The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1892-04-16
The Right Kind of Talk.

The following extract from letter
written by Judge w. II. Clagget to the
Cpur d Alene Miner has be ring of the
true metal. Judge CIagget says:
The question now is, what shall the
republicans of North Idaho do in the
immediate future? To answer this
question we have only to ask ourselves
whether we are republican from princi-
pie. If SO, We must rise above all sense
Of personal or sectional feeling and do
our full duty by the party in the COM
ing campaign. The republican masses
in the southern part of the state are
willing to do us Justice. | have re-
ceived no warmer support in the north
than in the south, and therepublicans
of the north must notsle slip The golden
opportunity to show their true republic
canism. Many of the evils from which
We have suffered are do to faulty sys-
tenn of organization. Too much power
has been lodged in few hands, and
there has been to little cooperation and
acquaintance among the republicans
of the north. This, however, can easily
be remedied and every republica he
made to feel that be is at home in his
party, with foil opportunity to be
heard and consulted, and without sac
rifce of party unity.
Our present duty as republicans is to
organize. AS the campaign opens so
soon by the meeting of the state con-
vention, there is no time to be lost, and
skeleton organizations, at least, of re-
publican clubs should be formed in every
neighborhood, to be filed thereafter as
the campaign progresses.
In this connection |, hope / may be
| pardoned a suggestion. There is a
general feeling that the party has been
too much under the influence Of its of
| fetal classes and that many federal off
cials especially have been too active and
potent in its councils. A party which
depends upon its office holders for guild
ance becomes in time the breeding
mother of family of rings, which fore
stall the freedom of party acton, maxi
getting of Office the handspring of party
activity, drive modest merit to the wall
and subordinate public questions TO per-
sonsl ambitions. A public officer has
opr ortnnities for devising programs nor
possessed by the people. This power
will always be abused until human
nature changes. In North Idaho it has
been bnt little, if at all, abuse as yet but
the party should be so orga oized as to
make, such abuse impossible.
To that end | suggest that the re-
publicans in organizing their clubs or
central committees should disqualify
every person holding an office, or Who
intends to be candidate for office at the
next ensuing election. TO hold any of
fetal position in snch clubs or COM
mittees or be delegate to any party con-
vention. This suggestion is not made |
to give offense to any, but solely to i'm
duce every office holder or candidate
for office to recommend himself 10 the |
arty by unselfish work in promoting
its success. This plan of organization
max es the party its own master, enlisis
the active efforts of those honnrably |
seeking promotion, and, by giving To
all an equal chance in The race for pre-
ferment and an equal voice in the
party management, promotes harmony,
brings the best men to the front and
makes evNry voter an active worker in
the campaign. 1t is party organization
in the fullest sense of the term. Nor is
it an experiment. | have seen it
adopted in two states, always with the
happiest results. l hope to see it become
universal in Idaho. There certainly is
nothing to prevent its adoption in Sho-
shone county, whose people so strongly
favor good government.
In conclusion, let me say that | will
hold him to be my best friend who will
do the most to assuage all bitterness of
feeling and labor the hardest to ensure
success in the coming campaign. Truly
your friend, w. H. CLAGETr.
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