The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1894-08-28

The following platform was adopted by tn
Peoples Party convention convened In Bots
City August |, 1894
convention assembled hereby adopts the fol
lowing resolutions as expressive OF its convic
lions;
First--we endorse the national platform o
the Peoples party adopted at Omaha, July (
1892
second-The Peoples party is party of Law
and order. Its mission IL TO restore, as far as
law can anect IL, equality OF opportunity In tn,
race for life. II believes In the sentiment ex.
pressed In the Declaration OF independents.
that "all men are by nature created equal anc
endowed by their Creator with certain inalien.
able rights among which are life. liberty ant
pursuit OF happiness" 10 declares that human
and that all pubic wrongs shall be made tC
yield to the demands OF equal justice express
ca through aa ne peacea6le and orderly use o.
only can the people become powerful w,
therefore condemn oil acts OF lawlessness OF
violence by whomsoever committed and pledge
ourselves TO the people of the state that II they
shall entrust us With the reins of state govern,
mept we will see to II that public order Is pre-
served and peace and tranquility assured t
the people.
Third-we declare that the enforcement Of
law, no matter how important II may be- IL
only the beginning, not the end of good govern.
ment We believe that the true statesmanshir
lies In making good laws far more than In en-.
forcing bad ones. We therefore demand suct
legislation both state and national ns will
crush all monopolies and relieve the people
from all unjust discrimination by law.
Notwithstanding that the financial question
is one OF prominent Importance TO our people
We reiterate our demands for the free and un-
limited coinage OF silver and gold at the pres.
ent legal ratio OF 16 to 1.
f1fth-That the future welfare OF our state
depends very largely upon It's legislation on the
subject OF the appropriation and use OF water
Tor purposes OF irrigation, we therefore, pledge
sne , Peopie,s party to the passage, at the earl
lest opportunity, OF law protecting the people
against unreasonable charges for the use OF
water, ana also creating water districts In the
arid regions of the state, and comforting upon
spcD districts the power to construct bitches
ana canals for irrigating purposes; and also
providing for the condemnation and purchase
by such districts OF existing bitches and canals
constructed for the SALE rental or distribution
of water for agricultural uses. That such law
should authorize under proper safeguards,
such water districts to issue bonds to construct
or purchase such bitches or canals, which
bonds shall be a charge upon districts only.
That the charges for the use of water should
be no higher thot sufficient to pay for the cost
OF maintenance and repair of such bitches and
canals, and create sinking fund to pay the In
terest on such bonds are paid, the use OF water
should be free, except the necessary charge
Tor the maintenance and repair of such bitches
or canals.
Sixth-We denounce the effort now being
made by the Northern Pacific railroad company
20 force upon its employees contracts In the
form OF oaths and containing provisions which,
II submitted to- would in the end reduce such
employees to the condition OF Industrial slaves
we, therefore, demand state legislation that
Will not only declare all such contracts null and
void but also intiict upon the officers and agents
OF any corporation soliciting, demanding or
enforcing such contracts in Idaho such punish
ment as will effectually teach them that Meth :
er chattel nor Industrial slavery win be toler-
ated In this state. We further denounce the
practice of mining corporations and companies
In running or being interested in stores ara
boarding houses, either by themselves directly
or through their officers and superintendent,
ana making II obligatory upon their employees
TO trade and deal In their stores or board In
their boarding houses, and we demand such
legislation as will effectnally prevent such
Seventh-We demand state legislation by
which the offices OF state mining inspector and
state boiler Inspector shall be filed by persons
stead or. as now, appointed by the governor.
EiEntnE-Me denounce the Practice by per-
sons and corporations of black listing laborers
on account OF their connection with organized
LABOR. We demand such state legislation on
this subject as will make such practice q fell
ony, and IN case OF corporation, the infection
OF the additional penalty OF the surrender Of
the charter.
Ninth-We demand a law prohibiting the en-
try OF aehciency Judgment OF mortgages on real
property, and that the time for redeeming such
property from forced sales under foreclosure
or execution be extended from six months to
two years.
Tenth--We are opposed to the further sale OF
the school lands of the state and demand that
Ia lieu OF such sales, such lands shall be leased
70 actual occupants and thereby create per-
petual school fund without danger from loss
Eleventh-In view of the criminal conduct OF
both old parties in granting to corporations a
monopoly OF the peoples money by which the
property OF the Industrial classes is being
rapidly absorbed by the Insurers, we favor such
an extension OF the exemption law of the state
as VIII save the homes of the people and assure
70 our wives and children reasonable provis-
Ion against poverty, We pledge our legislators
70 revise the homestead law so that all actual
homesteads win be exempt from forced sale on
execution without the necessity OF a declara-
ton.
Twelfth--We favor the submission to the
people constitutional amendment comforting
upon tine legislature the power to fix salaries
OF county onicers at any figure between the
maximum and minimum now established In the
CONSTITUTION, and demand that, when 1t can be
gone, the legislature shall reduce such sala-
rles 10 figure commensurate with the poverty
OF the people. We also recommend state legis-
iatlon which shall require, under such regula-
lions as may be fixed by law, that all fees and
commissions shall be paid to the county treas
urer only and prohibited to be paid or received
by any other county officer.
Thirteenth--We reiterate the demands OF the
feopies party representatives In our last state
legislature for the elimination from our CON
stitution OF what is known as the test oath and
pledge our party TO plnce before the voters OF
Inc state at the earliest opportunity consti-
tQtlonal amendment to that effect.
fourteenth--We demand that an amendment
70 lne constitution providing for equal suffrage
DC submitted by the legislature TO the legal
voters of the state.
t1fteenth--We demand the passage OF n new
and Just apportionment bill giving fair repre-
sentation TO all parts of the state
Sixteenth-We endorse the reform known rs
the Initiative and referendum
Seventeenth-The ONCE of governor OF a state
comforting, as II does. upon the incumbent
many facilities for gratifying an Unsuitable am
Ditlon this convention therefore,
hes0fres, That the nominee TO that office
shall be Ineligible TO the office of United States
senator and, If elected shall not be eligible for
any other ONCE during his term.
Eighteenth-From the very nature OF their
constitutions, popular governments must nee
essariy be carried on through the agency OF
political parties. Party platforms thus be-
come the basis of all legislative and admins
trative measures, and their wilful violation is
civil treason against republican Institutions
The faithful keeping OF party pledges by those
entrusted with power is the highest political
ana moral duty due from pubic ofilcer to the
people. We believe the time has come when II
should also be made a legal duty And, there
lore favor state legislation which, while guard.
ing the public officers la the state against false
accusations and malicious prosecutions will
yet provide legal method through the courts
by which the gross violation by any officer OF
the pledges made by him through the party
platform upon which he was elected may be
punished by his prompt dismissal from oniee--
We Also favor the passage OF q state law which
shall diEqualify any person holding an ONCE
from being delegate TO any party convention.
Nlnteenth-We denounce the profuse expen-
ftura of money larqfofnrf