The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-07-22

therefore, pledge the Republican par.
" OF this state to maintain the in
tegrity Of htese institutions, and ia
support each of them in maintenance
In growth as far as the finances of
the state will allow, recognizing that
on the growth and development Of
these institutions depends the up
building Of the moral and intellectual
welfare Of the youth Of Idaho. And
to this end we urge the legislature
to take up and pass the appropria-
ton bills for all educational and
charitable institutions as. soon after
converting as possible and before the
other work of the legislature shall
be taken up.
Direct Primary Law
The direct primary law passed by
a Republican legislature and wisely
amended by the succeeding legisla-
ture has placed in the hands of the
people the nomination of all state
and county officers. Further amend
ments to this law will from time to
time become necessary, and such de-
sirable amendments as experience
may suggest we pledge the part to
enact. We declare at the present
time that this law should be SO
amended as to require each voter
at the time of registration to declare
his party affiliations to the end that
voting of the primary ticket of one
party by members of any other party
may be prevented. Such an amend
ment was passed by the last Republi-
can legislature and we denounce as
petty party politics the act of the
Democratic governor of this state in
veoing it, We condemn the Demo
cratic party of this state for its at
tempt to nullify the provisions of
the direct primary law by fixing up
Estates" Of candidates for the various
offices, state and county, and pre-
venting more than one candidate
from filing for each office, in order
that members of the Democratic par.
ty may help nominate Republican
candidates at tho primary election.
Local Option
We pledge the party to maintain
and enforce the present local option
law.
State Lands
Under existing methods of dispos-
ing of our state lands, centuries
would elapse ere they are all sold
and the administrative costs will. in
the meantime, be enormous. We,
therefore, pledge ourselves to submit
for approval constitutional amend
ment that will permit of either sale
an annually increasing quantities at
not less than minimum price of SO
per acre.
Amendment of Revenue Laws.
We regret and deplore the unwise
policy OF the Democratic governor of
his state in inaugurating and insist
ing upon full cash value taxation of
property in the yaer 1911, before the
necessary changes I'M our fixed levies,
based upon lower valuation, could
be made, thus causing all the tax
payers and particularly those of the
farming class, to pay largely increased
and unnecessary taxes. The present
revenue law, while being an improve
ment in some particulars over the old
law, is still far from being a solution
OF the tax profile, and we pledge
the Republican party to further legis-
lation to correct existing evils.
State Roads
We favor the policy of developing
within the state the best system of
roads and highways which the state
and government cooperation and aid
to building state and interstate roads,
and particularly do we emphasize
the importance Of the establishment
OF a state road into the Yellowstone
National park and the park be opened
for automobile traffic, and that our
senators and representatives in con-
gress be requested to use every ef-
fort possible to this end.
Workmen's Compensation Act
We favor the enactment of a com.
prehensive workmen's compensation
by which will insure prompt and just
payment for injuries received in the
course OF employment.
FuIfiIIment Of Pledges
We insist that political pledges
solemnly incorporated into party
platforms, are made to be faithfully
kept, and shall hold to a strict &C.
countability all members of our party
who may be elected to office upon
thia platform and, believing that
none will prove recreant to that
trust. we assure the people of the