Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-02-07
poruL1sT NATIONAL PLATFORM.

PoPuLIsT NATIONAL PLATFORM.
The Peoples party. assembled in national
o sui reafnrms its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the re
public, and also to the fundamental pr1ncipies
o. Just government. as enunciated in the plat
t tSrm oil ne party in 1892 We recognize that
tnTougn the conniyance of the present and
preceding administrations the country has
reacne9 crisis in its national life as predicted
prompt and patriotic action is the supremc
duty of the hour. We realize that while Wa
na nav potisicai .independeneee. our financia
ana INDUSTRIAL indeU endence is yet to be At
tanned by restoring to our country the consfi-
tutional control and exercise of the Functions
necessary TO peoples government. which
functions have been basely Surrendered he
our public servants to corporate monon,s-
les. The influence OF European money
changers has been more potent in shanin1
legislation than the voice of the America5
people. Executive power and patronage
nave been used TO corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the viii OF the people and Dlnt.,c
racy has thereby been enthroned upon tho
ruins OF democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers and for the well
rare OF THIS and future generations W e demand
the establishment of an economic and finsn-
ciai system, when shall make us masters OF
our own aHairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following dec
laration of principles:
FINANCE.
First We demand a national money safe
and sound, issued by the general governmen
only. without the intervention of hanks Of is.
sue 10 be full legal tender for all debts pub
NC ana prlvate-a just, equitable aud efficient
means OF distribution direct to the eOple and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
erument. ~
Second-We demand the free and mira.
stricted coinage of silver and gold at the pres
ent regal ratio OF sixteen to one, without wait
ing Tor the consent of foreign nations
Third-We demand that the volume of cir.
culating medium be speedily increased to an
amount su.hc1ent 10 meet the demands of the
nf fc
to restore the just level of prices of labor and
production.
Fourth-We denounce the sale of bonds ann
the increase OF the public interest bearing
debt made by the present aiministr as
unnecessary ana without authority of iaw,and
thar no more bonds be issued except by spe-
cihc act of CONF resS.
Fifth-we demand such legislation as will
prevent the deInonetzation of the lawful
money of the Quilted 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 thev
are TO be paid. and we denounce the present
ana preceding administrations for surrender
ing this option to the holders of government
obligations.
Sevepth-We demand a graduated income
TAX 10 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 i'm.
Vasion of the rightful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
Eighth-"e demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the neonI
and TO facilitate exchange
TRANSPORTATION.
neutrality-suspicious. being a means of en-
change aud a necessity the governmentshouli
own ana operate the railroads in the interest
OF the people and on a 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
in the Impairment. if not the destruction of
tne pOlltlcal rights and personal liberties of
the citizen. may be destroyed. Such owner
ship IS TO be accomplished gradually in a man.
ner consistent with sound public policy.
Second-Ihe interest of the United States in
the public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of land
TO the Pnclflc railroads. should never be alien
ated mortgaged or sold, but uartled 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 com panies and
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the woy-
eminent should purchase the same if IL be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
In, or II they can be purchased at a reasonable
price, ana 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
or lie 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-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered accordn g to their
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like the post Office
system, being necessity for the ira nsmission
OF news, should be owned and operated by
tue government IN the interests Of the people.
LAND.
FIrst-the true policy demands that the ma
uona and state legislation shall be such as
WI utiilia.ely enapie every prudent and In
dustrlous citizen 10 secure home. and there
tore the land should not be moHOpoIized 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-
tuai settlers only, and pri +ate land monopoly,
as wen as alien ownership, should be prohb-
tied
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad Companies
haVe, through the conniyance of the interior
department, robbed multitudes of actual bona
noe settlers OF their homes and miners of their
clalfns, ana 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 II bona tide settlers
on all public lands be granted free homes as
provided In the national homestead law, land
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-Dircct Legislation: We favor a
system OF direct legislation through the initia
tive AID referendum under proper constitu
uonal safeguards.
First--We demand the election OF president.
vice president and United States senators by a
direct vote of the people.
Second-We tender to the patriotic neorleo f
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
Tor political freedom and Independence and
we believe the time has come when the limited
States, the great republic of the world should
recognize that Gu ba is, and of right ought to
be, a free and independent state
Th1rd-We favor home rule in the territories
and the District of Columbia and the early adj
mission of the territories as states
fourth-All public salaries should be made
TO correspond to the price of labor and its pro-
ducts.
Fifth-In these times of Industrial depres.
sion Idle labor should be employed on public
works as far as practicable.
Sixth-The arbitrary course of the courts i'm
assuming to imprison citizens for in direct con-
tempt and ruling them by injunction should
De prevented by proper legislation.
SeVenth-We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier
Eighth Believing that the elective franchise
ana untrammeled ballot are essential to gov
eminent OF, for and by the people the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
adopted in some OF the states
as un-repubiican and un-democratic aud we
declare II TO be the duty of the several states'
legislatures to take such action will secure
d iuh,iree and fair ballot and an honest count
NiDth-Wbiie the foregoing propositions con-
stitute the platform upon which our party
STANDS. and for the vlndication of which its OBJ
= anization will be maintained we recognize
tnat the great and pressing issue of the pend-
ing campaign upon which the present Dresi.
Dental election will turn Is the financial oues-
non. ana unon this great and specific issue be-