Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-08
AFFAIRS OUT IN IDAHO
A Talk With E1-Representative Sweet on
the Subject.
The business Outlook Not Bright
Inside Work In the Recent
Senatorial Contest.

Ex-Representative Sweet, who was re-
Gently defeated for the senatorship by
Shoup says that the situation In Idaho Is
extremely interesting from political point
of view. The fight over the senatorship
was prolonged through many weeks in e.
deadlock rivaled only by the deadlock
in Delaware. The feeling growing out Of
this fight, together with the agitation Of
the silver question and the hard times in
the mining regions, renders the political
outlook in the state uncertain and interest
ing as affecting national politics.
The Outlook Not Bright.
1.-The immediate outlook for our section
Of the country" said Mr.. Sweet to a Star
reporteS 'is not bright. Values are utter
ly destroyed. Money and paying gold mines
are about the only things that are In de-
mand. and. owing to the exorbitant rates
demanded for the former and the scarcity
Of the latter, the volume of business trans
acted Is not great. and the usurer alone
prospers. The silver-1ead mining industry
has been prostrated by anti-silver lesisla-
ton, hostile tariff legislation, directed at
lead and wool, while the failure to collect
the duty on lead has discouraged our
miners. The treasury is now taking hold
OF the latter question with considerable
energy. and for the first time it looks as
If We might hope for whatever relief the
But we are largely an agricultural people,
agriculture and stock raising probably en-
gagtng the attention of three-fourIh of our
population. Wheat was selling last month
for II cents per bushel, or 30 cents sacked.
1t cost more to produce the last crop than
our farmers received for it, There is alb
solutely no market for horses and cattle
and pork are sent to weak and uncertain
markets.
Such conditions necessarily affect poll
tics. The destruction of money IS ineviIa-
bly, followed by the destruction of values.
The northwest believes that a restoration
of silver is essential to a restoration of
prosperity, and, in my Judgment, business
conditions must change for the better and
the change must be radical, candi-
date for President can receive the vote CT
the northwestern states who is not pledged
TO the full reinstatement of bimetallism.
The Recent Senatorial Contest.
In reply to the question. How did the
recent senatorial contest affect the politics
of the state and did it leave much bitter
ness behind?" Mr.. Sweet said: There is
some bitterness remaining. 1t would be i'm
possible to carry on a contest for so great
length of time without leaving some pain
full reminders; but the politics of the state
will not be dominated by the result of this
contest Senator Shoup formed a combina-
ton with Cow Mcconnell, under the terms
of which Shoup was to come to the Senate
The governor did help Shoup little and
utilized state patronage to compass my de-
feat and elect Shoup. The governor lives
in the northern part of the state, and my
defeat was the chief object of his cam
paign, to the end that he may succeed Du-
bois. AS a matter of fact. he played the
part of Iago. and hoped that Shoup and
would kill each other and let him in. From
the fact that Shoups friends. as we'll as
the colonel himself, were fully advised of
the governors duplcity. doubt very much
If the governor receives any support from
the successful candidate.
''Shoup will be sitting placidly in the Sem
ate, and his friends, having no respect for
Mcconnell will not hear his calls for help.
Again, Mcconnell will cut sorry figure
posing as northern candidate, since he
utilized all the power at his command, and
resorted to such methods as suggested
themselves. to defeat candidate who
came from the north, with the north soldly
al his back. No; if Dubois has nothing to
fight more than the combination referred
to. his contest is already won.
Il do not care to discuss the late contest.
1t is over, and the victory ends 1t, except
so far as our people are concerned. In due
time they will no doubt pass judgment upon
the methods Employed; but whether they
do not, L am satisfied that there is more
re eady cash in votes for United States Sem
ator than can be made out of raising wheat
at present prices"