Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1890 — WANT TO CHANGE THE LAWS. [ARTICLE]

WANT TO CHANGE THE LAWS.

Platform Adopt-d by the Illinois Farmers’ Alliance at Peoria. [Peoria dispatch.] The Illinois State Farmers’ Alliance has adjourned sine die. The last day was largely consumed in making changes in the constitution, which was extensively reconstructed. Officers were elected for the ensuing year as follows: President, A. E. Brunson, Northville; Vice President, Mr. Baldwin, LaSalle; Secretary, 8. A. Kirkpatrick, Mayview; Treasurer, C. A. Smith, Flanagan. Executive Committee, H. Reynolds, Gifford; George 8. Faxon, Plano; A. S, Brewer, Tampico. Delegates to national convention at Omaha, Jan. 27: Brunson and Baldwin. The following resolutions were adopted: The public lands should be reserved’ for actual tillers of the soil, and we demand of Congress the repeal of all laws bearing upon the disposal of the same, except the homestead law, and that law to be so restricted as to prevent abuse of its provisions. We further demand the restoration to the public domain of all land grants to corporations, and we are opposed to the alien ownership of lands. We oppose discrimination in favor of one kind of money at the expense of another, and demand an unlimited coinage of silver. We demand an entire revision of our present system of State taxation, and advise that the State be supported as some other States are, by a tax upon the grots income of railroad, telegraph, telephone, and similar corporations. We demand that taxes for county and local purpose tele vied on all kinds of property, including every form of credit, at a fair cash value. The tendency to the accumulation of mammoth fortunes should be checked by a graduated income tax. We d emand that all dealing in options of grain be made a penal offense, punishable by both fine and imprisonment. We demand that passenger rates on all railroads in this State be reduced to two cents a mile. We declare that the charges of the Chicago Stock Yards and otl.er similar stock yards, and also the charges of live-stock commission merchants,. are an outrage on farmers and shippers, and that S3O per ton for hay and $1 per bushel for corn, and yardage charges of 25 cents on cattle and 8 cents on sheep and hogs is such a sw indie that we will stamp the seal of condemnation on any member of the next Legislature that votes for their continuance or neglects to vote for their reduction to a proper bisis. We regard the formation of any trust as a crime against both individuals and State. We resolve to petition for the passage of such a law as will make it the duty of the Supreme Court to pass upon every new law and define its meaning with clearness as to make it plain to the scholar. We demand the erection ot sufficient asylums to take entire care of all of our incurably insane. We demand that one-half of all moneys occruirg from the licensing of the liquor traffic in any form shall be paid into the County Treasuries, and that all such funds shall be kept by themselves and expended by order of the Board of Supervisors only in the support of poor farms or asylums, or both. We demand such legislation from our coming Legislature as will insure a fair English education for every able-bodied child in the State. We demand a uniform series of text-books to be furnished by the State at cost. We are opposed to the issuance of railroad passes to Legislators, judge’s, and all public officials, regarding the same as a bribe. We are in favor of the election of all State officials by dhect vote of the people. The railroads should be run by the Government. We favor the Australian system of voting, are opposed to the liquor traffic as a national curse, and urge the passage of the lard bill before Congress known as House bill 283.