Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-03-04
OUR IDAHO LETTER.
BOISE Cry. IDAHO. March I 1895

IDlIOR DEMOCRAT:
The word that has reached us Of tho
coming publication of a genuine Demo-
cratic journal in Salt Lake City has been
received here in Idaho with real pleasure
by the true and progressive Democrats Of
the Territory
We feel that it is the ushering in Of q
new era under bright auspices, and that
the appearance of this new journal is full
OF promises of good for the people of these
western regions.
The time of waiting for better DAYS has
| been, indeed, long and weary enough: a
season OF waiting, not for share in the
distribution of loaves and fishes, on which
but small number can count, and these
with but slight hopes of success, but a
time of waiting and hoping for better
things in the interest of the whole people
than have yet been attained.
The time has fully come for the Democ
racy of Utah and Idaho to take new de-
parture.
The Democrats of Utah have already
taken an advanced position and have won
the place of honor in the field; and the
better and larger element of the party in
Idaho are now in full accord with them
and will be found working in perfect har-
mony for the advancement of right priu-
ciples and for the accomplishment of
| good results.
While rejoicing as Democrats over the
improved condition OF our prospects, it is
hard to refrain from some sympathy for
the miSfortuneS OF our Republican friends,
who have so long enjoyed monopoly OF
HtnA Federal offices that they have come
to regard them with feelings of proprietor
! ship.
This sympathy would be more intense
on our part had our Republican friends
and neighbOrs been able to bear the ills
of the hour with more fortitude and have
accepted the inevitable in more manly
and becoming spirit, but instead of this
some of the would be leaders have be-
come so embittered through disappoint-
ment that they have fallen to abusing
the best men in the party.
When the legislature convened here in
! December last the Republicans had upon
a close count, slight majority in each
! branch OF that body. 1t is to the credit
of the Republican members thatno legis-
! lation OF a partisan character was at
! tempted during the session. Every bill
! that was introduced received the support
or opposition of Democrats and Republi-
cans irrespective OF party differences, and
every measure that became a law owed
its success to the support of men OF both
! political parties. The only members
who were certain to vote together on a
certain class of measures were the repre-
sentatives Of the Mormon counties.
The governors message, delivered in
person before the two houses in joint con-
ventiOn at the beginning OF the session,
was well received, and pronounced by all
who heard it to be an able, timely and
patriotic document. The message con-
! tanned a number of recommendations
| that were promptly acted upon and most
of them were Incorporated into bills and
| became laws. The governor won for
! himself high place in the esteem OF all,
and was universally admitted 70 be the
wisest, most liberal and every way the
most acceptable Republican Federal
official who ever held Office in Idaho; all
were loud in his praises; even the Nor
mons admitting that he was honest IN his
convictions and frank and manly in all
his acts and dealings.
Governor Bum would have passed
safely through all the troubled waters OF
the session and would have come out
with flying colors but for few rocks that
lay near the end of the channel in the
shape of certain appointments which the
laws devolved upon him to make.
An act was passed creating the new
4 county Of Bingham out of portion of
Oneida county, and providing that the
Governor should appoint the officers of
the new county. At the election last fall
what was known as the anti-Mormon
ticket in Oneida county was successful
after a severe struggle in which, to say
the least, many methods and eXpedients
of doubtful honesty and propriety were
resorted to. The result, however, was
generally accepted by the non-Mormon
people of the Territory as victory gained
over what they considered a disloyal ele-
elment Among the most active and
efficient workers OF the anti-MOrmon
party was Fred. 7. Dubois, Z. S. Marshal
for Idaho. With the converting of the
Legislature here, came Dubois claiming
the entire honor of the victory in Oneida
county and insisting that he should have
a potent voice in selecting the officers Tor
the new county Dubois was assured by
the Governor that his wishes should be
duly considered in the matter of these
appointments if there should be any di-
vision in the sentiment among the mem
bers OF the Legislature representing the
old county Of Oneida.
When the test came, the Oneida county
delegation agreed unanimously upon
slate and sent to the Governor written
request signed by all the Oneida county
members asking that the appointments
be made accordingly; Dubois had prom
ised one of his henchmen, certain Bas-
sett. who had been the instrument IN
some of the most questionable work OF
the campaign, that he (BassetD should
have the choice of the offices. Bassett,
who was totally and VIGOROUSLY unfit Tor
the place, chose the office of auditor and
recorder, and Dubois insisted that the
Governor should appoint him, against the
unanimously expressed wish OF the rep
resentatives of the people. This the
Governor could not do, and hence the I'M
placable hostility Of Dubois, who has
since sought in every way to make the
situation as uncomfortable as possible
for Governor Bum.
Another act of the late Legislature
created the office of Attorney Genefal
for Idaho with a salary of $1,000 per an
mum. This being Territorial office the
appointment had to be made by the GOV
ernor. bv and with the consent OF the
Legislative council. Among the many