Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-02-13
The Result is DepIorabIe.


down-hearted and filed with aches.
pains and deep regret. Even Mr.. Heit-
field himself, It's said, did not rejoice
over his own election, but is downcast
and gloomy. We don't believe that an
election OF q. S. Senator, at any time,
in any state of the Union, has been fol-
lowed by such dissatisfaction and re-
greet. Members of all parties in the
legislature are more or less RESPONSE
BILE, but the Democrats deserve the SEE
verest censure. They named few
Populists they would support, and en-
phatically stated they would vote for
no other. None of the others named
were but little, If any better, qualified
for the place than Mr.. Heitfeld. In
this list they did not include the brill
liant young Populist orator, scholar
and statesman, Frank Walton, nor that
giant in intellect, whose craftsmanship,
forensic force, earnestness and honor
are known and recognized throughout
the length and breadth of these United
States. The idols of the people Of this
state were Clagett and Dubois. They
were the candidates before the people,
and even though an able man had been
chosen other than one of these two.
murmur of regret would have gone up
all over the state. All agree that Mr..
Heitfeld is an honest man. When
TINT is said, all is said. He is not an
orator, not speaker-not even q good
talker. He is not scholar, and not
man who is well informed on political
questions now before the American peo-
pie. Now is the time we need our
strongest men in the halls of Congress
men who haYe the courage and abil-
ity to stand up in debate against the
intellectual giants to be there met
with. The state has such men, and on
two of them the hearts and hopes of
the people were conferred. Judge Clag-
cit was first choice, as shown by the
result of the election, but the men
NASSbCu ~ S1AIy Jul bhC NlSuGS VI buc
people have basely betrayed their con-
stituents. If Mr.. Heitfeld could APP
preciate the feelings of the people OF
this state, We believe he would resign.
BY such a patriotic and unselfish act,
he would win the everlasting gratitude
OF the people of the state. To Mr..
Heitefild's credit it can be said he is
not responsible for the calamity that
has befallen our young state. He
was not an aspirant for the place.
Through q. combination of treachery,
stupidity and total disregard OF the in
terests and feelings OF the people in
the matter, Mr.. Heitfeld won the prize
iif in his keeping it can properly be
termed price without the least effort
on his part. Il has been done, and car
not be undone, except by patriotic
act his part, that we believe would b
unprecedented. Senator Dubois de
plores this mistake as much any one
1t is current in Boise, and we believe i
is true, that Dubois, knowing he coul,
not reach the prize, would have pre-
ferred the election of Clagett, and if h
had been certain that the result of tn
final ballot would have been as it was
would have thrown his support to Clag
EFT. Knowing that he himself woult
gain four votes on that day, he coull
not be expected to throw his supper
to any other candidate without bein.
certain that the next ballot would en-
the contest. Senator Dubois was urged
we have heard. BY high state official
TO demonstrate his loyalty to silver b,
supporting Secretary Of State Lewis
ITO prevent the election OF gold bug.
Dubois replied that he did not need /.
demonstrate his loyalty to silver, AM
said that no gold bug could possibly b
elected with but one gold bug membe
of the legislature. The state officia
said there was danger of the election
OF Clagett. This aroused the Senator
and he paid Judge Claggett high com
pliment, and said that the Judges 10y
atty to the peoples cause and his abil
ity could not be questioned, and tina
whenever he saw that II was a Ger
tainty that a Populist would be elected
his support would be thrown to judy
Clagett-that he was interested in see
ing the state well and ably represented
The situation throughout the state wa
exactly this: Those who preferre,
Judge Clagett felt that il he were de
feated the state would be well repre-
scented that Senator Dubois would b
the victor. Dubois followers felt Ger
tain that If he were defeated Judg
Clagett would win the prize, and the
knew that he would honor the state Al
Dubois has honored it. 1t was con
test between two men who are exactI,
alike on the great issue that now take
precedence OF all others with the PEG
pie Of this state. The fact that neithe
of these gentlemen tboth of whom
measure up to the dimensions required
30 fill this great Office were elected