The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-07-13
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

EIoNOout-Ine hepuDlIcan party OF
the nation has selected as its STANFORD
bearers Charles Evans Hughes, and
Charles Warren Fairbanks for vice
president The nation and the Repa,b-.
hcan party are to be congratulated on
the nomination of these candidates, aud
we especially commend our candidate
for President to the people of Idaho
as a progressive, straightforward AM
crican, the history of whose past ca
reer in positions of trust and response
tslity is a guarantee that whatsoever
he promises as a candidate will be per
formed as a President.
We most nnreservedly commend
Theodore Roosevelt for his remuneration
of the nomination for the Presidency by
the Progressive party, and for his en-
dorsement of Charles r. Hughes, the
Republican nominee, which proclaim
him great and unselfish American.
We urge the members of the Progress.
sive party to follow the example set by
their distinguished leader iii his sup
port of the principles and nominee of
the Republican party and extend to
them sincere invitation to join with
us in the present crisis in our national
existence, thereby uniting the strongest
forces in the political life of our coun-
try for its redemption from the mis-
rule of the Democratic party and in the
interests of true Americanism.
'tPreparedness-The Republican ma
tional platform speaks alphabetically Of
the question Of preparedness, and we
commend the same unqualiiedly and
pledge Idaho to do its part. In the
face of world at war, the national
Democratic party delayed until the
eleventh hour the taking up of the
question Of providing adequately for
the defense Of our country. Procrasti-
nation is Democratic trait, and this is
no less true in Idaho than it has been
in the nation.
"We condemn the attempt Of the
present Democratic governor to Grip
pie the national guard Of Idaho by at
tempting to secure the repeal Of the
present appropriation for the organi-
cation, and his demand for a reduction
Of nearly $4,000 in the sum to be de-
voted to the training of the organized
party of Idaho believes that the nation
al guard should be taken out of politics
and that adequate appropriation should
be made for the training and equipping
of it's citizen soldiers.
For many years the system under
which the lands of the State have
been managed and the money of the
State has been loaned has been subject
to criticism. With the manifold duties
devolving upon the officers having
charge Of this department, it is newt
able that honest mistakes should occur.
We believe that the money Of the State
is sacred trust and should be handled
upon strict business principles, such as
are practiced in the private affairs of
men. To this end we recommend and
pledge to the people of the State of
Idaho complete reorganization of the
land department so that sufficient safe
guards may be thrown around the
handling of the assets of the State to
insure against the loss OF impairment
of such funds. We favor and promise
the enactment of laws which will pre-
vent the loaning of the money of the
State to any of its officers or employees,
either appointive or elective, or any Of
the relatives thereof.
ssWe deplore and condemn the prac-
tice adopted and followed by the pres
emit chief executive of the State of Ida
no in absenting himself at frequent and
long intervals of time from the seat of
government and neglecting for extend
ed periods the affairs of the State, and
call to the attention of the electorate of
Idaho this neglect of duty and to sug.
gest that such conduct merits pro-
nounced disapproval.
eve heartily favor the enactment
of an amendment to the constitution of
the United States providing for nation
al prohibition Of both manufacture and
sale Of intoxicating liquors, and urge
upon the coming session of the Idaho
legislature the passage Of memorial
to that effect.
1T is as true of governmental affairs
as it is of business that true economy
consists not so much in refusing to
spend at all, as to spend wisely. We
condemn the indiscriminate use Of the
veto power by the present Democratic
governor. We believe that the strict
est economy the handling of the bust
ness of the State, and while we pledge
to the people of the State. the practice
of such economy, we shall insist that
appropriations shall not be cut SO low
as to interfere with the efficient man.
agement of the affairs of the State.
'sWe have witnessed in Idaho within
the last few years general increase,
in the cost of government. The increase
has been out of proportion to the in.