The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-08-15
Sunday M o lie 5 a n d
Party Platforms

disagree with the city administrator
Caldwell has been given what Cald
we'll has needed. an economical, force
full administration. constructive in tn
sense of accomplishment where tax
payers could not be hurt, economics
where new money might have bee
spent.
Nor has The Tribune any quzrre
with the mayor and council so far a
their position on Sunday movies il
concerned. The Tribune has Away
approved open theatres on Sunday
And popular petition, in the abscnc,
of other circumstances. justhes tn,
council in taking the action they con.
template.
But that is not all In the last
city campaign. this perennial issue was
placed in the hands of Caldwell citi-
zens. And, because the present ad-
ministration ticket had placed upon
it the brand of open town" advocates
for no reason whatever it was decided
that clean statement, embodied in
the platform. should be made. To that
end this pertinent statement was
made:
We feel that in providing a
separate ballot for the dctermi-
nation of public opinion on the
Sunday moving picture question
that this issue is not a part of
the city election compaign but a
separate issue. We feel that the
administration should be guided
by the decision of the voters as
expressed on this issue.
Time leads easily to forgetfuness
Just how that platform came to taken
as the approved stand OF the Citizens
ticket" seems now to be lost in OBJ
security. But it was drafted and pub
lished Thus far. at any rate, that
platform may be considered as re-
presenting the position the present
administration would hold. 1t is |
pertinent. perhaps. that every other
clause OF that platform has been the |
guiding light for the present admins |
tration as expressed by actual accomp-
lishmcnt even to that perplexing |
problem of so many years, the munich |
pal operation of the Pioneer Irrigation |
district within the city limits.
SO much for that Just why. then,
should there be justification for a |
changed position by the council men,
bers! One has not TO look far. This
is representative government. pre-
sumably responsible to the public. |
Conditions and public opinion can and |
do change. 1t is only an unresponsive
autocratic government which will not |
react to public opinion. In that face
of that opinion. platforms have no
standing They are written to create
issues. not binding contracts to stand
forever.
There is a great clamor these DAYS
for the application of the salve OF
democracy to every branch of our
government. Here. then, is an OPP
portunity to base the conduct OF
city administration upon the ultimate
of democratic principles. to bow its
head to the wish OF the public
II petitions favoring Sunday picture
shows show clearly enough that
majority OF the citizens of Caldwell
favor Sunday picture shows, then the
city council may wisely and will ad-
visably act in accordance with that
opinion. Platforms become meaning
less when subjected to that test.
For those who closely read that
plank in the Citizens ticket platform,
no further evidence is needed to justi-
fly the city council now in reacting to
public opinion. That plank pledges.
We feel that the administration
should be guided by the decision
OF the voters as expressed on this
issue.
Expressed where? Expressed
when' That platform does not say.
That particular time. i, may have
applied to a city election result To-
day. with equal force. i, may apply
TO ''the decision of the voters as ex-
pressed on this issue" through petit =
ions No pledges are being broken.
No platform is being strapped. In
Iced, il one reads correctly. to fail TO
'caot to petition favoring Sunday o
hows when a majority of Caldwell
'otcrs expressed their decision in
avor OF Sunday movies would indeed !
ioIate a pledge. .