The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-24
Especial Correspondence

away from home to get the news. This
applies with equal force TO political
news. While I was in a neighboring
state for short time last week
picked ND bit of political gossip that
has been kept a profound secret, ana
which is presented here for the nrsl
time in print Upon my return to Idaho
1 made further inquiries, and the re-
suit is that | am prepared 70 give II
as a Observation-Disclosures piece OF news
though not directly confirmed by the
parties most interested. Only Few
days ago Hon. a. H. Afford, speaker
of the last house Of representatives,
returned from southern Idaho, after a
prolonged stay, to his northern home,
Lewiston where he edits the Tribune,
one of the leading Democratic papers
of the state. Mr.. Affords mission was
wrapped in mystery. He moved about
in a mysterious manner; there were
mysterious meetings and mysterious
messages, and altogether the political
guessers have been half craZed-
According to my informant, Mr.. AL
ford has been touring the state IN the
interests of a plan to call an extra ses-
pose mainly to impeach the supreme
court of the state of Idaho.
Mr.. Afford interviewed all the MEM
bers OF the last legislature he could
find, feeling of them on this astound-
ing proposal His poll completed, he
returned to this. city and made re-
port to the governor, who is alleged TO
have despatched him on the mission.
Neither the governor nor anyone else
said to be interested in the plan, will
talk. All assume an attitude of severe
reticence as to the proposal to recon-
vene the legislature, but some deny
that in the event the body were again
1aA faura hHr o. serious
be taken to impeach the supreme
court.
The alleged plan of impeachment
evidently had its inception in the de-
cision of the states highest tribunal
in the fee law case, which was held to
be unconstitutional, owing to some
technical irregularity in its passage,
the court going behind the enrolled bill
in delVing into the matter. Other laws
have been declared unconstitutional
under this decision, and the people
have no reason to believe to the con-
trary that there is anything constitu-
tional in the Gem of the Mountains,
except, perhaps, the supreme court it
self. Excepting the first session, all
the other legislatures since statehood
are thought by the best lawyers to
have been unconstitutional, from the
fact that the apportionment bills come
under the general objection raised and
maintained by the court. For this rea-
son, when the question of calling an
extra session krSt came up, Governor
Steunenberg was in doubt as to which
legislature to reconvene; and when he
went back TO the historic first, he found
death had barely left a quorum.
1t was, therefore, according to this
story, decided to call the last legis-
lature in extraordinary session, provid-
ing the necessary number could be
pledged in advance to Impeachment
proceedings. Those advocating i'm
parchment of the supreme court main
tain that the tribunal, in its decisions,
has overturned every principle of sound
law as laid down in the older states
with respect to the question of going
behind the enrolled bill; that the de-
cisions of the Idaho courts constitute
vicious attacks on the law-making
branch of the government; in short,
that the supreme court of Idaho has
usurped powers not given it under the
constitution.
The result of Mr.. Affords poll of the
members of the last legislature is not
known, but it is said the governor will
surely call an extra session if it has
resulted favOrably to the impeachment
proposal.
SENATOR DUBOIS CRITICISED.
The appearance of ex-senator Dubois
in the capital, and his lecture on Ha-
wall has been an interesting theme of
conversation among the politicians of
Boise for several days. The senator's
Plan of campaigning has not met with
the approval he evidently believed it
would, for even prominent silver Re-
publicans have demonstrated with him
personally, pointing out that his efforts
to secure the aid of the women of the
state for his party is antagonizing the
other branches of the silver contingent
in Idaho rd he oh
cssume no aggressiveness, in public at
least, until the question of silver union
has been settled. The fact that the
senator came on the invitation of the
Boise Woman's Columbian club, a non
partisan organization, does not relieve
him, in the minos of those who believe
they have reason to criticise him, for
since the lecture the women of the
club, have given il out that the invita-
ton was extended after eX-Congress-
man Wilson had interviewed the men,
bers of the club in Senator Dubois be-
half. The women say it was distinctly
understood Senator Dubois was to
avoid any political references in his
lecture, combining it TO descriptive mat
ter. The uneasiness of the women on
this point is due TO the fact that the
authorization whereby they became
members of the National Federation of
Women's clubs distinctly prohibits the
Under any guise whatsoever. The pen
atty is dismissal from the Federation
The women think Mr.. Dubois lecture
was of a political nature, contrary to
agreement, and they fear the wrath of
the Federation.
However, the public, as a rule, do
rot agree with the women on this
point. The lecture, broadly speaking,
was not of political character, being
merely a recital of the results of the
senator's observation on the islands,
and statement OF his reasons for op-
posing annexation. The only apparent
ly reasonable criticism Of the lecture
is that the senator is open 10 the
charge Of catering prematurely to the
woman vote, thereby creating disaffec-
ton among those advocating a silver
union, and even this criticism is con-
sidered by many captious Senator Du-
bois' lecture was very interesting, and
although his opposition TO annexation
met the views of very few of his hear
ers. still all admired his earnestness,
and attributed to him only sincere mo-
tives in the position he assumed.
PROPOSED SILVER UNION.
The appearance of Mr.. Dubois in the
capital has i-fused new life into the
gossip over the proposed silver union
Mr.. Dubois is a warm supporter of
Union of the white metal forces for the
coming campaign in Idaho, and he is
Just now engaged in beating down op-
position to it in the silver Republican
ranks. A number of prominent silver
Republicans from different parts of the
state have conferred with the ex-sena-
tor on that important question during
in, Roicp a nd NH he,