The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-14
WARM TIMES IN IDAHO
PLANS OF THE EX-SENATOR
HAVE GONE AWRY.
Ludicrous Phases of the Goldbug
Republican Meeting-Bill McCon-
nell Kicked Over the Traces-W.
E. Borah Candidate For Congress
"A Non-Partisan Judiciary.
Especial Correspondence.)

der the pot IN Idaho they did not dream
that in so short time the lid could
only be removed at great risk. The
thing is boiling merrily, and a stranger
might think he had fallen in with the
Nineteenth ward push in Chicago, or
bumped up against the frolicsome
Tammany tiger. Such early demon
STATIONS mean a campaign of great in
tensity, and every leader seems to
have knife up his sleeve. While on
the whole the maneuvers have been
characterized by great seriousness and
soiemnity, still there have been some
ludicrous proceedings. In this list the
meeting of the goldbug Republicans
is entitled unquestionably to the palm.
They came, they seethed, they col
lapsed. The prime mover in this little
circus was Mother Hepburn, the
elephantine sponsor for the gold party
in Idaho. Like all great bodies, he
moved slowly, and there was also a
noticeable ponderosity in his efforts to
explain about the Mckinley wave. He
talked of prosperity, promised, Of
course, and but for other evidences
than his personal appearance and his
tattened argument, one might really
have worked himself into the belief
that we were prosperous; for Mother"
Hepburn is one of the sleekeSt Speci-
mems of corporate care that ever rolled
onto roStrum. Just what became of
the boasted purpose to drag in silver
Republicans, is a matter of consider
able speculation, but of very little
doubt. The rank and file of the Re
publicans are specializing, and the sill
yer Republicans, without a suspicion
of doubt as to their position, are giving
the wood pile their exclusive attention,
and if any of them ever did have an
idea of returning to the goldbug party,
they seem to have had it knocked out
Of their heads by the recent pyrotech-
MICS of Mother" Hepburn and his pie
peclIing procession.
MCCONNELL MADE TROUBLE.
During the Republican conference
there developed a marked difference of
opinion as to the course to be pursued
to avoid antagonizlng the silver Re
publicans and at the same time mani
fest the proper loyalty to the powers
that be in Washington. The thorn in
the side of the conservatives was ex-
Governor Mcconnell, who insisted upon
advocating endorsement of the Gage
bill This was thought unnecessary
by the conservative element and they
voted Mr.. Mcconnell down; but the ir-
repressible aPoker Bill" as the ex-
governor is even affectionately called
by his admirers and others, holds a
and he was bound to give some express
sion Of his loyalty. So when it came
his turn to speak at the so-called rally,
he stopped over" tn use an express
sion of one of the Republicans who
desired silence on theesilver question.
This was a keen disappointment. but
1T did no harm, for the people on the
outside had no reason to believe that
there was anything but policy in the
exclusion of the currency question by
the other Republican leaders.
Some of the faithful actually pro-
Jected the idea of assuming at least
middle ground for the purpose of the
coming state campaign, and others
went so far as to propose a platform
reading something like this: Free
coinage and protection; not one. but
Doth, the argument being that it
would admirably answer the purpose
OF the next campaign, and could be
shelved If necessary in 1900 Just what
kind of straddle the Republicans will
only their state convention
will develop.
WAR ON MR.. DUBOIS.
The silver Republican leaders have
also been well represented in the capi-
tai city, their recent meeting having
attracted to the city the brains and the
oelhcosity of that organization. The
DhllDO
CLOSED doors, and until now the inter-
esting portions of their deliberations
nave not been made public.
IN the frst place, at one of the Ses- !
sions, Willis Sweet, ex-congressman
The north Idaho silver Republican !
leader, openly declared war on Mr.. Du- /
oois. This condition of affairs has
oeen surmised by some. but can state +
positively that. there is not a shadow 4
IF doubt about it. for / get it from a .
source, the reliability of which cannot
De questioned The combination
orlned years ago between Mr. Dubois
and Mr.. Sweet is off, and in future
-hey VIII pose as political enemies. The .
circumstances that led up to MIR.
sweets open declaration of hostiIities |
nave been thoroughly exploited here
,,L IN these letters, and it is IN
necessary to again review them. Suf- /
Ice II to say that Mr.. Dubois dicta-
oIial attitude was largely responsible.
:Ihe tacts of the case as bearing on
ar- SWeets ascendency are these: The :
tnairs of the silver Republicans If (
vas. decided. should be left in the hands
II the executive committee. then com
'oSed OF hve members To this the
'WeetiteS quietly acuuiesced notvith
tanding the powers of the committea
hen controlled by Mr.. Dubois. were
lmitless and that fusion talk was in
ne ar But no sooner had the COM
nlttee been invested with full power
o act hnally on all matters than the
sweet men suggested that the com
nlttee be increased to nine members.
there was some little contest over this
ut the proposal was finally carried.
ne Dubois men believing il would
ave no further effect than to brin@
ne SWeetites more solidly into line. |
}ut after the committee had been
amed the Dubois men discovered TO
nelr chagr1n that majority was con-
rolled by Sweet. The ex-congressman
I once assumed an attitude of aggres-
iveness, in striking contrast to his
ormer lamb-li1e demeanor. and at
nee opened his batteries upon Mr..
dubois. With a majority of the COM
httee at his back he openly declared
var on Mr.. Dubois. The combination
hat had stood the storms of political
ascension for years was off and Mr.
weet viii now control the silver Re
ublican party in the state of Idaho.
IS these facts have not been published
seems proper to go into these de-
ais. 1t might be explained that the
liver Republican committee last year
Exercised a greater power in the control
I the affairs OF its party that is
1t, of course. arranged for.
be convention. fixed the apportion-
tent. etc. but it also managed to
Manipulate matters so as to control
ne convention. 1t viii continue to do
0, but another hand will be at the
elm This committee will call the
and it can arrange matters
0 as to assist or prevent a general
liver fusion, all of which is of great
loment to Mr.. Dubois. who is attempt
lg to trade the state offices this year
r. Ifrf |
)r his senatorial candidacy two years
ence VIII Mr SMaat do all in his