Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1900-05-09
poPuLIsr NATIONAL pLArroRr.

The Peoples party, assembled in national
convention, reaffirms it's allegiance to the
principles declared by the founders of the re-
1 public, and also to the fundamental principles
form Of the party in 1907 We recognize that
through the connivance OF the present and
preceding administrations the country has
reached crisis in it's national life as predicted
in our declaration four years ago, and that
prompt and PATRIOTIC action is the supreme
have political Independence. our financis
and industrial indies endence is yet to be at
| tanned by restoring TO our country the consti-
necessary to a PEOPLES government, which
functions have been basely surrendered by
our public servants to corporate monopo-
changers has been more potent in shaping
legislation than the voice of the American
people. Executive power and patronage
have been used to corrupt our legislatures
and defeat the will of the people, and piutoc.
racy has thereby been enthroned upon the
ruins of democracy. To restore the govern
ment INTENDED by the fathers. and for thewel-
fare of this and future generations, wedehand
/ cial system, which shall make masters of
our own affairs and independence European
! control. by the adoption of the following deo-
! iaration OF principles: .,,..
FINANCK.
I First We demand national money, safe
and sound. issued by the general government
/ sue TO be Il 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
/ erument-
Second-We demand the free and unre.
| stricted coinage of silver and gold al the pres
ent legal ratio of sixteen TO one, without wait
Ing for the consent of foreign nations
IhIrd-We demand that the volume of cir
| cuiating 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
Fourth-We denounce the sale of bonds ana
| 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-
cifc act of CONGRESS.
| Fifth-We demand such legislation "a will
| prevent the demonetization 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 tile supreme
court relative to the income tax law as a mis-.
| Interpretation of the constitution and an in.
va, Tson OF tue powers OF congress over
Eighth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
| the safe deposit of the savings of the DeonI
and TO facilitate exchange.
TRANSFORMATION.
neutrality-suspicious. being a means of ev.
| change and necessity, the governments SHOULD
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
! tyranny and political power now exercised by
the great railroad corporations. which result
| n the Impairment, If not the destruction of
| the political rights and personal liberties of
| the citizen, may be destroyed. Such owner.
ship Is to be accomplished gradually in man.
/ M mn h lilo y,f,lt,
Second-The interest of the United States in
the pubic highways built with public moneys
! to the Pacific railroads, should never be alien
ated mortgaged or sold, but guarded and pro-
te e 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 roy.
eminent should purchase the same IL IL be.
comes necessary to protect its interests there
ID, or IL they can be purchased at a reasonable
| price, and the government shall operate said
railroads as public highways for the benefit of
| few, under suitable provisions for protection
OF lfeaDd property. giving to all Transports
| for fares and freights.
Third-We deuounce the present Infamous
schemes for refunding these debts, and de-
| inland that the laws now applicable thereto he
| executed and administered according To fhefr
| true intent and spirit. =.
| Fourth-The telegraph. like the post office
|
OF news, should be owned and operated by
| the government in the interests OF the people,
| LAND.
flfst-the true policy demands that the ma.
| uonal and state legislation shall he such as
| VIII ultimately enable every prudent and in
dustrious citizen TO secure a home, and there
| tore the land should not be moRopolized for
| speculative purposes. ALI lands now held by
| railroads and other corporations in excess OF
theif actual needs should by lawful means he
reclaimed by the government and held for scs
tnal settlers only. and pri Jate land monopoly.
as wen as alien ownership, should be prohib.
Second-We condemn the frauds by which
the land grants to Pacific railroad Companies
have, through the connivance of the interior
department., robbed multitudes of actual bona
1de settlers OF their homes and miners of their
cih , ana we demand legislation by congress
Whcn VIII enforce the exemption of mineral
laIia from such grants, after as well as before
Third-we demand that al, hon. eda ....,
on all public lands be granted free homes as
provided III the national homestead law and
tialo 10 exception be made in the OF In
this demand. NSs
Fourth-Direct Legislation: We favor a
system of direct legislation through the fnitia
I'VE ard referendum under proper constitu
uonal safeguards.
GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.
tlrst-We demand the election Of nras;dot
Sice president and United States senators by a
Second-We tender to the patrioti6 noon,o~
CUBA our deepest sympathy in their sfrpogia
Tor pontcal freedom and independence and
we peiieVe the time has come whenthe FTnitad
states, the great republic of the world shouIJ
recognize that Cuba is, and of right otISHf RI
pe, a Tree and Independent state. 4
Ihlrd-We favor home rule in. the terrffor;..
ana the District OF Columbia and the eariH "a
mission OF the territories as states
fourin-All public salaries should bo made
ducts. oi "n@SsS pro-
fi1th-In these times of Industrial sdSpree.
SION Idle labor should be employed On nnhIio
"Srks as lar as practicable.
oI&tn-Ihe arbitrary course of the courfa I'm
assuming TO imprison citizens for in direct con-
tempt and ruling them by Injunction shouid
De prevented by proper Legislation.
.oeFentn["e favor just pension for eyerv
disabled Union soldier.
Notwithstanding that the elective frapcht..
aho untrammeled ballot are essential to- Sov.
eminent OF, for and by the people the PeonIes
party condemns the wholesale eyetem ~ ~
reimbursement adopted in some of the sfsf1.
a. un-republican and uu-demOcratfc aud W~
declare IL to be the duty of the several efatass
ieslsiatures TO take such action as will secnre
Iuil.1ree and fair ballot and an houest count
Nlnth.While the foregoing propositions cors
euthte the platform upon which our marty
stancs. and for the vIndication of which Ia os
ganlzation will be maintained, we recornize
that fhe great and pressing issue Of the bend
ing campaign upon which the present presi.
Dental election will turn is the financial oues- s
tion and unon this great and specific fesue he
tween the parti5 IS cordially invite tina "a
nf oil nf,o<