Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1896-10-07
A BOND OF HONOR.
All Democrats Should Stand by
the Nominees of the Peoples
Democratic Party.

there were three parties in the State and only three
The Republican party the strongest Of these ac.
cordng to the last eletion returns anil the leader Of
It's forces was Hon. r 7. Dubois So completely did
he have control OF the machinery Of the Republican
party that the county conventions were almost unan-
imous in his support. He openly declared that he
was as good Republican he ever was. and at no
time had good word 10 say for either the Demo.
cratic Peoples party This was the exact situation
when the Democratic and Peoples party conventions
were held. The Democrats and Populists saw that
unless some agreement was made between them that
neither might be strong enough To carry plurality
Of the votes In the State, They were sick and tired
of the Republican methods carried out by the leaders
who guard at the capital. and knew that to
put two tickets in the field meant almost certain de.
/ feat for both.
With this situation confronting the Democratic
party, ii decided TO unite with the Peoples party in
placing ticket in the field The Democratic and
Peoples party conventions met and honorable ia.
sion Effected fusion satisfactory to both par.
ties The Democrac.party acted In the only manner
it had any authority to act-through its legally or
ganized convention. The convention had full power
and authority TO bind the party The delegates &C.
lected by the Of the party throughout the
State acted as to them seemed best. An agreement
was entered into with the Populist party under and
by the terms OF which the parties were to unite and
place one ticket in the field. The ticket placed
in the field agreed, and the two conventions ad-
jonrned sine die. The delegates TO the Democratic
convention almost unanimously In favor OF UNI
ting with the Populists. They did unite, and in so
much as the party could under any circumstances be
pledged, they pledged its support to the ticket
mated by the joint convention.
The Peoples Democratic ticket was placed in the
field by the Democratic party each man on the
ticket is its nominee II the Democratic party has
made mistake there is earthly way TO remedy it
except by acting through the same power that made
its nominations. For Democrat 10 refuse to sup.
port the ticket nominated Bos9 by the Joint con-
venton TO absolutely refuse abide by the will Of
the majority of the party 1t bolt the party
ticket 1t means to defy party law and party allegi.
ance and reverses the principle upon which the
ton is founded ajoriiy rule. To refuse to stand
squarey by each nominee will brand the Democratic
party as u traitor party instead OF the Democratic
party. It Is in honor bound to do So
II the majority OF the party-the great majority at
that's refused he power to guide the party, who
will do sO2 Must egotistical parsonage hoist
himself up the party's dictator? In the name of
high heaven, if to follow the minority how do
we know where we are to be led? The majority of the
man who refuses to stan by his party is boter.
Before the Democratic party acted there nj sht have
been for members being in favor Of
uniting with the Silver Republicans. 1t nil hit have
been for the good of the par'y-whi n / do not be.
leye. Let that be rs ii may, ii is too late for
any Democrat to te foun still advocating what his
party by an overwhelming majority has said should
not be done. Ii his party has declared for principles
which he can not conscientiously support he should
| abandon it and join other that comes nearest
representing his views. Before party acts is the
time for full and free discussion aud afterwards
Let us see for moment what reasons are given for
repudia'ing the solemn agreement made with the
Popnlists. 1t is for no other purpose than eectng
Mr.. Dubois TO the Senate tie is to be elected al
though We are compelled to break our agreement.
He is much greater than agreement, principle or
party. To repudiate an honorable agreement, aban-
don party will and lose the confidence Of one of the
great parties in the state Is entirely excusable il Mir
Dubois is back the senate True it is that At
the time the Joint convention held there was no
silver Republican party the State and there was no
opportunity for the Democratic party unite with
party that did not then exist but it should now say
to the Populists: II made an agreement with you
upon. honorable terms, but | better friend to
Mr. Dubois than am to NV agreement. l prefer TO
break bond of honor with you and teiriend Mr..
Dubois, who has always fought me, than to honor
ably win"
That kind OF reasoning may appeal to some, but to
me- delegate to the last Democratic State Conyen-
ton, it smacks Of base betrayal party dishonor
have entirely too much confidence in the manhood
OF the Democl attic party of the State to think for
moment that such argument win. Mr. Dubois
and his friends at Boise city in their individual
to enter into any political agreement and | am in
formed by ereditn5e authority that efforts were made
to prevent the Democratic aud Peoples party from
uniting. With two tickets in the field the Repub.
licans could sweep the State and the other parties
would make a fruitess race as usual
notice also that the Democratic national commit.
tee is anxious that some disposition should be made
of Mr. Dubois and that Mr. Walsh, secretary Of the
committee, has issued address purporting to re-
lease all Democrats from the contract they have
made. This is most remarkable proceeding 1t is
ahigh-handed piece of impotence and will meet with
the contempt of the who assisted in placing the
ticket in the and every man in the Democratic
party did that The contract was not made with the
national committee nor with Mr. Walsh, and more
than that neither were even consulted before the
agreement made. Mr., Walsh nor no other man
committee Of mon has power to release from our
agreement II is beyond the jurisdiction Of the Ma
tional committee and as much local affairs
are beyond the jurisdiction Of the National admins.
tration Her majesty, Queen Victoria, has as much
pow err in the premises We capable OF managing
our State affairs aud the National committee goes
entirely too far when it attempts have stultity
ourselves and cover the Democratic party Of Idaho
with dshonor by violating solemn political agree
ment for the purpose Of elec.ing Republican to the