New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-27
ARBITRARY INTERFERENCE"

Here's more trouble for Senator Jones. or
Arkansas. the statesman who as chairman Oh
the Popocratic National Committee conducted
the late campaign with such brilliant success
that he had Mr. Bryan elected for several days
after the votes were counted. Sixteen or the
eighteen Democratic members of the Idaho Legs
lature have signed dispatch to Jones denounc-
ing his arbitrary interference in local affairs as
"a violation of the Constitution Of the United
Estates and a crime against free institutions.
This il hot STUFF in the way Of language, but
the Idaho Popocrats or Democrats or whatever
they call themselves. are in the habit or ex-
pressing themselves warmly on the most ordi-
nary occasions Jones's offence appears to be
that in his capacty Of chairman Of the National
Committee and general manager Of the party he
advised the Democratic members OF the Idaho
Legislature TO vote for Dubois for United states
Senator. Dubois being-well. 1t Is hard to tell
precisely what he is, except that he Is not Re
publican. He was elected Senator as RepuD-
ljcan. but left the party in the last campaign
and Is now "sloshin' round between the Demo-
Gratis the Poptlists and the Free-Silver Repub-
leans without very definite relations to or hold
unon anv of them. But Jones for some reason
or other thought il would be good politics upon
re.elect him as a Democrat. Jones has been
very much mixed in his notions as to what con-
sttutcs a Democrat ever since the nomination
Of Bryan and the adoption OF the Chicago plat
form. For that matter, so has everybody else.
His advice TO the Idaho Democrats, as may be
gathered from the dispatch, was not we'll re-
ceived At least we infer as much from theiI
denunciation of it as "a violation of the Con
tai md m
against free institutions They go on 10 say
that 1.-THE adoption Of your suggestion to sup
port Mr.. Dubois would stultify our party and
forever damn in the estimation OF our consult
"uents every Democrat elected by the majority
"n the Idaho LEGISLATURE In this vigorous
statement the climax is reached. They might
be able to stand the violation Of the Constitution
and crime against free institutions. and even the
qualification Of the party: to such things though
they be raspng to the senslDlites ana Sc
we're upon the emotion Of patriotism, they are
not unused. But when it comes to being eter-
naly damned in the estimation OF their con-
stituents they feel that Jones Is carrying 1t TOO
far They say that to vote for Dubois would
bring upon them this calamity, and they Kick
accordingly. Moreover. they say, with reckless
prodigality. considering the telegraph tolls De-
tween Boise City and Washington, that Secre-
tary Walsh--whoever he may be-in seeking to
"set aside the entire machinery Of our State or
"ganzation before the campaign and now has
been guilty OF "a most high-handed unwarrant-
led proceeding. and unparalleled In the history
"of our American politics.
II all these things are true-as they must be,
otherwise these sixteen statesmen would not
have gone to the expense Of teegraphing them
10 Washington-it seems TO us that Jones should
be impeached for an arbitrary interference IN
local affairs" involving "a violation OF the Con-
"stitution OF the United States and crime
against free institutions" He should not be
permitted to run at large, to say nothing OF sit
ting in the United States Senate and acting as
chairman Of the Democratic National Commit
tee As for Walsh who has set aside the entire
machinery Of the Democratic party in Idaho-no
punishment is too severe for such a wretch-he
should be compelled 10 read William j. Bryan S
new book through without stopping and then TO
hear him lecture. Meantime, though we cannot
help feeling sorry for Jones, who seems to have
hard luck in putting his large Arkansas foot in II
at pretty much every turn in current politics, we
cannot refrain from extending our congratula-
tons 10 the sixteen Idaho statesmen who are
so nobly standing up against arbitrary interfe:-
ence for the Constitution Of the United States,
| free institutions and the machinery OF the Demo
cratic party ia Idaho II they maintain this de-
termjned attitude Dubois will never be reelected
or at least not until they have beep seen
|