Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-03-11
CLAGErr. THE osAro..

bis own behalf has been refer,.d j.
in complimentary terms by m.nv bio
dasi'es. II has been claimed th.. M
such silycr-tongued orator as Mr..
Clagett has appeared for years in the
senate. He spoke without notes and
was apparently ss cool and sslf.pos-
sessed - any Of the veteran ieVisla-
tors who crowded about him. No
one can read bis speech without con.
Guiding that bis great talents ought
% place him on the top round Of the
ladder OF fame. With eli his talents
ne i said 70 be : poor politician.
Many believed that before the U. s.
Senate he would play the part Of the
Pettifogger and seek to mislead in rc-
gard TO the facts in the case; but a
careful reading Of his speech will un-
deceive any who have had that idea.
His arguments we're built on the
proposition that the election Of the
long tenn Senator was made prior to
the time required by law, and was
therefore illegal, and based his arpu-
ments on certain other alleged iIIe-
gal proceedings. In his arguments
and statements he bore himself in a
manner that could not fail to arouse
the admiration of even the most ar
dent supporters of the justice Of Du-
bois' side of the case. Mr.. Clagett
relied altogether on the law in the
case, and that IS where he made
mistake. 1t was plain to the Senate
that Dubois was the choice Of the
people. That choice was expressed
by emphatic instructions to Repub-
lican legislative candidates in nearly
every county, and they cast their
votes for him in the first Senatorial
election. If any technical mistakes
were made by members of the Legis-
lature, it was no good reason why the
will of the people should be defeated.
Mr.. Clagett knew that while he was
honored for his private and political
uprightness of character and admired
for his eminent abilities, Dubois oc-
cupied first position IN the affections
Of the people for his untiring energy,
straightforward public career, per-
sistence in whatever he undertakes
and for his past valuable services.
When we look at the contest in the
light of human nature, Mr.. Clagett
did what many another honest man
would have done. The platforms of
both conventions pledged Senator
to the north, and it was not known at
that time that a third Senator-for
the short term of two months would
be elected. Mcconnell of the north
got this short term, but the south got
the four year and six year terms. The
sentiment of the State previous to the
election was undoubtedly that Dubois
should be given the long term and
Clagett the four year term. This was
not done, hence all this trouble. Mr..
Clagett made mistake in endeavor-
ing to unseat Dubois when it was ap-
parent that he was the choice of the
people for the long term. Clagett
would not agree that Senator from
the south should be elected for the
long term, and the two other Sena-
tors be elected, one from the north
and the other from the south, and
then draw, on the ground that if the
northern Senator should draw the
two months term, the south would
have the long and the four year terms,
and the north virtually nothing. That
was just the way it turned out. If
the will of the people had been car
ried out to the letter we have no
doubt that Dubois would have been
elected for the long term and Ga
gett for the four year term. Col.
Shoup made an excellent Governor
and the people desired that he should
hold that position, to which he was
| elected by an overwhelming majority
With Clagett and Dubois as Sena-
tors, the first in the very front rank
of the ablest and most eloquent
sneakers in America, and the latter
an untiring and influential worker, nc
State in the Union would have had
an abler representation. While the
WORLD is and has been an ardent
supporter of Dubois in preference te
any other candidate on account o.
his valuable services for the people o.
Idaho. we have at the same time
great admiration for the eminent tai
ents of MIR. Clagett, as well as TO