Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-09-02
PEOPLES Party Platform.


Omaha platform of 1892, and of the
subsequent platforms of 1896 and 1900.
In session in it's fourth national con-
IGNITION on July 4. 1904, in the city of
.pringfeld, Ill.,. it draws inspiration
rom the day that saw the birth Of the
nation, as we'll as it's own birth as a
garty, and also from the soul of him
who lived at its present place of meet
ing.
We renew our allegiance to the old
fashioned American spirit that gave
this nation existence, and made it dis
tinctive among the peoples Of the
earth. We again sound the keynote of
The Declaration of Independence, that
cal sense, which is the sense in which
l1dt instrument, being a political
document, intended that the utterance
should be understood. We assert that
the departure from this fundamental
truth is responsible for the Ills from
which we suffer as a nation; that the
giving of special privileges to the few
has enabled them to dominate the
many, thereby tending to destroy the
political equality which is the corner
stone Of democratic government.
We call for a return to the truths
of the fathers, and we vigorously pro-
test against the spirit of mammonism
and of thinly-veiled monarchy, that is
INV aiding certain sections of our ma
tiOral life, and Of the very administra-
ton itself. This is nation of peace,
ana we deplore the appeal to the spir-
it OF force and militarism which is
shown in lll-advised and vainglorious
Lcasting and, in more harmful ways,
III the GENIAL of the rights of man I'M
der r.al lial law.
A political democracy and an Indus
trial aospotism cannot exist side by
side; and nowhere is this truth more
plainly shown than in the gigantic
monoIones which have bred all sorts
OF kindred trusts, subverted the gov
ernments OF many of the states, and
established their official agents in the
national government. We submit
that it is better for the government
to own the railroads than for the rail-
roads to own the government; and
that one or the other alternative
seems inevitable.
We call the attention CT our fellow
citizens to the fact that the surrender
of both of the old parties to corporate
influences leaves the peoples party
the only party of reform in the ma
ton.
Therefore, we submit the following
platform of principles to the Ameri-
can people:
The issuing of money Is function
of government, and should never be
delegated to corporations or individ-
uals The constitution gives to con-
gress alone power to coin money and
regulate its value.
We demand, therefore, that all mon
ey shall be issued by the government
in such quantity as shall maintain
stability in prices, every dollar to be
a full legal tender, none of which shall
be a debt redeemable in other money.
We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the govern
ment for the safe deposit of the saw
ings Of the people.
We believe in the right OF labor to
organize for the benefit and protec-
ton of those who toll; and pledge the
efforts of the peoples party to pre-
serve this right inviolate. Capital is
organized and has no right to deny to
labor the privilege which it claims for
itself. We feel that intelligent organi-
cation of labor is essential; that it
raises the standard of workmanship,
and promotes the efficiency, intelli-
gence, independence and character of
the wage-earner. We believe with
Abraham Lincoln that labor is prior
to capital, and is not it's slave, but it's
companion; and We plead for that
broad spirit of liberation and justice
which will promote industrial peace
through the observance Of the prin-
cipleS OF voluntary arbitration.
We favor the enactment of leglsla-
ton looking to the improvement of
conditions for wage-earners, the aboli-
ton of child labor, the suppression of
sweat shops and of convict labor, in
competition with free labor, ard the
exclusion from American shores of
foreign pauper labor.
We favor the shorter work day, and
declare tndC IL elSHI hours constitutes
a DAYS labor in government service,
that eight hours should constitute a
days labor in factories, work shops
and mines.
AS a means of placing all public
questions directly under the control of
the people, we demand that legal pro-
vision be made under which the peo-
pie may exercise the initiative, refer
endum and proportional Representa-
ton, and direct vote for all public off,
GERS, with the right of recall.
Land, including all the natural
sources of wealth. is a heritage of all
the people, and should not be monop-
olized Tor speculative purposes; and
alien ownership Of land should be pro-
hibited.
We demand return to the original
of the constitution and