The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-12-27
TAKING THE BACK TRACK.
Evidence That the Senator Froinf the
South Was Changing His Mind.

Thus we passed into the year 1894. Moth
lng much was said about the senatorial
light, and it was spring before l really
began to suspect that you regretted the
action taken by you during the fall and
winter of '93 and "a. Numerous CONVEX
sations with Mr.. w. f. James, of Salt
Lake, during the summer rather led me
to believe that you would be glad if the
situation were different. Mr.. James did
not say so, but of course / really under
stood that he was a friend of yours OF
many years standing, and, while / be-
lieved then and still believe that he would
do me a kindly act if the opportunity pre-
scented itself, yet 1 felt satisfied that for
some reason he was DESTROYS of changing
our program. Whether he was urging
you to change it, or whether you had eX
pressed such a wish to him, have never
known. But | told Mr.. James in several
long conversations had with him upon the
subject that ii was too late for me to
change; that | could not afford to be
beaten. but that l could not afford to pre-
sent myself to my friends and old asso-
ciates in the north, and to such friends
as | had consulted in the south, as not
knowing what / wanted, or as having mis-
represented the wishes of Colonel Shoup.
You and l did not discuss the situation
at all except as from time to time the
action of different counties in selecting
representatives, or matters of that char
acter were mentioned. You will remem-
Der that l asked you in the house lobby
If there was anything that you wanted
me to do, or any of your friends in whom
| you were interested, or whether 1t was
| your wish that some understanding should
| be had with reference to the seat occu-
pied by Mr. Dubois. You made no reply.
| In short, you never had anything to say
against anybody, but you always did ex-
press your desire for my success.
IN THE SENATE RESTAURANT.
| Along towards the close of the summer
our delegation was taking lunch together
in the senate restaurant. Dubois called
1 up the question of nominating candidates
| for senator by state convention, and
! whether it would not be good thing fol
us to call the attention of the chairman
| of the state central committee to the
| propriety and Importance of submitting
this question of party policy to the repub
licans of the state. do not know whether
or not you said anything at the time; bu
| know said that was in favor of th'
principle, but did not know as L would
| favor writing the committee at that time
and so the matter was dropped. Late
talked 1t over with both you and Dubois
Dubois believed in sending a letter an'
you stated that you did not believe in i
as "a matter Vi pht Ahdl IL
thought it would help me in any way
you would waive your objection, an
cheerfully sign a letter. The matter wa
again dropped for some time, until on
day in the cloak room Dubois and ] wer
discussing the question, and l said be
lieved we ought to write; that il woul
| certainly do no harm to direct the atten
ton of the people of the state TO that ques
ton We were considering it here, an
| &C -1....r
congress was drawn to the subject. d.
bois said that it was too late to write, bu
that he would telegraph. When the col
versation began l had not thought {
the fact that the meeting of the state cer
trail committee was at hand. / suggeste
that he prepare telegram; he did 81
| and handed IL to me. / read it, suggeste
some changes, which were made, and b
/, that time you had returned to your sei
in the senate, and we carried 1t over
your desk. You read 1t over very car
fully and said in substance: you kno
! what my sentiments are on this question
but IL you think 1t will benefit you at al
| will sign it?" said thought it woul
and you signed 1t. That was the begi
; ming and the ending of the telegram l
: to that date.
y BRANDED AS DICTATORS.
You know that we were all assail'
very bitterly by certain element IN u
i state; charged with desire to dictate,
/ fine charged with almost everythii
o that would have a tendency to destr'
the character and standing of any memb
X of the congressional delegation. 1he
y attacks came from but one source, al
four out of five northern counties enthui
astically endorsed the proposition ii
suited in considerable agitation, VIII
m really 1t was our intention more TO ma
Al the question prominent and bring abo
At its eventual consideration by the peoT
X than anything else. Mr.. Mcconnell m
ID have thought II would prevent him ire
n being a candidate for both governor
n. senator Well. it did but in that rs'D'