The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1894-11-27
POPULIST PLATFORM.

The following platform was adopted by the
| Peoples Party convention convened in Boise
! City, August /, 1894
The Peoples party of the State OF Idaho In
convention assembled hereby adopts the fol-
lowing resolutions as expressive OF its convic-
| tions:
First--we endorse the national platform of
the Peoples party adopted at Omaha, July 4,
Second-The Peoples party is party OF law
and order. Its mission is to restore, as far as
law can affect 1t, equality OF opportunity In the
race for life. 1t believes In the sentiment ex-
pressed In the Declaration Of Independence
that all men are by nature created equal and
endowed by their Creator with certain inalien-
able rights among which are life. liberty and
pursuit of happiness" 1t declares that human
rights are more precious than vested wrongs,
and that all public wrongs shall be made to
yield to the demands of equal Justice express
ed through the peaceabie and orderly use OF
the ballot. We know that through the ballot
only can the people become powerful. We
therefore condemn all acts of lawlessness or
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
ment we will see to 1t that public order is pre-
served and peace aud tranquility assured to
Third--We declare that the enforcement Of
law, no matter how important it may be, is
only the beginning not the end of good govern
ment. We believe that the true craftsmanship
| lies in making good laws far more than in en-
| forcing bad ones. We therefore demand such
legislation, both state and national, as will
| 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 I'M
limited coinage of silver and gold at the pres
ent legal ratio of f6 to /.
! Fifth-1nat the future welfare of our state
depends very largely upon it's legislation on the
| subject OF the appropriation ana use OF water
| for purposes of irrigation, we therefore, pledge
the Peoples party to the passage at the carr
lest opportunity, OF a law protecting the people
against unreasonable charges for the use Of
| water and also creating water districts in the
! arid regions of the state, and comforting upon
| such districts the power 10 construct bitches
and canals for irrigating purposes; and also
providing for the condemnation ana 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 canals, which
| bonds shall be q charge upon districts only
That the charges for the use Of water should
be no higher that sufficient to pay for the cost
Of maintenance and repair Of such bitches and
canals, and create a sinking fund to pay the in
terest on such bonds are paid, the use of water
should be free, except the necessary charge
for the maintenance and repair of sucn bitches
or canals.
Sixth-We denounce the effort now being
made by the Northern Pacific railroad company
to force upon its employees contracts in the
form Of oaths and containing provisions which,
If 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 infiict upon the officers and agents
of any corporation soliciting demanding or
enforcing such contracts in Idaho such punish
ment as will enectually teach them that neith-
er chattel nor industrial slavery will he toier-
ated in this state. We further denounce the
practice of mining corporations and companies
in running or being interested in stores and
boarding houses, either by themselves directly
or through their officers and superintendent,
and making it obligatory upon their employees
to trade and deal in their stores board in
N11nf hfN
legislation - win efectually prevent such
practices
Seven:h-We demand state legislation by
which the Offices OF state mining inspector and
state boiler inspector shall be nlled by persons
elected by the qualified voters of the state in
stead OF as Eow, appointed by the governor.
Eightn-We denOdnce the practice By per-
sons and corporations OF black listing iabcreri
on account of their connection with organized
LABOR. We demand such state legislation CT
this subject as Will make such prGcttce u tet-
ony, and, IN case CT corporation. tle infection
OF the additional penalty u IAe surrender OF
i, the charter.
Ninth-We demand law prohibiting the en-.
try OF deficiency Judgment OF mortgages On rsa
property, ana that the time for reueeming sucn
property from forced sales under foreclosure
or execution be extended from six months &c
! two years.
Tenth-We are opposed to the further sale Of
the school lands OF the state and demand that
in lieu of such sales, such lands shall be LEASED
to actual occupants and thereby create a per
petual school fund without danger from loss.
both old parties in granting to corporations
monopoly Of the peoples money by which TIT
T property OF the industrial classes is beial
rapidly absorbed by the usurers. We favor SucI
an extension OF the exemption law OF the STATE
as will save the homes OF the people and assur,
! to our wives and children reasonable proViS
{ ion against poverty, We pledge our legislator
I. to revise the homestead law so that all actua
a homesteads will be exempt from forced sale OF
execution without the necessity of declara
. ton.
Twelfth-We favor the submission to tn
! people a constitutional amendment conferrini
upon the legislature the power to tx salarie
i of county officers at any figure between tn
: maximum and minimum now established in tn
. constitution, and demand that, when it can b
done, the legislature shall reduce such sala
: rles to figure commensurate with the povert
l. of the people. We also recommend state legis
lation which shall require, under such regula
tionS as may be liked by law, that all fees an
r commissions shall be paid to the county treas
/ urer only and prohibited to be paid or receives
:, by any other county officer.
Il Thirteenth--We reiterate the demands Of tn
J. Peoples party representatives in our last stat
e legislature for the elimination from our con
}, stitution of what is known as the test oath an
Il pledge our party to place before the voters c
7, the state at the earliest opportunity a consti
n tutional amendment to that effect.
, Fourteenth-We demand that an amendmen
y to the constitution providing for equal suffrag
d be submitted by the legislature to the legs
voters of the state.
Fifteenth-We demand the passage of ne
and just apportionment bill giving fair repre-
sentation to all parts of the state.
Sixteenth-We endorse the reform known a
the initiative and referendum.
Seventeenth-The office of governor OF a stat
comforting as it does, upon the incumber
many facilities for gratifying an Unsuitable an
bition, this convention, therefore,
ResotUes, That the nominee to that ofic
shall be Ineligible to the office Of United State
senator and If elected, shall not be eligible fo
any other office during his term
Eighteenth-Eromt the very nature OF the
constitutions, popular governments must nee
essarily be carried on through the agency
political parties. Party platforms thus b'
come the basis OF all legislative and admin:
trative measures and their wilful violation
civil treason against republican institution
ID The faithful keeping of party pledges by thos
NJ entrusted with power is the highest poitic;
q and moral duty due from public officer to til
IN people We believe the time has come when
~ should also be made a legal duty. And, ther'
3 fore favor state legislation which, while guar
N ing the public officers in the state against fal.
eI accusations and malicious prosecutions, wi
NJ yet provide legal method through the cour
g by which the gross violation by any officer
0o the pledges made by him through the par
ne platform upon which he was elected, may
III punished by his prompt dismissal from office