The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-07-25
DMocRArlo PLATFORM

6S O0C1areO IN the O0mOCT0IlC con-
vention at Baltimore and pledge our
selves to the support Of its candidates
and platform.
2. We point with pride to the ac-
lions Of the democratic members of
congress as being in the interests Of
al, the people.
We dei,ounce and condemn the Re-
publican party for its wilful failure to
carry into effect It's promises to the
people In It's national platform Of 1908
for a revision Of the tariff downward
and for its enactment of tho Payne
Aldrich tarIEf law formed wholly and
entirely III the interest4 Of trusts and
monopo'Is
We derounce President TAFT for his
veto OF the amendments which
we're paused by . democratic house
snl democratic and progressive re-
publican senator's in the interests Of the
people.
Its troken pledges and its betrayal
Of the Mcple in the past cause US to
with with suspicion the promises Of
tn. republican party in its last ma
tional platform.
:. We believe that the resources Of
this state should be conserved In the
interests of the people Of the state
We are opposed to the present at
tempt ON the part Of the national gov
eminent to interfere in matters of
purely state concern or to deprive the
people of this state Of the benefits Of
the states natural resources, and we
favor such action Of the congress of
tho United States as will Ultimately
provide for passing to the state in
which the public lands are situated the
title to all lands in such states now
vested in the United States.
4. We heartily favor the reclama-
ton Of the arid lands of the west un-
der the provisions of the law in force
with changes in the interests Of the
homebuilder which experience has
shown to be necessary. In the admin
stra,ion of such reclamation projects
the rules and regulations governing the
same should be improved SO as to
larry out the idea Of the law and bet
ter tie conditions for, the people of
The state. '-o
We pledge our delegation to tn
United States congress to work for
such changes in the reclamation act
AS will relieve settlers under such pro-
jects from beginning the payments fer
the water rights until the fourth year
after the delivery of water, and that
the payments for such water rights
shall be made in the twenty-five annual
.nstallments instead of ten as now pro-
yiicd by said act, and that patent to
such lands shall issue to the settlers
after three years of residences thereon,
reserving to the government lien +
the price of the water right
5. We favor the enactment and en-
forcement of adequate laws fully pro-
tecting and safeguarding the rights
and interests of settlers upon lands
under the Carey Act projects
6. We demand vigorous investi-
CATION by congress of the actions Of
special agents and special prosecu-
tors, who, under the authority Of the
general government, have harased
homesteadersJ locators Of mines and
other persons seeking honestly to &C
quire title to government lands.
Z. We favor state and government
aid in the building and maintaining Of
state roads. We recommend the des-
ignation and establishment of roads
lsading through the state to be known
as state highways and connecting with
similar roads leading from adjoining
states; and we recommend that our
senators and representatives in con-
gress be instructed to use every effort
possible to secure such federal aid.
We al recommend the con trut on OF
an automobile road by federal aid
leading to the National Park and the
opening of said park to automobile
and other traffic
s. We favor the election of United
States senators by the direct vote of
the people, and we pledge our men,
bers in the legislature to ratify the
amendment submitted by the federal
congress fer the election of the United
States senators by direct vote OF the
paople, and until such amendment be
adopted, we favor an amendment to
the election laws of the state provid-
ing fer the nomination of the United
States senators by the people and
p!edging legislative candidates to vote
for the candidate for United States
senator who receives the highest mum
Der of votes at such election, regard
less of party.
8. We re-affirm our unfaltering al
legiancd to the principles of the di-