Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-07-18
COUNTY PLATFORM
Socialists of wapello County Pre-
pairing for Active Campaign.
HAS PASSED INITIATIVE VOTE
Chairman N. A. Baker of the Country
Club Asks That the Platform Be
Studied by the Socialists Before the
County Convention.

The platform of the socialist party
has passed the "iniulative vote" of the
Socialist country club except the edu-
cational and wage scale planks. The
platform is rather unique in Wapello
county, and the Socialists are taking
more determined and positive steps
is published in full below, and the
county committee, as chairman N. A.
Baker expresses it, "hopes that it may
be thoroughly studied before the final
vote is taken upon it at the county
convention to be held August 10. The
platform follows:
Wapello County Socialist Platform.
/. We declare that sovereignty vests
in the people only, that it is inaliena-
Bile in character and nature, and there
fore no legislative enactment can di-
vest the people Cor the state) of its
sovereignty or any part of it. We
therefore, declare for the initiative by
the people in originating the laws and
the referendum in their ratification by
the people after being prepared and
passed by their representatives
A Representatives Position.
2. We believe that as representa-
tive is but servant of the people to
do their will for them and in their be
half, that when he refuses or fails to
do SO under the initiative rule, he
should be at once recalled and dis.
missed from public service under the
imperative mandate of his constitu
ents.
puhIjc Own q re hin
8. We affirm the doctrine of public
ownership of public utilities as a fund
amental right and sovereign power OF
the people under the doctrine of Emf
nent Domain and demand that all pub
lie utilities be acquired by the people
as soon as it is possible in harmony
with existing laws and rules. We also
deny that vested rights" or any pres
ent constitutional barrier in any way
interfere with the exercise of Eminent
Domain power in the requirement OF
property for public uses, whether the
property be private, corporate OF
QUASI public" property. and farther
deny the legal right of the courts tt
interfere Herewith. or review the &C
ton of the properly constituted au
| IAOltly CAciCSl, CACCpS Oiily Ou lJle
fact of the use to which the property
is to be put being a public use; hence
the people may not justly delay actor
thereon, for want of present legal ant
constitutional authority therefor.
Short Day.
i A. We demand a shorter day foI
laborers on all public works with bet
ter pay and improved conditions W.
farther condemn overwork and poo
pay, in both public and private EN-
ployment and pledge ourselves to us,
every lawful means in our power t.
raise the wage scale and to improv'
the condition of all classes of laborers
We believe that permanent and salts
factory relief for the present indus
trial wrongs can only be obtained ant
enforced by organized political an,
Legislative action. Hence, we invite al
classes of laborers to unite with u
to make our principles effectiv
through the patriotic use of our right
of franchise as American citizens
|. Level Wage Scale.
5. We believe that a regular leve
'!wsge scale sh,:nla nycrn:l in all in