The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-29
PEOPLES PLATFORM.
The Document Adopted By The
Convention.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
The People and the Liberals Compared
Pledges Made-Promises That VIII
Be Fulfilled.

After long and careful discussi on the
Peoples municipal convention last evening
adopted the following platform. 1t speaks
for itself:
The Peoples party of Salt Lake city, in
convention assembled, present the follow
ing
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES:
Tho basis of free government is the right
Of the people to govern themselves.
The object of the Federal constitution is
to secure free government to the people
of the United States, wherein all persons
shall be protected in life, liberty and prop
erty and in the enjoyment of every right
essential to their happiness and not incon-
sisteat with the rights of others.
We regard the Constitution as a sacred
charter of human liberty; we revere its
principles and declare our unwavering al
leSiaRoe to the government and laws made
in pursuance of its provisions.
The Peoples party has always upheld
these principles. 1t has maintained the
right of local self government. 1t has con-
tended for the freedom and purity Of cleo
Uions. It has opposed class legislation. 1t
huo PASh4OVCN hOhNobJ III oil VI oLOhCn VI bAAO
p1blic service. It has maintained equality
before the law. 1t has been characterized
by justice, prudence and fidelity. Taxa
tioR has been uniform and lower in Utah
than in any other territory. There have
been ne extravagant salaries, no iobbery,
no schemes for great bonded debts. Life
and property have been secure, morality
has been fsstered and vice repressed. 1t
is the party Of conservative progress, COM
mensuratc with public necessities and re-
sources.
Opposed to the Peoples party is the self
styled Liberal" party, which processes to
venerate the constitution while violatingit its
fundamental truths. 1t arrogates to its
members the honored name of Americans
while seeking to deprive large class of
American citizens Of the substantial rights
of freemen. Through its persistent mis-
representation the right of trial by jury has
been abridged and almost destroyed in this
territory. BY procuring unrepublican test
oaths and other proscriptive legislation it
has disfranchised many citizens, because
they would not support its men and meas
ures. For this cause only, it has succeeded
in robbing the women of Utah of the cleo
tive franchise after they had exercised it for
fifteen years. 1t has endeavored to sup
plant legislature elected by the people
with a commission appointed by the
Federal government. 1t has sought to
erect an insuperable barrier of prejudice
against the admission of Utah as a state.
1t seeks to extend to this territory the in
famous enactments by which, in Idaho,
thousands of law-abiding citizens are
stripped of every political right, solely be-
cause of their membership in an unpopular
religious organization. 1t avows, through
its organs, its intention to procure such
Congressional legislation as will debar all
persons who belong to that religious body
from acquiring title to any part of the
public domain. 1t is therefore destructive
of popular liberty and unworthy of the sup
port Of any just, liberal and patriotic
citizen.
We believe that the supremacy of the
Liberal" party means class disfranchise-
ment, excessive taxation, official extra
vagance, and laXity in public social regula-
tions, and that the supremacy Of the
Peoples party means equality before the
law, AOdsOhdOlC bdAGo OlllSloA 4O1CbSy anu
prudence, and the maintenance of the
proud reputation of the city for law and
order.
That the progress and improvements de-
manded By the growth of the city may be
secured, we declare that:
WATER
There must be plentiful supply and
Fair 4 ~ If xyatar uiI nj
purposes, let the cost be what it may. This
D absolutely Indispensable to the health
and happiness of the people and the beauty
and prosperity of the city. The water
mains should be extended as soon as posi-
BILE to every part of the city.
STREET LIGHTING.
g We favor the speedy extension
of street lighting by gas or electricity 10 all
inhabited parts OF the city.
SANITATION.
3 - We favor a thorough system of
sanitation-sewers for the business and
thickly peopled portions Of the city, deOdOr-
ization and removal of focal and all kinds
of waste matter from other parts, under
the supervision of efficient officers.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
- The grades and lines of all
streets, water bitches and sidewalks should
be permanently established; the corners Of
blocks and grades of streets indicated by
suitable corner-stones, and all improve
ments made to conform thereto.
The streets and sidewalks should be per
manently graded aud improved, with good
material, as fast as possible upon an
equitable and definite plan, and all bridges
and culverts should be the full width of
the streets and sidewalks.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
5 - We favor the erection of public
buildings adequate for present and ap-
preaching requirements But in order
that the taxes may not be increased for
this purpose, and that the ordinary city
ty revenues may be used for water and
lher pressing requirements, the city sur
plus lands not dedicated to public use
should be sold as provided by law, and the
funds appropriated for public buildings in
common with other improvements.
LETTING or CONTRACTS.
6-Public work should be let by contract
TO the lowest responsible bidder.
RAILROADS.
Good railroad facilities are ne
cessary to the growth and development of
the city and the convenience of its inhabi-
faSnts. But rights Of way for steam rail
r6Sds through our streets should only be