Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-12-20
4 BRILLIANT GRAFTON.
Speech Of The Hon. u. A. Kurtz, In III,
idaho House of Representatives.

Speech Of il,s Hon. II. A. Kurtz, In the
idaho House Of Representatives.
Last Saturday evening, the Idaho
House of Representatives having IN.
der consideration the report of the
Committee on Privileges aud EIeo-
tious recommending the unseating of
Messrs. Kinpost and Kinnersley. the
Hon. NJ. A. Kurtz, of Ada, Chairman
Of said Committee, closed the discus.
sion a. follows:
Mn. SrEAKRR:-rn reply to the
gentleman OF the opposition would
say that / have no prejudice. When
/ entered the bar of this House and
took the oath of office, l comprehend
ed 1t in all the depth and fulness of
its meaning.
Laying aside that which is com.
monty called party prejudice, this is
an occasion of momentSus importance
and solemn import. 1t will be con-
ceded that the purity Of the ballot
box is the greatest safeguard OF our
lives, our homes, our property.
The two great political parties unit
ed, four years ago, and gave to you
that priceless document endeared to
Us all by the sacred treasure which it
50 jealousy guards, and is known by
the name Of the "Idaho Test Oath"
Even its greatest enemies stood ap
paIled at its royal decree, aud dared
not disobey its solemn warnings; and
the lips of pure men and pure women
breathed . hushed prayer that its
commands would be obeyed.
But ambitious and designing men
dared 10 strike at the sacred treasure
dared to conspire to destroy the laws
man iates; and these gentlemen who
claim thei' seats in this holy place
where laws are made, ana where good
government is enjoined, do not deny,
do not claim. blu. that they were elect.
cd to their seats in this body by the
votes and BY the people engaged in
this cowardly conspiracy to defeat and
destroy this sacred boon.
Gentlemen of this Assembly: !
appeal to your sense Of honor; ap-
peal to the love you bear your homes,
your wives aud children; appeal to
the protection you and have unde,
yon proud emblem of freedom; l up
peal to the better thought of all the
members of this Assembly, supported
- they will be by all true and loyal
Americans /" these valleys and noun
tains. that we dare not aid the mon
ster which another and more famee
than myself, so justly remarks, "pluck
from the brow OF woman her diaden
Of love and virtue, which sears he
soul with bitter hate and dssppoint
mant until the shadow of lingcrin!
hope is gone; which takes from MAJ
every noble instinct and d-erade
him lower than the level Of the brut
creation; which calls licsn:iou>nes
oh .sti,y; lust, purity; and crime, re
ligion; and which still, in the lns
lingering clutch Of its despair, dis
graces our fair Territory"
Gentlemen of this Assembly, "
have this snake scotched, aud we wi
he true to the principles OF the gran
Republican party, and by our actio
tonight, forever and eternally KILL i
The above were the words Of Il
orator. They are correctly reporte'
But the manner, the voice, the d.
livery of the eloquent gentleman Cal
not be reproduced in print. IT
House was crowded on that occasio
anil TIE Speaker, the Hon. Il.
Burkhart, could scarcely repress Il
enthusiastic applause and evi iences
approval with which the proceeding
were watched. AS Mr.. kurtz begs
something unusual. it was evidet
was about to take place. The a
70 nblage sat perfectly still al
hushed, hardly daring to breathe.
pin might have been heard drop. l
he proceeded he was applauded aga
and again until connected sentenc
could scarcely be heard. Final!
the Speaker, although evidently r
GREETING the necessity for the admot
,lon. stsrnly announced that d
present would be required to preser
order. and Mr.. Kurtz was tn
enabled 10 6nfsa his brief b
soul.ssirring remarks without int
.upt;on.
The vote being taken, Mess
kin2ort aud k;nnersiey wer. uns at
by practically unanimous vote b
two members standing tor the ne
a.ivc.
Thus was enacted u scene that "
rank among the most striking a
Important ia the history Of the "Gs
ri sko Mcunf a: -, y