Eastern Colorado times., 1912-10-25
COLORADO
DEMOCRAT
PLATFORM

The Denaocratic party has been the
pioneer in Its adoption and advocacy Of
every great forward movement in our
has been ste.dia.,iy ~ loyal % to % its plat. t.
OF Its devotion. 1t acknow lodges no
ceive the confidence and support Of all
advocates OF tts doctrines. Every act
u progressive legisiation. either ma
tlonal or state, enacted since 1895, has
been accomplished ty the Democratic
party and secured by Democratic votes.
We congratulate the people of the state
that through. the agency OF our party
they have Deen given the most import
ant OF them all. that of the initiative
@ sney ~ may. II need be, % ohtsin u foy OF thema aasn
selves any desired legislation.
Wilson and Marshali Are lndersea.
We declare our. approval and In
dorsement H the nomination Of Wood
as the Democratic candidates for pres
ident and vice president OF the United
states A and , plsase them our enthusiast
We accept the Baltimore platform In
waters Should belong to State.
The waters Of every natural stream
ton expressly declared to be the prop
erty OF the public, dedicated to the
ject to appropria1ion ] % for benefieisi @ f
uses. which right snail never b, denied.
This property right was granted and
the federal government ever since the
admission OF the state into the Union.
Nevertheless. the Itooseveit and Taft
ity or law and in defiance of the deci-
sion Of the Supreme Court OF the
81 nropsrsy rgn, snd
denying to our citizens along the Rio
Grsnde and other streams the right to
o. shs na.iona. 's 10 eponsis-
cate the waters OF our natl. al streams
Tor use beyond our borders.
ercise of national authority. which de-
out due process Of law. denies to our
ment indispensable TO their existence,
arrests the growth and development OF
the ,1,iII:, comm1oinw,eaith, and ha. not even
exercise. We shall therefore exert all
our efforts to secure the overthrow or
abandonment OF this unwise, unlA Wful
and unjust policy.
. Give Public Lands for Highwaya.
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
the construction and maintenance OF
public thoroughrares exclusively.
The construction Of an extensive sys-
manded by modern methods Of locomo-
tion, and the subject should leceiv.
ton Of the General Assembly. The in
ternal improvement funds and all addi-
tions thereto should be devoted to that
Of the state Highway Commission as
provided by House Bill 200. and the
pending initiated Highway Commission
and approval
State should Control Public Land.
In conformity with the joint resolu-
ton uaaaimously adopted by the
ths snKaase we most EARN
estly request that all public. lands with
in the boundaries of Colorado ba
just and fair to both state ana ma
tion. and with such restrictions as Will
effectuaily prevent monopoly. to the
one jurisdiction and uniform law; tina!
we shall have the same rights enjoyed
81, y ian iand eapaSie OF asrleul,ura deve
opment shall be freely open to home
stead entry; that lands suitable for
tracts. and under proper restrictions.
for that purposes that prospecting may
be encouraged and greater mining de-
shall be under the control Of he state.
avoiding vexatious and often prohtbi-
tive delays In censtruction; that water
encouraged; that our lands may be
made revenue producing, and that such
revenue from rent ais. royalties and
of public highways and the completion
I OF reclamation projects.
Land Question Declared Oae for Courts
The Jurisdiction of the courts should
be extended to all contests and con-
troyersies arising over homestead, des-
ert and other land filings and entries,
+, the government thereto. and neaId and
determined "a how provided In adverse
cases arising under the mining laws OF
+; the United States.
We denounce the policy of the Re-
publican administration which. having
poses to Withdraw all the remairflnE
lie lands from all forms Of entry, with
the expressed determination o. impos-
ing upon the West q permanent bu-
reaucratic rule and federal leasing sys-
within our borders. and thereby disas-
: trously retarding the DEVELOPMENT Of
our state anc depriving our common.
wealth Of It's just and constitutional
rights.
y: HenestesA F.nA to Aid settlers:
We advocate the creation by Con.
xress Of a homestead fund to consist
#; Of moneys annually set apart from re-
ceipts Of sales Of public lands which
+, with families needing assistance while
the homestead laws. Loans from this
fund. secured BY the borrower 9. s.ahtm. IN.
snS ;ose t. ..Sanss ss aseasf of n patent @ BE
: meat, and thus enable many citizens
otherwise without msans ne. u, TO to ,av,s avaaI
stead laws, and acquire permanent
homes from the public domain.
.IsTlnC aNI;s,S -: ri.;.t .sf.:se aeo-