The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-20
BRYAN ANNOUNCES
 HIS 1900 PLATFORM
1T STRONGLY REAFFIRMS THE
 CHICAGO PLATFORM.

Election of Senators by Direct Vote O1
 fhe People-Favors Immediate Con-
 struction and Fertilization of the
 Nicaragua CanaI-Adopted by Me-
 braslxa Democrats and by PopuIists.
 Lincoln, Neb., March 19.-In effect
 William J. Bryan announced tonight
 to the democratic party and to the na-
 tion at large the platform which he con-
 siders best for the democratic party and
 practically upon which he desires to
 stand if nominated at the Kansas City
 convention. This platform was enthu-
 siastically adopted at the state conven-
 tion of the Nebraska democrats, which
 was called to order at midnight.
 'The platform reaffirms the one
 adopted by the democratic national
 convention held in Chicago in 1896;
 favors amendments to the federal con-
 stitution, authorizing an income tax
 and providing for the election of United
 States senators by a direct vote of the
 people; opposes government by injunc-
 ton and the blacklist; favors arbtra-
 ton as a means of settling disputes be-
 tween corporations and their employees
 approves the support given by demo-
 crats throughout the country to the
 movement looking toward the munich pal ownership of municipal franchises,
 favors the principle of the initiative
 and referendum, favors liberal pen
 sions to deserving soldiers and their de- pendents favors immediate construc- tion and fortifcation of the Nicaragua canal by the United States, and con- demns the Dingley tariff law as trust breeding and notwithstanding meas ure The platform then says:
 We welcome the opportunity offered this year to take the federal govern ment out of the hands of the republi
 can party, which has abandoned Amer ican ideas and American ideals and at the command of corporate wealth. has plotted against the financial indepen- dence of the nation, has menaced the industrial independence of the individ- ual and now contemplates the nuilifica- tion of the Declaration of American h. dependence"
 It pledges the party to wage an un- ceasing warfare against all the trusts, demands the restoration of the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at the ratio of 16 to 1 without waiting for the aid or consent of any other nation; declares that the republican administra- tion and a republican congress have confessed judgment against the gold standard by attempting to revive the delueive hope of international bimetal- liem demands a financial system which recognizes the governments right to is sue all money, whether coin or paper; demands the retirement of national bank notes and the substitution for them of greenbacks; condemns the na- tional administration for failure to en- force the law against the trusts or to recommend a more effective law: holds that congress should supplement the efforts of the state to prohibit monopo- lies by legislation which will require every corporation, before engaging in interstate commerce, to show that It has no water in it's stock, and that it has not attempted to monopolize any branch of business or productions; as- l serte that the'republican party, under its present leadership, is endangering l the existence of republican institutions | by placing the dollar above the man; | condemns the Puerto Rico tariff bill l passed by republican house as a viola | tion of the nations organic law and | tlagrant breach of good faith; asserts | that the constitution follows the flag, and denounces the doctrines that con- gress can exercise lawful authority be- yond the constitution or in violation of it; opposes wars of conquest and colo nial possessions; favors an immediate declaration of the nations purpose to give to the Filipinos a stable form of government, independence and protec- tion from outside interference; favor6 the expansion of trade by every legiti- mate and peaceful means, but opposes the purchasing of trade at the cannons mouth with human blood; maintains that the nations influence should be ex- tended, not by force, but through the persuasive power of high and honora- ble example; opposes militarism; favors friendship with all nations, but entang- ling alliances with none; sympathizes with the Boers in their efforts to pre- serve their national integrity; criticises republican leaders failure to feel an in terest in the struggle of the Dutch in South Africa.
 Richard T. Melcalf, W. D. Oldham, w. T. Thompson and A. G. Tibbets were chosen delegates at large to the national at Kansas City. While the convention was in a hot row over the choice of alternates MT. Bryan ap- peared. The delegates went wild as he mounted the platform. The platform is practically the creation of MT. Bryan { He did not write it personally but he was consulted concerning it and before ( it was read to the convention it had f been approved of throughout. The platform adopted by the populist t also in session here to-day I was substantially the same as that f adopted by the democrats. IL differs in form, but conflicts ln no l essential point. Both conventions to- g night were enthusiastic for MT. Bryan l to the last degree and each mention of t his name was greeted with cheers of delight and approval, Instructions were given to both delegations to stand for MT. Bryan in the Kansas City and Sioux Falls conventions.
 MT. Bryan's speech before the demo- ' cratic convention dealt almost entirely a with the three questions which he has f been discussing in various parts of the I trusts and imperialism. q