Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-02-22
WHY DID THE ANNEXATION
MEMORIAL FAIL OF A PAS
SAGE IN THE LEGISLATURE

of the people shall govern and the prin
c,ple or measure endorsed by the ma
jority of the people as rule of action
in Government matters should be en-
grated in the laws for The people, and
executives and law makers are rccre-
ant to their trust, whsneve in any
act, however trivial i. may be, they do
not recognize and obey the expressed
will of the majority of the people. The
Legislature of the Territory is the Law
making power, whose acts are to be
coucurred in by the executive, except
in certain cases, when q two third vote
may enact without his concurrence.
The executive is also authorized in his
messages to suggest such laws and
measures of Legislative action as are
demanded by the people. We have
heretofore signifed the rtcreant course
Of Gov. Neil 10 his message in not
urging upon the Legislat ure the ques-
ton of segrcgating Idaho and allowing
the Northern counties to 60 to Wash
ington, measure which had promi
nently been before the people at the
last election and decided by 5000
majority in favor of tho segregation.
But even without the suggestion of the
Governor it was the duty of the mem
bers Of the Legislature 10 have given
expression Of the voice OF the people
in the form of a resolution or memorial
and in neglecting to do this they have
shown that they ignore The will Of the
majority Of the people and substitute
instead their own, or that OF minority
This is too apparent to require any ar
gument or illustration from US. But
90 far as our executive is concerned
and the Republican members of the
Legislature they we're especially pledg
ed to the North to favor this measure
making these pledges when they asked
rs to accept Of Mr.. Singiser aud moi
nominate an independent Northern
candidate for Congress. Their pledges
we're that whatever Mr. Singiser gave
- pledges to US, they would fulfil to
the letter il we would endorse and sup.
port him. Gov. Neil virtually gave
the same at q council OF tho solons of
tho Republican party at Boise, before
Singiser visited the North. The North
accepted the terms in good faith, with
the understanding that the Represcn
tatives Of the North in the Legislature
would have no trouble from Republi
can sources in securing memorial tc
Congress supporting the measure OIL
segregation. But according to an al
fusion in the Democrat Neil indicated
his bad faith in regard to the question
before the organization of the Legisla
ture. We asked Toner what this re-
ferred to and he said that the expires
sion was made to him (Tomer) by Neil
He said in substance that i he (Tomer)
did not stand in with Neil in the or
ganization Of the House, be (Neil( would
do al he could towards defeating an.
nexation. Mr.. Toner said that he
Vas Democrat and also annexatiouist
and was elected as such, but that his
annexation views never had and would
not compromise his Democracy, tina,
annexation was not partisan question,
that it belonged as much To the nemoc.
racy as to the Republicans and that he
was under no obligations to support
Neils wishes in regard to the organi.
zation Of the House and that he would
not do 80. Upon this reply Neil became
very much excited and said many things,
bat few days afterwards he came to
Toner and apologized, and his excuse
was that he said them when he was
mad. The old adags is that men in
anger, drunken men and children on.
press their real sentiments. aud we
naturally presume that he carried the
same sentiments when he delivered his
message, and ignored North Idaho's
claims, aud that as far as he had apy
influence with the members of the Lev.
islature he exerted it against the claim.
OF the North to annexation. Another
thing is patent, that the hue and cry
Of the Governor and the Ada county
delegation against the Mormons is all
aham and void Of sincerity, for they all
fraternized against annexation when
the memorial came up for action. This
may have been consistent for the Nor
mons, for they supported Ainslie who
Was an avo~ed opponent Ct the meas.
mrs. But Neil, Kelly and the Repub-
licans of Ada county an d Owyhee