The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1894-09-18
PopuIist STATE Platform.


Peoples Party convention convened In Bots
City, August !, 1891
The Peoples party of the State OF Idaho
convention assembled hereby adopts the fo
lowing resolutions as expressive OF its convic
lions:
First--We endorse the national platform {
the Peoples party, adopted at Omaha, July
1897
Second-The Peoples party is a party OF la
and order, It's mission Is TO restore, as far q
law can affect It, equality OF opportunity In tn
race for lie. IL believes Ia the sentiment ex
pressed in the Declaration OF Independence
that AL men are by nature created equal an
endowed by their Creator with certain inalien
able rights among which are life. liberty an
pursuit OF happiness" 1t declares that huma
rights are more precious than vested wrongs
and that all pubic wrongs shall be made +
yield TO the demands OF equal justice express
ed through the peaceable and orderly use o
the ballot. We know that through the ballo
only can the people become powerful. w
therefore condemn all acts OF lawiessness o
violence by whomsoever committed, and pledg
ourselves TO the people OF the state that II the
shall entrust us with the reins of state govern
ment we will see to 1t that pubic order is pre-
served and peace and tranquility assured
the people.
law no matter how important IL may be, |
only the beginning, not the end of good govern
ment. We believe that the true statesmanshi
lies In making good laws far more than In en-
forcing bad ones. We therefore, demand sue
legislation, both state and national as vii
crush all monopolies and relieve the peopl
Fourth-Realizing that the financial questiQ'
is one OF prominent Importance TO our peQu-
we reiterate our demands for the free apsres-
limited coinage Of silver and gold at th(
ent legal ratio of 10 to 1. ar state
Fifth-That the future welfare oIsion on the
depends very largely upon Its iease OF water
subject OF the appropriation naefefore, pledge
for purposes OF Irrigation, ysage, at the carr
the Peoples party TO the fotecting the people
lest opportunity, OF a lafges for the use OF
%ner aa so cT sad upoS S
arid regions OF tts5ower TO construct bitches
such districts tffgating purposes; and also
and canals fcce condemnation and purchase
providing Hfcts of existing bitches I'D canals
BY such dfor the sale, rental or distribution
constu95f agricultural uses. That such law
of wste4dthorize, under proper safeguards
shouKler districts TO issue bonds to construct
suckThase such bitches or canals, which
orNshall be a charge upon districts only
bob me charges for the use OF water should
4no higher that sufficient to pay for the cost
OF maintenance and repair OF such bitches ana
canals, and create u 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 such 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 onths and containing provisions which
II submitted TO, would Ia the end reduce such
employes to the condition of Industrial slaves
we, therefore, demand state legislation that
Will not only declare all such contracts null ana
void but also inlet upon the officers and agents
OF any corporation soliciting demanding or
enforcing such contracts In Idaho such punish
ment as viii effectuaily teach them that neith-
err chattel nor Industrial slavery will be toier-
ated In this state. We further denounce the
practice OF mining corporations and companies
In running or being interested In stores ana
boarding houses either by themselves directly
or through their officers and superintendents,
and making IL Obligatory upon their employees
to trade ana deal In their stores or board in
their boarding houses, and we demand such
Legislation AS will effectually prevent such
Seventh-We demand state legislation bv
which the ofi1ceS OF state mining inspector ana
state boiler inspector shall be filled by persons
elected by the qualified voters OF the state in
stead OF, as now, appointed by the governor
Eighth-We denounce the Practice by per-
sons ana corporations OF back listing laborers
on account of their connection with organized
labor. We demand sucn state legislation on
this subject as will make such practice q fell
ony. and In case OF a corporation the infection
OF the additional penalty OF the surrender of
Ninth-We demand law prohibiting the en-
try OF deficiency judgment OF mortgages on real
properly 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,
In lieu OF such sales, such lands shall be leased
10 actual occupants and thereby create q per-
petual school fund without danger from loss.
Doth 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 usurers, we favor such
an extension OF the exemption law of the state
rs win 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 will be exempt from forced sale on
execution without the necessity of declara-
tion.
Twelfth-We favor the submission IN the
people constitutional amendment comforting
upon the Legislature the power to fix salaries
OF county ofncers at any figure between the
maximum and minimum now established In the
constitution, and demand that, when 1t can be
done the legislature shall reduce such sala-
rles TO figure commensurate with the poverty
OF the people. We also recommend state regis
lation which shall require, under SUCH regula-
lions as may be liked By law that ali fees and
commissions shall be paid to the county treas
urer only and prohibited TO be paid or received
by any other county officer.
Inirteenth-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 place before the voters of
the state at the earliest opportunity a consti-
tutional amendment to that effect.
Fourteenth-We demand that an amendment
10 the constitution providing for equal suffrage
be submitted by the legislature TO the legal
voters of the state.
Fifteenth--we demand the passage OF a new
and Just apportionment bill giving fair repre-
sentation TO all parts of the state
Sixteenth--We endorse the reform known as
the initiative and referendum.
Seventeenth-The ONCE OF governor of state
comforting, as 1t does, upon the incumbent
many facilities for gratifying an Unsuitable am
bltion this convention, therefore,
hesotces, That the nominee TO that office
snail be Ineligible to the ofice OF United States
senator and II elected. shall not be eligible Tor
any other ONCE during his term
Eighteenth--From the very nature of their
constitutions popular governments must nee
essariiy be carried on through the agency OF
political parties. Party platforms thus be-
come the basis OF all legislative and adminis-
trative measures, and their wiifui vio4ation is
civil treason against republican institutions
Inc 1aithful keeping OF party pledges by those
entrusted With power Is the highest political
and moral duty due from q pubic officer to the
people. We believe the time has come when II
should also be made legal duty. And there
lore favor state legislation which, while guard
Ing the public officers In the state against false
accusations and malicious prosecutions will
yet provide legal method through the courts
by which the gross violation by any ofiicer OF
the pledges made by him through the party
platform upon which he was elected may be
punished by his prompt dismissal from office-
we also favor the passage OF a state law which
snail disqualify any person holding an ONCE
from being delegate to any party convention.
Ninteenth-We denounoe the profuse expen-
iture OF money heretofore practlced by both Of
the old parties In this state Ia the conduct Of
political campaigns. Such practice is corrupt
within itself, debauches the political conscience
Qf the voters, gives to the wealth an undue In
huence In elections and transforms the highest
and most responsible duty OF citizenshfp into n