Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-02-21
PopuLIsr NATIONAL pLArroRn.

The Peoples party, assembled in nafiona
convention, reaffirms its allegiance TO the
principies declared by the founders of the re-
puniic, and also to the fundamental prlncip1es
% JUST government, as enunciated in the plat
Iornl OF the party In 1892. We recognize that
through the cOnnivance of the present and
preceding administrations the country hes
ieacneo crisis1n its national life predicted
III our ueciaratlon four years ago, and that
prompt and patriotic action is the supreme
DUTY or the hour. We realize that while we
nave political Independence. our finaucia
and industrial indeT Evidence is vet In he A.
tanned by restoring 10 our country the consfi-
tutionai control and exercise of the functions
necessary TO a PEOPLES government which
functions have been bssely Surrendered bv
our public servants to corporate monon1-
n mes; me influence OF European money
legislation than the voice of the American
people Executive power and patronage
nave been used to corrupt our legislat ures
and defeat the viii of the people and nluf.sc
racy has thereby been enthroned upon the
ruins OF Democracy. To restore the govern
ment intended by the fathers, and for the wei
fare OF this and future generations. we demand
the establishment of an economic and fiuan-
ciai syst system N. which shall make US masters Of
our own aIairs and independent of European
control. by the adoption of the following dec
larstion OF principles:
FINANCE.
First We demand a national money. safe
and sound, issued by the general government s
only, without the intervention of banks of is.
sue 10 be fun legal tender for all debts pub
TIC ana prlvate-a just, equitable aud efficient
means OF distribution direct to the people and
through the lawful disbursements of the gov
ernment.
Secoud-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 Tor the consent of foreign nations
Third-We demand that the volume of cir
cuiatlng 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 safe of bonds ano
ktA haa
debt made By the present adniinist ration rs
unnecessary and without authorIty of Iawand
cific act of cOnureSs.
Fifth-We demand such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization OF tho law full
money of the United States by private con-
tract.
Sixth-We demand that the government, in
payment OF its obligations, shall use it's option
as to the kind of lawful money in which thew
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 it's just proportion of taxation and we
regard the recent decision of tie supreme
court relative to the income tax law as mis-
Interpretation of the constitution and an in
vasiOn of the rightful powers of congress over
| the subject of taxation.
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks De established by the government for
the safe deposit of the savings of the peopl
and to facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATION.
neutrality-suspicious. being a means of ey-
change and a necessity, the governmentsboul1
own and operate the railroads in the interest
OF the people and on 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 by
the great railroad corporations which result
In the Impairment, If not the destruction, of
tne pontlcal 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
10 the racine 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 shoudsSS, once follow defaultin
payment thereof by the debtor com panies and
at the foreclosure sales of said roads the gov
eminent should purchase the same il il be-
comes necessary to protect its interests there
ill., or IL they can be purchased at a reasonable
price. and the government shall operate sal,
railroads as public highways for The benefit NJ
the whole people and not in the interest OF the
few, under suitable provisions for prote orion
of life and property, giving to all trans Dorta-
ton interests equal privileges and equal rates
for fares and freights.
Third-We denOunce the present infsn,o,.
schemes for refunuing these debts and do
mand mat the laws now applicable thereto be
executed and administered according To fbai,-
true intent and spirit.
Fourth-The telegraph, like tho post Office,
system, being necessity for the transmission
of news, should be owned and operated bv-
the government In the interests Of the people,
LAND.
F1rst-the true policy demands that the ma
t1onal and state Legislation shall be such as
Will ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrious citizen to secure home and there
fore the land should not be moaopolized for
speculative purposes. All lands now held by
railroads and other corporations in excess of
their actual needs should by lawful means be
recialmed by the government and held for ac-
tual settlers only, and pri 'ate land monopoly.
| tied.
Second-we condemn the frauds by which
tne land grants to Pacific railroad companies
have, through the connivance of the interior
department., robbed multitudes of actual bona
hde 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,
Third-We demand that all bona fide settlers
on all pubic lands be granted tree homes az
provided In the national homestead law, and
that no exception be made in the case Of In
dian reservations when opened for settlement
and that all lands now patented come under
this demand.
Fourth-Direct Legisation: We favor q
system OF direct legislation through the initiar
I'VE aho referendum under proper constitu
uonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS
First-We demand the election of president.
vice president and United States senator's by q
direct vote of the people.
Second-We tender TO the patriotic peorIeof
Cuba our deepest sympathy in their struggle
for ponucal freedom and Independence and
we believe the time has come when the United
states, the great republic of the world should
recognize that Cuba is, and of right ought to
be, free and independent state.
Thfrd-We favor home rule in the territories
ana the District OF Columbia. and the early adj
mission OF the territories as states.
FOurtn-All public salaries should be made
70 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
be prevented by proper legislation.
Seventh-We favor just pensions for every
disabled Union soldier.
Eighth Believing that the elective franchise
and untrammeled ballot are essential to gov
eminent OF, for and by the people the Peoples
party condemns the wholesale system of dis
reimbursement adopted In some of the states
as un-republtcan and un-demOcratic. aud we
declare IL to be the duty of the several states
ieglsiatures to take such action will secure
fuil,free and fair ballot and an honest count
NinthIW bile the foregoing propositions con-
stitute the platform upon which our marty
stands. and for the vindcation of which It's or.
ganizauon will he maintained. we recognize
mat the great and pressing issue of the pend,
ing campaign upon which the present prey
Dental election will turn is the financial ON =
tion and upon this great and specific issue -
tween the parties we cordially invite tb -
ana cooperation of all organizations az a oas;
zens agreeing with us upon this vir = 60 IL
ton. Al ques-
Animal moetinC of Cr.na