The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-09-17

liz TIOulUlCiCu dIIy VI 1AdHO, as
sembled in state convention at Cald-
we'll on September 1st, 1914, acknowl-
edging God as the ruler of nations,
and desiring divine guidance for the
solution of the problems which con-
front the state and nation, renews
it's adherence to the national plat
form of the party, and makes the
following declaration of principles,
pledging their effective establishment
as a policy of government if given
power:
The destruction of the beverage IL
quor traffic is the most important is
sue before the people. A traffic
which endangers the peace of socie-
ty; debauches and brutalizes many
Of our citizens; breaks up homes; pro-
duces crime, poverty, and disease;
that robs workingmen of large
proportion of their earnings, and lays
every legitimate industry under tri-
butte by reducing the purchasing pow
er of the consumer, must not be toll
Grated. Laws taxing or licensing
such traffic are a travesty on JUS
tice, and should be repealed. The
existence of the liqucr traffic in our
state today results, not from any
inherent right of an Individual to en-
gage in this so-called business, but,
from the negligence and Indifference
of public officials, who, though charg-
ed with the public welfare, without
legal compulsion, grant license to
vend an article that is destructive of
those things which government is
designed to protect. The settlement
of this issue lies not primarily in
the enactment of 2. prohibitCry stat
ute, nor in an amendment to the con
stitution; it demands a reversal of
tho present attitude of government
by the election to power of a politi-
cal party which recognizes the liquor
traffic as a crime, and not as a bust
ness, and which will enact and admin
lister the laws from that standpoint.
We pledge ourselves to the total de-
struction of the liquor traffic.
The people of Idaho are suffering
under grievous tax burdens resulting
in part from extravaganza in public
expenditures, and in part from an
unfair classification and assessment
of property, from exemptions, and
from defects in our tax system. For
the relief Of these conditions we pro-
pose tho following measures: First,
tho abolition of all unnecessary Of
fees and commissions, and the intro
.duction of the most rigid economy in
to all governmental affairs. Second,
the actual assessment of all property
at its cash value; the removal Of
all exemptions whatsoever SO that
all property in the state, except that
held by the people in common, shall
pay it's just proportion of the main
tenance of government; the assess
ment of the capital stock of corpora
tons, domestic and foreign, foreign
corporations to be assessed in proper
ton to the volume of business done
in this state; the assessment OF
mortgages and notes against the
holder thereof, with a corresponding
deduction from the property Valuation
of the borrower. These reforms will
materially reduce the tax rate, witt
consequent relief for the small pro
perty owner who is now taxed to th<
limit will produce a considerable
revenue from sources now in large
measure escaping taxation; and will
more equitably distribute the bur
den of public expense.
We advocate the abolition of tn,
pcll tax.
We demand that the rate of inter
est on delinquent taxes be reduced
to the legal interest rate in tn,
state.
We pledge such legislation as shal
always subordinate property right
to human rights.
We pledge the enactment of jus
and equitable employers liabilit,
law.
We stand for public ownership O
public utilities.
We favor the compulsory arbitr.
ton of disputes between labor an
capital in all cases where such dis
putes have reached condition tina
interferes with the public welfare.
We favor a system of state higi
ways, constructed with state aid, a
essential to the proper developmer
of the state.
We pledge legislation for the g
fectual suppression of the social evi
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