The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-05-18
Peoples Party Platforms.

South Dakota, and the other at Cincin-
natl, O., known or desigated as Middle
Of the-road Populists. After reading the
platforms of the two conventions the
public is inclined TO ask why two conven-
tons to proclaim the same thing. The
platforms are virtually the same, the
Middle oi-the-road's being more vague
and weak in its expression, and disap-
pointing, as that faction had always
boosted Of its radicalism. Barker and
Donuelly are the candidates Of this latter
and the way matters stand
they would do the cause they profess to
stand for favor, by resigniug or declin-
ing the doubtful honors thrust upon them,
and by merging their petty faction into
the real Peoples party, help elect Bryan
and thus give the policy and principles
they profess TO hold SO dear the most
vigorous impulse possible by the greatest
Of forces.
Their main contention for existing is TO
keep the Peoples party from being
merged into the Democratic party and
lost. There is no danger oftlat whatever.
As long as the principles of the Peoples
party are kept at the front by the Demo-
cratic organization, the principles will
live which is Of vastly more Importance
than any party name.
To prevent a party name from being
lost appears to be the primary reason for
the Middle of-the-road faction trying to
preserve separate existence. The plat
form of the Cincinnati convention clearly
demonstrates this fact, which, however,
has been manifest all along. The Middle
of-the-roads cannot do a single thing
toward advancing the principles they
profess to live for. What intinitesimal
influence they might exert would go to
the aid Of Mckinley, thus constituting an
working for the overthrow of
its own avowed principles.
The following is the financial plank of
the Peoples party, assembled at Sioux
Falls, which nominated Bryan and
Towne
To the people of the United States we offer the
following platform as the expression of our
unalterable convictions
Resolved, That we denounce the act of March
ID, 1900 as the elimination of a long series of
conspiracies to deprive the people of their con.
rights over the money of the nation,
and relegate to gigantic Money Trust the control
of the purse aid hence of the people.
We denounce this act, first, for making all
money obligations. domestic and foreign, payable
in gold coin or its equivalent, thus enormously
increasing the burdens of the debtors and enrich
ing the creditors.
eeoond-For refunding s'coin bonds not to
mature for years into long time gold bonds so as
to make their payment impossible and orr debt
perpetual
Third-For taking from the Treasury over
$50 900 in time of war and presenting it, at
premium. to bondholders to accomplish the
of bonds not due.
Fourth-For doubling the capital of bankers by
returning to them the face value of their bondsin
current money notes so that they may draw one
interest from the Government and another from
the people.
Fifth-For allowing banks to expand and con-
tract their circulation at pleasure thus controlling
prices of all products.
Sixth-For authorizing the Secretary of the
Treasury to issue new gold bonds to an unlimited
amount whenever he deems il necessary to
replenish the gold hoard. thus enabling usurers
to secure more bonds and more bank currency by
drawing gold from the Treasury, thereby creating
an ''endless chain for perpetually adding to a
perpetual debt
Seyenth-For striking down the greenbacks in
order to force the people to borrow three hundred
and fortysix millions of dollars from the banks at
an annual cost ofover twenty millions of dollars.
While barring ont the money otthe Constitution
this law opens the printing minis OF the Treasury
to the free coinage of paper.money, to enrich the
few and impoverish the many
We pledge anew the Peoples party never to
cease the agitation until this eighth financial
conspiracy is blotted from the statute books. the
Lincoln greenbacks restored, the bonds oil paid
and all corporation money forever retired
We reaffirm the demand for the reopening of
the minis of the United States for the free and
unlimited coinage of silver and gold, at the
present legal ratio of l6 to l, the immediate
increase in the volume of silver coins and certifi-
Gates thus created to be substituted dollar for
dollar, for the bank notes issued by private cor
porations under special privileges granted by law
Oh March H. 1900 and prior national banking laws,
the remaining portion of the bank notes to be
replaced with full legal tender Government paper
money and its volume so controlled as to main.
tain at all times stable money market and a
stable price level.
Wedemand graduated income and inheritance
TAX, to the end that aggregated wealth shall bear
its just proportion of taxation.
We demand that postal savings banks be estab-
iished by the Government for the safe deposit OF
the savings OF the people and to facilitate
The weak point, or ommission ia this
platform, is the demand for postal savings
banks instead of government banks to
keep the money it issues ont of the con-
troll of money SPECTATORS. The national
banks do not care very great deal for
the privilege Of issuing currency. Very
few of them issue the amount the law. in
its old form permitted, and they will
probably not issue much more under the
new form.
What the bankers-the head men of
he bank monopoly, or trust-desire is TO |
enjoy the credit of the government to
bank on, and deprive the government of
III power to issue any money except the |
AMOUNT Of gold they deliver TO the minis
and order coined on their account.
The banks want the privilege of loan |