The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1894-10-06

Rsspls,s Party Platform
The Peoples party Of tho state Of Ida
no in convention assembled hereby adoptS
the following resolutions - expressive
Of it, convictions:
Firse-We endorse the national plat
form of the Peoples party, adopted ct
Omaha, July 4, 1899.
Second-The Peoples party 10 party
of law and order. Its mission is to re-
store, as far as law can atft ct it, equality
of opportunity in the race FOR life. 1t be-
lieves in the sentiment expressed in the
Declaration of Inder bence that ''ali
men are by nature crs0S6d equal and en-
dowed by their Creator with certain ina
lienable rights among which are life, lib
erty and the pursuit Of happiness" 1t
declares that human riQhte are more pre-
cious than vested wrongs, and that all
public wrongs shall be made to yield to
the demands of equal justice expressed
through the peaceable and orderly use OF
the ballot. We know that through the
ballot only can the people become all
powerful. We therefore condemn all
acts of lawlcssness or violence by whom
soever committed, and pledge ourselves
to the people of the state that if they
shall entrust US with the reins of state
government we will see to it that public
order is preserved and peace and tran
guilty assured to the people.
Thlrd-We declare that the enforce
ment of law, no matter how important it
may be, is only the beginning, not the
end of good government. We believe
that true craftsmanship lies in making
good laws far more than in enforcing bad
ones. We, therefore, demand such legis-
lation, both state and national, as will
crush all monopolies and relieve the peo-
pie from all unjust discrimination by law.
Fourth-Reaiizing that the financial
question is one OF prominent Importance
to our people, we reiterate our demands
for the free and unlimited coinage Of sill
yer and gold at the present legal ratio Of
1G to /.
Fifth-That the future welfare of the
state depends very largely upon its legis-
lation on the subject OF the appropriation
and use of water for purposes OF irriga-
ton. We, therefore, pledge the Peoples
party to the passage, at the earliest OPP
portunity, of 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 con-
ferring upon such districts the power to
construct bitches and canals for irrigating
purposes; and also providing for the con-
domination 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 safe
guards, such water districts to issue bonds
to construct or purchase such bitches or
canals, which bonds shall be charge
upon districts only. That the charges
for the use of water should be no higher
than sufficient to pay for the cost of main
tenance ana repair Of such bitches and
canals, and create sinking fund to pay
the interest Oh such bonds and discharge
the principal at maturity; and that, after
such bonds are paid, the use of the water
should be free, except the necessary
charge for the maintenance and repair of
such bitches or canals.
Sixth-We, denounce the effort now be-
ing made by the Northern Pacific Rail
road companysto force upon its employees
contracts in the form Of oaths and con- |
tanning 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 inflict upon the Of
fcers and agents of any corporation So
Letting, demanding or enforcing such
contracts in Idaho such punishment as
will effectually teach them that neither
chattel nor industrial slavery will be tol
Grated in this state. We further de-
nounce the practice of mining corpora
tons 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 or board
in their boarding houses, and we demand
such legislation as will etfectually stop
and prevent such practices.
Seventh We demand state legislation |
by which the Offices OF state mining in
spector and state boiler inspector shall be
filled by the qualified voters Of the state
instead of, as now, appointed by the gov
ernor. ii
Eighth-We denounce the practice by
persons 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 felony, and, in the
case of corporation, the int1ictlon of the
additional penalty of the surrender Of the
charter.
Ninth-We demand law prohibiting
ttheeatt s Of deficiency judgments Of
mortgages on rea! property, and that the
time for redeeming such property from
forced sales under foreclosure or execu.
ton 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 to actual occupants
and thereby create perpetual school
fund without danger from loas.
Eleventh-In view of the criminal con-
1uct IF hnfh fhe Old narfioa in granting