The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-25
PLATFORM ADOPTED.
Denounce Trusts and Amer
ican Book Company Especially.


ton was too busy wrangling over fusion |
to think of a platform. 1t was finally !
presented by Edwin Taylor OF Wyan- |
dotte county chairman of the resolu-
tons committee, and was as follows;
First=VVe reaffirm the principles OF
the Peoples party as declared IN our
last national platform
Second-We demand the initiative and
referendum as necessary TO secure need
ed legislation in the interests of the
labcrer and producer and to reform eX-
isting abuses.
Third-Ve demand the enactment Of
a primary election law which will secure
a fair expression by the voters of all
political parties in the selection of candl-
dates for county and other offices.
Fourth-We approve and indorse the
declarations of the Democratic state
platform upon the subjects of trusts,
railway commission, taxation OF corpo-
rations, ownership by the cities of their
public utilities. discriminating freight
rates and free transportation of per
sons. government ownership of rail-
roads, direct legislation, minority repre-
sentation, also its declaration with re-
spect to Cuba and the Philippine is
FIfth-We rejoice over the practically
unanimous adoption of the Initiative ana
referendum amendment to the constltu-
ton Of the state of Oregon, Which was
Endorsed by all parties, at the recent
election there.
Sixth-We denounce the Republican
party for it's subserViency to trusts and
com bines, its maintenance of an unneceS-
sary and burdensOme tariff on trust
made goods and for its refusal to afford
promised relief to Cuba, by reducing
the enormous duty charges on sugar
the chief product of that island.
Seventh-We denounce the election
law enacted by the Republicans as a
/ masterpiece of injustice and an abuse
/ of power for partisan purposes un-
! para1eled in our history.
4 .varr1x~ no M of .
nominate the candidates Of its choice,
/ where such candidates have been pre-
| viOusly nominated by any other party.
! 1t puts a premium on ignorance ana
i blind devotion to party, and in every
way harnesses the independent voter in
the exercise of his franchise. It renders
it more difficult for the voter to eN-
| press his preferences and seeks to dis
franchise, to as great an extent as pos
/ sible, the opposition to the party IN
| power 1t perverts the Australian bal
| lot law to an instrument of oppression
| and puts countless obstacles in the way
of an honest ballot and a fair count.
The liberty of the people is not only
| menaeed but overthroWn by such per-
version of the election law: and until
! this infamous law can be wiped from
| our statutes we are deprived of our
| equal rights under the laws, in plain
| violation of the provisions of our con-
! stitution.
Eighth-The failure of the Republican
| party to fulfill its pledge to give US Z
| railroad commission elected by the peO-
pie may explain its omission to make
any allusion to state issues in its --latest
| platform.
Ninth-We denounce the extrava-
gance and craftsmanship of the last Re
publican legislature, whose appropria
lions We're hundreds of thousands O.
dollars larger than ever before. anC
which in all things made the interests
of the people subservient to the inter
ests of the Republican machine.
Tenth-It appears to US that the PEG
/ pies money has been squandeTed in pro
viding for d tax commission which Ia
drawn up a bill taking the Assessment
of property out of the hands OF Officers
elected by the people and putting 1t int
/ the hands of a high-salaried set OF Up
pointed officials.
Eleventh-We demand that railroad
! property shall be asses sed at as nigh
/ rate as the property of natttral citizens
We call attention to an increase of mil
! lions of dollars in railroad charges sine
| the railroad law enacted by the las
! POpulist legislature was wiped out b.
Republican partisans on the bench.
TWelfth-We favor graduated taxa
ton, state insurance and a reduction
/ of the extrava CANT expenditures 70
state printing, by the establishment 0
a printing plant owned by the state.
Thirteenth-We regard the continuou
and persistent effort Of the American Boo
company, through the conntvance and sub
agents and employees of that school boo
trust to destroy our text book law, a
the most dangerous and corrupting inf1u
ence pervading this state, as it attempts
destroy the usefulness of our eXcellen
school system; and we demand of the mex
| legislature a rigid examination of It's metz
! DDS and an exposure of its acts and OF tn
officials 1t has corrupted and Is using
! accomplish its purpose
. ! MISUNDERSTANDING that all pOlitics
/ reform is initiated by the Independent vote
and that all looting of the public treasur
and official bOOdllng are carried by n
partisan, we denounce w. j. Bailey, tn
| Republican nominee for governor, for n
oft repeated statement that The lndeper
> dent voter is bushwha cker."
Fifteenth-We congratulate the people
the state upon the record of Mayor W.
Craddock of Kansas City. Kan. in his e
forts to secure an equitable basis OF tax
ton for the public corporation OF his cit,
Sixteenth-The course of Senator W.
Harris in our national legislature con
mands the hearty approval Of every homes
and fair minded citizen, regardless of pa
do all in our power to secure MS re-ele
ton to the position he now adofns
enteenth-Resolved, That We approx
the attitude of the Farmers Advocate
| its fight for the interests of the producer
p / classes and urge the Peoples Party me
| to subscribe for it.
These separate resolutions were al:
Resolved, too That we sincerely moul
the death of President Mckinley and q
nounce the assassination as one OF Il
most mOnstrous crimes in history.
Resolved. That we demand the stampiI
out by wise legislation Of the whole wipe
Gus brood of murderOuS anarchists in Il
United States.
United States senators by direct vote
the people
POPULIST COMMITTEE.