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therein, or if they can be purchased at a reasonable price; and the Government shall operate such railroads as public highways for the benefit of the whole, and not in the interest of the few, under suitable provisions for the protection of life and property, giving to all transportation interests and privileges, and equal rates for fares and freight.

"Third. We denounce the present infamous schemes for refunding these debts, and demand that the laws now applicable thereto be executed and administered according to their true intent and spirit.

"Fourth. The telegraph, 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.

LAND MONOPOLIES.

"First.—The true policy demands that the National and State legislation shall be such as will ultimately enable every prudent and industrious citizen to secure a home, and, therefore, the land should not be monopolized for speculative purposes.

"All lands now held by railroads and other corporations in excess of their actual needs should, by lawful means, be reclaimed by the Government and held for actual settlers only; and private land monopoly, as well as alien ownership, should be prohibited.

"Second.-We condemn the frauds by which the land grant to the Pacific railroad companies have, through the connivance of the Interior Department, robbed multitudes of equal bonafide settlers of their homes, and miners of their claims, and we demand legislation by Congress which will enforce the exemption of mineral

land from such grants after as well as before patent.

"Third.-We demand that bonafide settlers on all public lands be granted free homes, as provided in the National Homestead Law, and that no exception be made in the case of Indian reservations when opened for settlement, and that all lands not now patented come under this demand.

"We favor a system of direct legislation through the initiative and referendum, under proper Constitutional safeguards.

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GENERAL PROPOSITIONS.

"First. We demand the election of President, VicePresident and United States Senators by a direct vote of the people.

"Second. We tender to the patriotic people of Cuba our deepest sympathy in their heroic struggle for political freedom and independence, and we believe the time has come when the United States, the great republic of the world, should recognize that Cuba is and of right ought to be a free and independent State.

"Third.-We favor home rule in the Territories and the District of Columbia, and the early admission of the Territories as States.

"Fourth.-All public salaries should be made to correspond to the price of labor and its products.

"Fifth.-In times of great industrial depression, idle labor should be employed on public works as far as practicable.

"Sixth.-The arbitrary course of the courts in assuming to imprison citizens for indirect contempt, and ruling that by injunction should be prevented by proper legislation.

"Seventh.-We favor just pensions for our disabled Union soldiers.

"Eighth.-Believing that the election franchise and untrammeled ballot are essential to a Government of, for and by the people, the People's Party condemn the wholesale system of disfranchisement adopted in some States as unrepublican and undemocratic, and we declare it to be the duty of the several State Legislatures to take such action as will secure a full, free and fair ballot, and an honest count.

"Ninth. While the foregoing propositions constitute the platform upon which our party stands, and for the vindication of which its organization will be maintained, we recognize that the great and pressing issue of the pending campaign upon which the present Presidential election will turn, is the financial question, and, upon this great and specific issue between the parties, - cordially invite the aid and co-operation of all organzations and citizens agreeing with us upon this vital question.'

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Born in Sampson co., N. C., May 20, 1863; graduated at University of N. C., 1885; relinquished study of law for farming; joined Farmers' Alliance and edited Clinton Caucasian; elected to State Senate, 1890; elected president of Farmers' Alliance, 1891-92; V.-P. of Nat. Farmers' Alliance, 1893; President of same, 1894; severed connection with Dem. party in 1892, and built up People's party in 1893-94; Chairman of Populist Committee; member of Board of State University; elected as Populist to U. S. Senate, 1895; Chairman of Com. on Executive Expenditures, and member of Committees on Agricultnre, Coast Defences, Epidemic Diseases, Fisheries, and Post Offices and Roads.

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