Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-01-16
BLAcEFooT. IDAHO. JANUARY ia 1897
which Shall II BET

1
The senatorial balances of Idaho are
being adjusted for the final weighing
of Senator Dubois and a Populist. One
of them must go up, the other down.
That much is settled definitely.
Which shall it be? is the question
for the Democrats in the Legislature
to answer. They have the say, and
upon that say hang the hopes Of the
two men, and, we may add, of the
party for the next two and four years.
Let us look at the situation.
The Populists have nothing in COM
mon with the Democrats in the state
or in the Nation. further than through
their aid and support to gain office.
This statement is full Of truth and is
plain to everybody. In the South they
court favor with the Republicans and
seek alliances with them for position
and Office. In the West they offer to
fuse and do fuse with Democrats for |
the same purpose. 1t is Office and po-
sition then, and not party principle |
that calls for these fusions and alli- |
ances. They cannot win alone in any
state in the Union, and it is their his |
tory to fuse with any party that will
help them on to Office.
Whenever they make fusion with 8
party for office, that fusion ends with
the election held for that Office. They
look for nothing beyond election. The
truth of this statement is verified by
the proclamations of Chairman Butler
of their National Committee, of Chair
man Bateman of New England, and by
the utterances and addresses of men
of their party like Watson and Wash
burn. Mr.. Butler and Mr.. Bateman
have declared emphatically since the
national election that there shall never
again be fusion of the Populists with
the Democrats. These men are in
position to speak for their party and
they do speak. Mr.. Washburn in q
national address of the 10th of January
says his party shall never again train
with the silverites, that all alliances
are ended and that the party will go to
pieces by advocating the white metal
longer. In the face of these state
ments, proclamations and utterances,
are the Democrats of the Idaho legis-
lature going to give further aid and
power to these men by giving them a
United States Senator from the state,
and are they going to make the Demo
cratic party of the state the tail end Of
the PopuIist kite?
Let US see again. The Democratic
National Committee is in full sympa'
thy with the election of Senator Du
bois. Its course in the matter dis
closes the permanent character of the
alliance between the Democrats and
the silver Senators who bolted from
the Republican party. This alliance
is permanent and should be so recog
nized by the Democrats in the legisla
ture. The reelection of Senator Du
bois, to all intents and purposes for thu
national party, will be the same a
electing any Democrat Of the state.
will be more. His experience as Sen
ator, his high standing with his fellow
Senators and his bold battles for tn
interests Of his state and the grea
West give him an influence, a forcefu
power and weight, which cannot b
won by new man in congressiona
work in a single term. His election
of extreme Importance to the Demo
Gratis in the U. S. Senate and is shaI
ing the lines for the next congressiona
and the following presidential election
With these truths before them, will
the opportunity of giving aid to tn
national party and OF unifying ant
making solid the party in the state
THE NEWS appeals to the Democrat
in the legislature, in whose hands ar
suspended the balances, to listen to me
like Senators Jones, German, Teller
and others like them who know the i;
sues at stake, and begs them to act i
accordance with their wishes in maj
ter Of so much national and state in
portance, and it appeals further,
tnalrHhn McOHee vi Lle obdte Iou
mittee for the sake Of harmony, peac
and the future welfare OF the party in tn
state to throw the power OF his pos
ton in the same direction for the grei
good which will come of such patr
otto and statesmanlike course TIL
election of Senator Dubois, and a cleal
cut Democratic state administratio
will put Idaho in the Democratic co
umn for the march and elections Of tn
next decade.