The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-10-12
STATEHOOD.

IlOH idfOI1uS DSdUcnOOQ III las
weeks issue has brought forth tn,
following response from a respected
Boise Valley rancher. While TIL,
Tribune favors Statehood it want,
to see a thorough discussion o
both sides of this question by thu
people, hence it throws open it
columns:
ED. TRIBUNE-In your issue O
the 9Th inst, the Hen. d. L. Bad
ley invites US to reason together
Well, let US try it.
In the first place the reason O
the inaction of the Joint Commit
tee is easily explained, namely
They see now that they counted
their chickens before they were
Matched, by the non-interest the
people take in the whole matter
and why? Simply because the
people feel it in their marrow bones
that they cannot carry Statehood
successfully. Whenever a people
know their strength or power you
will have it from every hand and
from every mouth. 1t will mani.
fest itself in precinct meetings and
other ways; and finally the will
and demand of the people must be
obeyed and respected by their rep
resentatives. But how differently
was this bug-a-boo called into ex.
istence: Mr.. Dubois simply wrote
to Ex-Gov. Stevenson asking him
to start the ball rolling by issuing
a proclamation for Constitutional
Convention, and he would job the
thing through Congress as easy as
off of a log. I would ask,
did anybody hear anything about
Statehood for Idaho previous to
that time? If so | don't know it.
A step from Territory to State must
with the masses, not with
their servants.
The school lands at $40 an acre
wont work when there is land to be
had for the taking and a smallg gov
eminent fee. Anyway it is not 60
ing to spoil. We are not going to
lose an acre by waiting four or five
years.
My friend Mr.. Bailey talks about
love of country and patriotism
lacking in the opponents of State
hood. That may be true in one
sense. but [ will tell him that our
ove for the welfare of our fellow
citizens of this Territory outweighs
inc love of country ten to one. The
people are the making of any coun-
Try. You burden them with heavy
axes and where is their prosperity
o come from? Out of Immigrants
you will make emigrants. Capt.
al will not invest where taxes are
high; and 1 don't care how you
blow country up and lie about it,
t has been tried in other countries
md only had the opposite effect
rom that intended.
Again, Mr.. Bailey says he issur-
'rised at the people of Ada county
and it is the wealthiest county at
hat) opposing Statehood simply on
.ccount of the increase of taxes
which must follow the adoption Of
he Constitution. Let me correct
i'm: 1t is not the greed of the
mighty dollar, nor the fear of
'arting with it that actuates us,
ut it is how to get hold of the dol
ar in the first place. 1t always
as been hard scratching to get
money enough together by the time
axes become due and don't see
ny chance for the better in the flu
ure. Then again, Mr.. Bailey says
hat Ada county shows more oppo-
ition than any three other counties
Let me tell him, cit is
OF all gold that glitters." Some
f the Northern delegates to the
convention vowed that they could
OF consistently ask their cOnstlt- |
ents to vote for that Constitution |
nd in their opinion they would not |
atify the same, but 60 against it. |
| would ask, why is it that Mr.. |
adley combines Ada county (or
ne Democrats thereby with the
[ormons? Most assuredly the
'emocrats did their utmost to
uash Mormonism now and for
yer, but our Republican friends
,uld not see it in that light, be-
ause the Mormon question is
bod one to make or break political
arties on, and carry elections.
Let US have some more light on
le subject Mr.. Editor, by all
leans.
CHas. J. F. PETERSON.