Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-01-17
PoPULIsT NATIONAL PLATFORM.

P0PULIST NATIONAL PLATFORM.
The Peoples party. assembled in national
convention. reafhrmS Its allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the re-
public, and also to the fundamental principles
OF just government, as enunciated I'm the plat
form OF the party in 1892. We recognize that
through the conniyance of the present and
preceding administrations the country has
reached a crisis in its national life as predicted
in our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
duty OF the hour We realize that while we
have political Independence. our finaucia
and industrial iDdeT endence is vet to be at
tanned by restoring to our country the consti-
tutionai control and exercise of the functions
necessary to peoples government, which
functions have been basely surrendered by
our public servants to corporate monopo-
lies. The influence of European money
changers has been more potent in shaping
legislation than the voice of the Anne rican
people Executive power and patronage
have been used to corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the will of the people. and plutoc.
racy has thereby boon enthroned upon the
ruins OF democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers. and for the well
fare of this and future generations we demand
the establishment of an economic and finan-
cial system. which shall make us masters OF
our own affairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following dec
laretion OF principles:
FINANCE.
First We demand national money, safe
and sound, issued by the general government
only, without the intervention of banks of is
sue TO be full legal tender for all debts pub
lie and private-a just, equitable and efficient
means OF distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
ernment
Second-We demand the free and unre-
stricted coinage of silver and gold at the pres
ent legal ratio of sixteen to one, without wait
ing for the consent of foreign nations
Third-We demand that the volume of cir
culating medium be speedily increased to an
amount sufficient TO meet the demands of the
business and population of this country and
to restore the just level of prices of labor and
production.
Fourth-we denounce the sale of bonds ano
the increase of the public interest bearing
debt made by the present administration as
unnecessary and without authority of Iaw,and
that no more bonds be issued except by spe-
citic act of CONGRESS.
Fifth-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the demonstration of the lawful
money of the United 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 they
are to be paid, and we denounce the present
and preceding administrations for surrender
ing this option to the holders of government
obligations.
Seventh-We demand a graduated income
tax to the end that aggregated wealth shall
bear its just proportion of taxation and we
regard the recent decision of the supreme
court relative to the income tax law mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vasion of the rghtful powers of congress over
the subject of taxation.
EIghth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
the safe deposit Of the savings of the peopl
and 70 facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATION.
First-TransportatiOn being means of ex-
change and necessity, the governmentshoul1
own and 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 aud that the
tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations. which result
IA i'm nnnf NOT ha <1rufr
the political rights and personal liberties of
the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner
ship is to be accomplished gradually in man.
ner consistent with sound public policy.
Second-The interest of the United States in
the public highways built with public moneys
and the proceeds of extensive grants of land
to the Pa cific railroads. should never be alien
ated, mOrtgaged or sold, but guarded 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 companies land
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the goy.
eminent should purchase the same IL II be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
| in, or II they Gun be purchased at q reasonable
| price, and the government shall operate said
| railroads as public highways for che benefit Of
| the whole people and not in the interest of the
| few, under suitable provisions for protection
OF life and property, giving to all transporta-
| ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
| for fares and freights.
1 Third-We denOunce the present Infamous
! schemes for refunding these debts, and de-
mand that the laws now applicable thereto be
| executed and administered according to their
! true intent and spirit.
| Fourth-The telegraph, like the post Office
system, being necessity for the Transmission
| of news, should be owned and operated by
| the government in the interests OF the people.
| LAND.
First-the true policy demands that the ma
| tiona and state legislation shall be such as
| will ultimately enable every prudent and i'm
dustrous citizen TO secure home and there
| fore the land should not be moHopOlized 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-
| tual settlers only, and pri [ate land monopoly,
| as well as alien ownership, should be prohb-
| tied.
| Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad companies
| have, through the connivance of the interior
| department., robbed multtudes of actual bona
| 1de settlers of their homes and miners OF their
claims, and we demand legislation by congress-
! which will enforce the exemption of mineral
| land from such grants, after as well as before
patent,
| on all public lands be granted free homes, as
provided in the national homestead law, and
that no exception be made in the case OF In
dian reservations when opened for settlement,
this demand
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor n
system OF direct legislation through the inifia
tive ard referendum under proper constitu
| tional safeguards.
First-We demand the election of president.
vice president and United States senators by a
direct vote of the people.
SeconC-We tender 10 the patriotic pcol Ie of
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
for political freedom and independence and
we believe the time has come when the United
states the great republic of the world, should
recognize that Gu ba is, and of right ought to
! be, q 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-Ail public salaries should bt, made
to correspond TO the price of labor and its pro-
ducts.
Fifth-Ip these times of industrial depres-
sion idle labor should be employed on publfa
works as far as practicable.
Sixth-The arbitrary course of the courts in
assuming 10 imprison citizens for indirect con-
tempt and ruling them by Injunction should
be prevented by proper legislation
Seyenth-We favor Just pensions for every
, disabled Union soldier.
Eighth Believing that the elective franchise
and untrammeied bal OF are essential TO gov
eminent OF. for and by the people. tho Peoples
party condemns the wholesale systems of dis
Reimbursement adopted in some OF the states
as nn-repubican and un-democratic. and we
declare IL to be the duty of the eeyerAl states
legislatures 10 take such action as will secure
a ftii.free and fair ballot and an honest count
Ninth-Wbiie the foregoing propositions con-
sfifute the platform upon which our party
Stands. and for The vlndicatiOn of which its or
gauization will be maintained. we recognize
that the great and pressing Issue of the pend
ing campaign upon which the present preri-
dentai election will turn Is the ffna ncial Ques-
ton and upeD this great and spt cftic issue be-