Gilpin observer., 1912-10-24
COLORADO
DEMOCRAT
PLATFORM

U6iEV1
The Democratic party has been the
pioneer In It's adoption and advocacy or
every great forward movement in our
has been st eadfastiy loyal to its plat
forms, and accepted defeat as the price
OF its devotion. 1t acknowledges no
other party OF progress. and should re-
ceiVe the confidence and support of all
advocates of Its doctrines. Every act
oI progressive legislation, either ma
been accomplished by the Democratic
party and secured by Democratic votes.
that through the agency OF our party
they have Deen given the most import
ant of them all. that of the initiative
and referendum. through and by which
they may. IL need be. obtain for them
selves any desired legislation.
Wilson and Marshall Are Indorsed.
We declare our approval and in
row Wilson and Thomas X. Marshall
as the Democratic candidates for pres
ident and vice president OF the United
tic and undivided support.
=, We accept the Baltimore platform in
Its entirety.
wnters should Belong to State.
The waters of every natural stream
within the state are by the constitu-
tion expressly declared to be the prop
use of the people Of the state and sub
ject to appropriation for beneficial
,r, Sses, which right shall never be denied.
hiss been recognized and confirmed by
the federal government ever since the
admission Of the state into the Union.
NevertheIess. the Roosevelt and Taft
administrations, actiug without autnor-
ity OF law and In de iance of the deci-
United States, are depriving our COM
monwealth Of this property right and
denying to our citizens along the Rio
Grende and other streams the right to
appropriate 1t by asserting the power
u the national government to confis-
cate the waters of our natLraI streams
lor use beyond our borders.
We protest against this unlawful ex-
ercise of national authority. which de-
out due process of law, denies to our
people the right to the use of an ele-
ment indispenssble 10 their existence:
the commonwealth. and has not even
the Justification of necessity for its
exercise. We shall therefore exert al
our efforts to secure the overthrow or
abandonment Of this unwise unlawful
and unjust policy.
Give Public Lands for Highways.
We favor the ceding by Congress to
the state. of public lands for highway
purposes. the proceeds thereof to be
used by the Highway Commission for
public thoroughfares exclusively.
The construction Of an extensive sys-
TEN of highways is imperativeiy de-
tion, and the subject should receive
the prompt and favorable considera-
lion of the General Assembly. The in
lions thereto should be devoted to that
purpose only. and placed in the hands
If the state Highway Commission as
lending initiated Highway Commission
Bill. to be expended under its direction
and approval.
State should Control Public Land.
lion uhanirhohsly adopted by the
eighteenth General Assembly, and in
R that hatreHf s pubic Me IaSss nSs
the boundaries of Colorado be
urned over to the state under terms
lust and fair to both state ana ma
ion, and with such restrictions as will
sffectually prevent monopoly, to the
end that all territory shall be under
me jurisdiction and uniform law: that
we shall have the same rights enjoyed
the older states of our Union; that
all land capable of agricultural devel-
stead entry; that lands suitable for
summer homes shall be soId IN sma,-
racts, and under proper restrictions,
tor that purpose; that prospecting may
e encouraged and greater mining de
elopment secured; that rights of way
hall be under the control of he state.
tvoiding veNatious and often prohibit
live delays in construction: that water
power may be had and manufacturing
made revenue producing, and that such
revenue from rentals. royalties and
'ales may be used for the construction
1f public highways and the compietIon
4 reclamation projects.
land Question Declared One for Courts
The jurisdiction of the courts should
pe extended to all contests and con-
troversies arising over homestead, des-
ert and other land filings and entries
including protests and objections by
he government thereto. ana neard aad
afEa.. t.f..l
ases arising under the mining laws OF
he United states.
We denounce the policy of the Re
publican administration which, having
etarded our development. now pro
poses to withdraw all the remaining
agricultural, grazing and mineral pub
ic lands from all forms OF entrv with
he expressed determination o. impos-
ing upon the West a permanent bu-
-tauCratic rule and federal leasing sys-
en- of all the government resources
within our borders. and thereby disas-
trously retarding the Development OF
our state and depriving our common
wealth of its just and constitutional
lights.
Homestead Fund 10 Aid settlers.
We advocate the creation by Con-
,ress of a homestead fund to consist
Of moneys annually set apart from re-
:eipts of sales of public lands. which
fund shall be used TO aid homesteadors
with families needing assistance while
complying with the requirements of
he Homestead laws. Loans from nus
md to be repaid at the time OF, or be-
fore issuance of patent. can be made
without danger or loss to the govern
ment, and thus enable many citizens
otherwise without means to avail
themselves of the benefit of our home
stead laws, and acquire permanent
homes from the public domain.
Having indorsed the right OF the peo-
pie 70 choose United states senator's
by direct vote. we pledge our Demo
rattle nominees for the General Asst m
bly, to ratify the proposed amendment
20 the federal constitution for that pur-
pose, as soon as the same shall be sub
mitted 10 them for formal action: and
we pledge all candidates, not other
wise publicly pledged, to support and
vote for that candidate for the United
states Senate who receives the highest
popular vote at the election on Novem-
ber s, 1912
Ask Voters to study Initiated LAWS.
We favor the opening of the Calves
ton gateway and the equalization OF
!rcight, passenger. express and Pull
man rates, and that all rates he mad