People's voice., 1900-08-02
The PEOPLES Party Platform.

We, the representatives Of the peoples
party of the state of Kansas, in state con-
ventiOn assembled in Fort Scott, on the
18th day of July, 1900, do hereby reaffirm
the declaration Of principles promulgated
by our national convention held at Sioux
Falls, S. D., May 9, 1900, and indorse the
nominees Of that convention.
We commend to the favorable consider
alton of the people of Kansas compar-
ison between the last populist state ad-
ministration and preceding and succeed
ing republican state administrations, be-
lieving that such comparison will every
where inure to the credit of populists
The spirit of militarism, Imperialism and
the desire for foreign conquest which now
pervades the dominant political organiZa-
ton is the direct outgrowth of the spir-
II of greed, which is the chief character
istic of modern commerciaiism as en-
bodied in trusts and private monopolies.
The modern industrial commercial trans
pOrtation trust is monarchical In its tend
encies, and absolutism in commercial life
leads to political absolutism and imperial
ism. There is no affinity between political
democracy and commercial aristocracy.
The spirit that cOmpels men to accept the
price which private monopoly may place
upon their labor or its products. or upon
the necessities of their life will utter no
protest at the despoilment of our political
liberties at home, nor at the imposition OF
unjust and undesired governments upon
the people Of other lands. We are un-
alterly opposed to absolutism, whether
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by imperial commercial trusts and private
monopolistic corporations, or whether
practiced upon political subjects either Of
Queen Victoria in South Africa or by
William Mckinley in Porto Rico or the
Philippines. The spirit of Imperialism Is
everywhere the same, whether exhibited
In commercial or political world, and Is in
imical to a democratic form of govern
ment. Either the spirit Of greed which
dominates our commercial or national life
must be overthrown or the republic will
be destroyed. We therefore call upon all
patriotic citizens of Kansas, irrespective
of present or past party affiliations, to
join with US in carrying TO effect the
following principles of civil and political
government, confident that our reliance
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justice will not be misplaced
We favor the election Of United States
Senator's by a direct vote of the people,
and we ask that our next legislature pass
such resolutions as will promote this
amendment to our national constitution;
and we appeal to other states to join us
in such action.
We denounce the present illiberal and
unjust administration of the pension bu-
reau by a republican commissioner, at the
dictation Of the organized wealth Of the
country, instead of in the interest of the
veterans of the war for the union
Believing that a Senuinely democratic
form of government free from the con-
troll of the lobbyists and corruptionists, IL
and will be impossible until the people
have the power to initiate legislation and
to compel a submission Of legislation en-
acted by their representatives to a popu-
lar vote, we demand that the initiative
and referendum be embodied in our state
constitution.
The peoples party enacted a railroad
law TO protect the people Of this state
against the extortions Of the transpOrta-
ton corporations. A republican admins
traion made the law Of none effect by
falling to enfore it, and the republican
majority Of the supreme court followed
this up by destroying il. We are in favor
Of further legislation TO control these cor
porations as far as possible, but We re-
gard the conflict between Incorporated
wealth and the interests Of the people as
lrrepressible and We look for no perma-
nent relief except in government owner
ship of railroads.
We demand the withdrawal Of all special
privileges now granted by law to corpor-
atoms or individuals, and the application
Of the principle Of government ownership
as remedy for monopolies Of every kind.
Believing the public work ought to be
lone by the people in their own interest,
we favor the municipal ownership and
operation of plants for the supply Of
water, light, heat and power, and also Of
al street car lines and telephone systems.
We congratulate the people OF Kansas
] upon the steady spread Of populist prin-
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