The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-05-18


Both candidates were nominated by
reclamation, but before this was accom-
plished various names were placed in
nomination and then withdrawn. The
nominations were made amid great en-.
thusiasm.
The exciting event of the convention
was occasioned when Congressman
Kelly of South Dakota, becoming ex-
cited over failure to secure recogni.
ton, rose in his seat and denounced the
occupant of the chair as "bunco
steerer." To this Chairman Patterson
responded spiritedly. There were cries
of "Put him OUT" and a number of
delegates gathered about Mr.. Kelly.
Quiet was, however, soon restored
and the convention proceeded as if
nothing unusual had occurred.
The Platform.
The following is a synopsis Of the
platform adopted by the convention:
The Peoples party reaffirms its adj
herence to the principles of it's two for
mer platforms and calls upon all who de-
sire to avert the subversion of free insti-
buttons by corporate and imperialistic
power to unite in bringing the govern
ment back to the ideals of Washington,
Jefferson, jackson and Lincoln; extends
to it's allies assurances of loyalty to their
common principles and pledges hearty CO
operation in their joint efforts.
1t denounces the act of March 10, 1900,
as the elimination of a conspiracy to de-
prive the people of their control of the
nations money and surrender it to a
money money trust; denounces the act,
first, for making all obligations payable
in gold or its equivalent; second, for re-
funding ''coin bonds" not due for years,
into long time gold bonds; third, for pay
ing premium to holders of bonds to be
refunded; fourth, for doubling the capital
of bankers by returning to them the face
value of their bonds; fifth, for allowing
banks to expand and contract their circu-
lation at pleasure; sixth, for authorizing
the issue of new gold bonds to replenish
the gold in the reserve fund; and seventh,
for striking down the greenback and
forcing the people to borrow $346, 900, 900
more from the banks at an annual cost of
$50, 100000. The party pledges itself never
to cease agitation until this eighth finan-
cial conspiracy is blotted from the statute
books.
1t reaffirms the demand for the reopen
ing of the minis to the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver and gold at the legal
ratio of 16 to l. the immediate increase of
silver coin and certificates to take the
place of bank notes, thus replacing them
with full legal tender government paper
money with it's volume so controlled as to
maintain a stable money market and
price level.
For an Income Tax.
It demands graduated income and in
heritance tax to the end that aggregate
wealth shall bear it's proportion of taxa
ton.
1t demands postal savings banks.
It declares for a free homestead law
and against land monopoly, and the
restoration of homestead rights to all
who have paid the government an acreage
price for land.
1t declares for the government owner
ship and operation of railroads on non
partisan basis, such ownership to be ac-
complished in a manner consistent with
sound public policy. Trusts are the re-
suit of the private ownership and control
of money, transportation and the trans
mission of information These instru-
ments of commerce are public functions
and should be controlled by tie people
through congress for the public welfare.
The one remedy for trusts is that owner
ship and control be assumed by the peo-
pie.
1t is further demanded that the tariff
on goods controlled by trusts be abol