The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-07-15

The sad affair at the Coenr d Alenes IS
being employed as an argument against The
admission of territories. The conclusion
is jumped at that idaho was taken into the
Union before it was able to maintain a
state Observation-Disclosures ii had people
and property sufficient to take on the
powers, duties and responsibilities Of
statehood. We knew this would be done,
and for weeks have been pleading with the
authorities up there to take course which
would avoid the springing Of the very
argument which is now being used.
The HERALD does not think Idaho was
admitted too soon. The territory was
financially aud in the matter Of population,
wen qualified for statehood. The dificulty
with the miners presents no argument to
contrary The trouble with Idaho is
traceable directly to the incompetency
OF her officials, and II the peo-
pie are to be censured for anything
II IS for having elected incompetent
persons TO Office For weeks past the
governor mas been acting like a child. He
saw trouble coming. There was work
ingmen's strike involving hundreds of men
and millions OF dollars worth Of property,
yet he did nothing except to ex-
hibit mental WEAKNESS and utter
lhelpessness as an executive. With
out attempting to employ the power
Of the state he acted as If there were no
such power, and gave II out that he had or
would apply TO the president for federal
aid. He gave it out straight BY his weak
and indecisive course that Idaho was sim
,tv,sr
order and protecting life and property, and
yet be had never attempted to ascertain
whether or not this weakness and lack of
resource existed. There was ostensibly
militia, but the governor seemed to have
forgotten the fact, as had also his official
advisers and suboroinates. for there
came no suggestion that state
troops could be called out Finally,
when the storm which had been brewing
for weeks burst, the utter and deplorable
helplessness OF the governor and those by
whom he was surrounded was manifest in
shameful degree. The man apparently
knew absolutely nothing as TO how to pro-
coed. He few to Washington with pleas
fer help never having put forth en- effort
in his own state, and then actually had to
be instructed from the capital that he must
show that the state was powerless in the
premises, and upon this showing and
formal request the federal government
would lend assistance. Did 8 governor
ever before make such a spectacle of him
self? Was a state ever before made to pose
as lawless and barDarous upon such a ludi-
crous showingi
Idaho ought not to be assaiIed because of
the weakness and inability of her officials.
The state ought not TO be made to appear
as lawless, weak and incapable because
her governor and his official advisers
didE't know what to do to maintain the dig
nifty Of the commonwealth. We hold that
Idaho Is abundantly able to carry on a state
government. upholding the laws and pro-
tecting life and property. Her resources
were not employed Her ability was not
taxed. No effort was made to even test her
power as q state. If there had been at the
head of the commonwealth competent
man, one who knew how TO act, one with
the pride and courage which he should have
as the executive of the young state, Idaho
would not today stand before the nation as
a weak and helpless creature under the i'm
mediate protection of the federal govern
ment and her enemies would not be able TO
point to what is going on up there as con-
vincing proof that mistake was made
when the territory was emancipated and
the power and dignity of statehood
conferred. The blame runs to the
officials and not to the state. The censure
is not upon the Congress which admitted
Idaho. II the people are to be criticised it
is for putting into office incompetent men
who have brought shame upon the young
state. The state is all right. and we be-
heve the people will prove their repentance
next November by electing men to Office
who win not only understand something of
the duties to which they will be called, but
will also have confidence in the manhood
the loyalty and the patriotic pride Of the
people. We believe the present disgrace
VIII be wiped out in November, ana there
after the administration will be such that
nobody will be able to say that Idaho was
made state too soon.