People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1895 — People’s Parly Platform. [ARTICLE]

People’s Parly Platform.

FOUNDATION PRINCIPLES. First.—That the union of the labor forceof the United States this day consummated 6hall be permanent and perpetual f may its spirit enter into all hearts for the salvation of the republic and the uplifting of mankind. Second.—Wealth belongs to him who creates it, and every dollartaken from industry without an equivalent is robbery. ”If any will not work, neither shall he eat.” The interests of eivie and rural labor ate the same; their interests are identical. Third—We believe that the time has come when the railroad corporations w ill either own the people or the people must own the 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 all persons engaged in the government service shall be placed under a civil service regulation of the most rigid character, so as to prevent an increase of the powerof the national administration by the use of such additional government employes.

FINANCE Fißsr We demand a national currency, safe, sound and flexible, issued by the general government only, a lull 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 per cent, per annum to be provided as 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 16 to I. We demand that the amount of circulating medium be speedily increased to not less than *6O per capita. We demand a graduated income tax. We believe that the money of the country should be kept as much as possible in the hands of the people, and hence we demand that all state and national revenues shall be 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. being 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 postoffice system, being a necessity for the transmission 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 the heritage of the people, and should not be monopolized for speculative purposes, and alien ownership of land should be prohibited. All lands now held by railroads aDd other corporations in excess of their actual needs and all la nds now owned by aliens should be reclaimed by the government and held for actual settlers only. SUPPLEMENTARY RESOLUTIONS. Whereas. Other questions have been presented for our consideration, we hereby submit the following, net 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 be applied to the reduction of the burden of taxation, now levied upon the domestic industries of this country. Resolved, That we pledge our support to fair and liberal pensions to ex-Union soldiers and sailors. Resolved, That we condemn the fallacy of protecting American labor under the present system. which opens our ports to the pauper and criminal classes of the world and crowds out our wage earners; and we denounce the present ineffective laws against contract labor and demand the further restriction of undesirable immigration. Resolved, That we cordially sympathize with the efforts of organized workmen to shorten the hours of labor and demand 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 large standing army of mercenaries, known as the Pinkerton system, asa menace to our liberties, and we demand its abolition and we condemn the recent invasion of the Territory of Wyoming by the llired assassins of plutocracy, assisted by federal officers. Resolved. That we commend to the thoughtful consideration of the people and the 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.