Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-10
PLATFORM is ADOPTED.
Middle-of-the-Teoad Populists Fornu-
late Ihefr Issues for 1900.

Cincinnati, May 10.-By Associated
Press. 1.-The middle-of-the-road popu-
list convention, second session, was
called to order at $50 O'clock by
Chairman W. I. Peek. On motion of
the Kansas delegation its own votes
were cut down some eight to eleven,
according to congressional districts.
The report of the committee on party
organization was unanimously adopt
ed. The report of the platform COM
mittee was then called for. The read
ing of the platform brought out some
debate. National Secretary 10 \.
Parker presented an additional plank,
NO. T. which was adopted. j. b. Os-
Born, OF Nebraska. moved to strike
out the plank on the currency. on the
ground that it was on the line of
special privileges" The amendment
was voted down, $50 to 50. The plat
form was then adopted as read by
Chairman FELTON,, with the additional
plank presented by Parker.
/. We demand an initiative and
referendum, and make an imperative
mandate for such changes in the eN-
isting fundamental and statute law
as will enable the people in their SOW
ereign capacity to propose and compel
the enactment of such laws as they
desire; to reject such as they deem
injurious to their interests and to re-
call unfaithful public servants.
2. We demand the plblic ownership
and operation of those means OF COM
munication, transportation and produc-
ton which the people may elect-such
as railroads, telegraph, telephone lines,
coal mines, etc.
3. Land, including all natural
sources Of wealth, is the heritage of
the people and should not be monopo-
| lized for speculative purposes. Alien
Ownership of land should be prohibit
ed. All land now held by railroad and
other corporations in excess of their
actual needs. and all lands now owned
| by aliens, should be reclaimed by the
government and held Tor actual set
| tiers only.
4. A scientific and absolute paper
money, based upon the entire wealth
of the population of the nation and
not redeemable in any specific COM
modify, but made full legal tender for
all debts and receivable for all taxes
and public dues, and issued by the
government only, without the inter-
vention OF banks and in sufficient
quantity to meet the demands OF
commerce, is the best currency that
can be devised; but until such f.
nancial system is secured, which we
shall press for adoption. we favor the
free and unlimited coinage of both sill
yer and gold at the legal ratio OF
16 to 1.
| 5. We demand the levy and collec-
tion of a graduated tax on incomes
and inheritances, and constitutional
amendment to secure the same il nee
| eSsary.
6. We demand the election of the.
president, vice president and federal
| judges and United States senator's
by direct vote of the people.
| Z. We are opposed to trusts and de-
clare the contention between the old
parties on the monopoly question is "a
sham battle and no solution of this
mighty problem is possible without
the adoption of the principles OF pub
lie ownership and public utilities.
Nominations Are Made.
The roll was called at 10 o'clock tor
nominations for president. Prof. j. A..
Boyce, of Nebraska City, presented
the name of former Congressman NJ.
w. Howard, of Alabama; General Phil
lips, of Georgia, presented the name
of Wharton Barker, of Pennsylvania;
Judge w. S. Williams, of Vincinnes,
presented the name of Ignatils Don
nelly. P. III. Rahilly, of Minnesota,
seconded the nomination of Ignatius
Donneily.
A. w. Kicker, OF Lone Tree, Iowa,
and Fletcher, of Arkansas, seconded
Barker; r. NJ. Chenault, of Kansas,
and Jo A. Parker, of Kentucky, second
ed Howard. Congressman Howard in
a vigorous speech stated that the par
ty had reached crisis, and in the in
terests of harmony he withdrew his
name, which had been presented with
out his consent. Notwithstanding his
withdrawal most of his friends insist
ed on voting for him, the first roll call
resulting: Howard, 331 CLIO; Barker,
3o3 4-10; Donnelly, 70; Norton, 1. Nee
essary to choice, 4SS.