People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1895 — People’s Party Platform. [ARTICLE]

People’s Party Platform.

FOUNDATION PRINCIPLES. Ftrf-cr.—That the union of the labor forces of the United States this day consummated shall be permanent and perpetual; may its spirit enter into all hearts for the salvation of the republic and the uplifting of mankind. t . ... Second.—Wealth belonss to him who creates it. and'every dollar taken from industry without an equivalent is robbery. “If any will not work, neither shall he oat.” The interests of civic and rural labor are the same; tliei'r interests are identical. R'hird— We believe that the time has come when the railroad corporations will either own the people Or the people must own tlie railroads, and should the government enter upon the work of owning and managing any or all railroads, we should favor an amendment to the constitution by which ail persons engaged in the government service shall be placed under a civil service regulation of the most rigid character, so as to pre- ' vent an increase of the power of the national administration by the use of such additional government employes. FINANCE. First—We demand a national currency, safe, sound and flexible, issued by the general government only, a full legal tender for all debts public and private, and that without the use of banking corporations, a just, equitable and efficient means of distribution direct to the people at a tax not to exceed 2 j»er cent, per annum to be provided us set forth in the sub-treasury plan of the Farmers’ Alliance or a better system; also by payments in discharge of its obligations for public, improvements. We demand free and unlimited coinage of silver at the present legal ratio of iti to 1. We deniHKil that the amount, of circulating medium be speedily increased to not less than S6O per capita. We demand a graduated income tax. We believe that the money of the country should l>e kept as much as possible In tho hands of the people, and hence we d?mand i luita.ll state and national revenues shall lie limited to the necessary expenses of the government, economically and honestly administered. We demand that postal savings bank be established by the government for the safe deposit of the earnings of the people and to facilitate exchange. TRANSPORTATION. Second—Transportation living a means of exchange and a public necessity, the government should own and operate the railroads in the interests of the people. The telegraph and telephone, like the postofflee system, being a necessity for the tranxmis.slon of news, should be owned and operated by the Government in the interest of the people. LANDS. Third—The land, including all the natural sources of wealth, is tiiW heritage of the peojHe, aad should not be monopolized for speculative purposes, and alien ownership of land should bo prohibited. All lands now hold by railroads and other corporations in tixCMS of th Mr actual nisi, at I ail lands now owned by aliens should be reclaimed by the government and hold for actual settlers only. SUPPLEMENTARY RESOLUTIONS. Whereas. Other queetions have been presented for our consideration, we hereby submit ths following, not as a part of the platform of the People’s Party, but as resolutions expressive of the convention. Resolved, That we demand a free ballot and a fair count in all elections and pledge ourselves to secure it to every legal voter without federal intervention through the adoption by the States of the unperverted Australian or secret ballot system. Resolved. That the revenue derived from a graduated income tax should bo applied to the reduction of the burden of taxation, now levied upon the domestic industries of this country. Resolved. That we pledge onr support to fair and liberal pensions tocx-Union soldiers and sailors. Resolved. That we condemn the fallacy of protecting American labor under the present system. which opens our ports to the pnuper and criaiinal classes of the world and crowds out our wage earners; and We denounce the present ineffective laws against contract labor and demand the furthor restriction of umlosirable immigration. Resolved. That we cordially sympathize with the efforts of organized workmen to sirjrten the hours of labor and defnand a rigid enforcement of the existing eight hour law on government work and ask that a penalty clause be added to the said law. Resolved. That we regard the maintenance of a largo standing army of mercenaries. known as the Pinkerton svstem. asa menaco to our liberties, and wo demand its abolition ami we condemn the recent Invasion of the Territory of Wyoming by the hired assassins of plutocracy, assisted by fivleral officers. Resolved, That we commend to the thoughtful consideration of the people and lite reform press the legislative system known as the initiative and referendum. Resolved. That we favor a Constitutional provision limiting the office of President and Vice President to one term and providing for the election of senators of the United States by a direct vote of the people. Resolved. That we oppose any subsidy or national aid to any private corporation for , any puroose.

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