties we cordially invite the aid