The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1894-11-13
POPULIST PLATFORM.

The following platform was adopted by the
Peoples Party convention convened in Boise
City, August l. 1894
convention assembled hereby adopts the fol-
lowing resolutions as expressive OF its convic-
lions:
First-We endorse the national platform OF
the Peoples party, adopted at Omaha July a.
| 1892
Second-The Peoples party is a party OF law
and order. Its mis- sion Is to restore as far as
law can affect it, equality Of opportunity In the
race for life. II believes In the sentiment ex-
pressed In the Declaration OF Independence
that AL 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 peaceable 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 IL they
shall entrust us with the reins of state govern
ment we will see to 1t that public order Is pre-
served and peace and tranquility assured to
the people.
Third-We declare that the enforcement OF
law, no matter how important 1t 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
! leRlSlatlOn, DOtn state and national Will
crush all monopolies and relieve the people
from all unjust discrimination by law
Fourth-Realizing that the financial question
is one OF prominent importance to our people
we reiterate our demands for the free and un.
J limited coinage of silver and gold at the pres
| ent legal ratio OF 10 toll.
J Fifth-That the future welfare OF our state
depends very largely upon its legislation on the
| subject OF the appropriation and use OF water
for purposes OF irrigation, we therefore, pledge
| the Peoples party TO the passage, at the earl
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 to construct bitches
and 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 canals which
bonds shall be a 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 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 oaths and containing provisions which
IL 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 tntiict 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 Meth
er chattel nor industrial slavery will be toler-
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 superntendents
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 enectually prevent such
practices.
Seventh-we demand state legislation by
which the offices of state mining inspector and
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 and corporations of black listing laborers
on account OF their connection with organized
labor. We demand such state Legislation OF
this subject as Will make sucn practice fell
ony, ana, in case of a corporation. the nfiiction
OF the additional penalty Of the surrender Of
the charter.
Ninth-We demand law prohibiting the en-
try of deficiency 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 70
two years.
Tenth-We are opposed 10 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 q per-
petual school fund without danger from loss.
Eleventh-In view OF the criminal conduct OF
both old parties in granting TO corporations 0
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
as will save the homes of the people and assure
to our wives and children reasonable provis
ion against poverty, We pledge our legislator:
to revise the homestead law so that all actua
homesteads viii be exempt from forced sale OF
execution without the necessity of q declara
tion.
Twelfth-We favor the submission to tn,
people constitutional amendment comforting
upon the legislature the power to fix salaries
OF county officers at any figure between thu
maximum and minimum now established in tn
constitution, and demand that, when it can b
done, the legislature shall reduce such sala
rieS to figure commensurate with the povert
, of the people. We also recommend state legis
l lation which shall require, under such regula
lions as may be fixed by law that all fees an
commissions shall be paid to the county treas
Z urer only and prohibited to be paid or receives
by any other county officer.
Thirteenth-We reiterate the demands of tn
= Peoples party representatives in our last stat
Legislature for the elimination from our con
/ stitution of what is known as the test oath an
pledge our party to place before the voters {
the state at the earliest opportunity conSti
, tutional amendment to that effect.
L Fourteenth-We demand that an amendrner
to the constitution providing for equal suffrae
be submitted by the legislature to the leg,
voters of the state.
Fifteenth-We demand the passage OF ne
- ana just apportlonuent Dill giving talr reprt
sentation to all parts of the state
Sixteenth-We endorse the reform known c
the initiative and referendum.
Seventeenth-The office of governor OF a stat
comforting as it does, upon the incumbeT
many facilities for gratifying aninsatiable an
bition, this convention, therefore,
ReS0Lces That the nominee to that ofiC
shall be ineligible to the office of United State
senator and, If elected, shall not be eligible fC
= any other office during his term.
w Eighteenth-From the very nature of the
6 constitutions, popular governments must nee
esSarily be carried on through the agency
e political parties. Party platforms thus b,
:, come the basis of all legislative and admin.
Ii trative measures, and their wilful violation
IT civil treason against republican institution
The faithful keeping Of party pledges by tho.
q entrusted with power is the highest polite;
n and moral duty due from public officer to II
% people. We believe the time has come when
e should also be made legal duty. And, Their
fore favor state legislation which, while guar
ing the public officers in the state against fall
I accusations and malicious prosecutions, wi
l. yet provide legal method through tbs cour
90 by which the gross violation by any officer
the pledges made by him through the par
- platform upon which he was elected may
g punished by his prompt dismissal from ofice
we also favor the passage of state law whit
sc shall disQualify any person holding an Off
:, from being delegate to any party eonventio
Ninteenth-We denounce the profuse expe