Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-01-11
ABOUT OUR LAW MAKERS.
ISSUES SACRIFICED FOR SPOILS.
GOLDBUG SPEAKER OF
THE HOUSE.
Steunenberg VS.. Dubois
A Republican Presides over the Sen
ate-The Silver Forces Con-
fused by the P0buliSt
Obstructi0niStS.

ObStructiOntStS.
BOISE, Jan. 6-[Special Correspon-
dence. The fifth session of the Idaho
state legislature is now an organized
body clothed with power to make or re-
make laws for the people. The work Of
organization, according to many astute
statesmen, presented many grave difficult
ties and resulted in rather an unexpected
way. In the house the silver republicans
and democrats had good majority, but
in the senate the populists held balance
of power, there being ten fusionists, nine
republicans and two populists. Last Mon
day. the first day of the session, negotia-
tons were opened between the democrats,
silver republicans and the populists, look
ing to securing both branches Of the leg
islature. The two populists held, as they
thought, a commanding position; and
they proposed to take advantage Of the
situation. In response to an invitation
to cooperate with the fusionists, they sig
nified willingness provided-and that's
where the rub came--they, the pops were
given two-thirds of tho loot, that is leg
islative attaches; and provided that they
were given a written promise that the
militia would be drawn from, Shoshone
county; and provided their proposed allies
would accept the initiative and referen-
mum as common party principle and
pass a resolution to submit constitu
tional amendment establishing initiative
and referendum.
sTEuNENBERG WAS WILLING.
II seems that the democrats, especially
those Of the Steunenberg stripe, were
willing to accept the populist terms. but
silver republicans demurred and finally
prevailed.
A counter proposition was then sub
mitted to the populists by the fusionist:
in which the one-third of the loot wa.
offered, but the militia provision and the
initiative and referendum eliminated
To which the populists in highly moral
and eloquent terms responded as follows
Resolved, That the peoples party
members of the legislature are above the
corrupt and scandalons practices of other
political parties by which decision and
support is influenced by the so-called di-
vision Of patronage or the parceling ont
of the paltry positions of attaches Of the
Legislature.
BY this faction the populists took posi-
ton on a political plane high above the
standard or even comprehension Of the
fusionists, represented on one hand by
Steunenberg and on the other by julie.
Bassett The result of it was that diplo
matte relations between these organiza
lions were abruptly terminated. The
democrats and silver republicans, which
hereafter should be known as democrats
went ahead and organized the house.
coIDBUG LEADS THE SILVER FORCES.
Hon. d. l.. Evans, a staunch Steunen
berg man, was elected speaker, and the
most remarkable feature Of it is that Mr.
Evans is a most devout and aggressive
goldbug. There is not man in the
state who more contemptuously and per
sistently sneers at the Is to fallacy
Moreover, he is very fevorably disposed
to the republican protective policy; sup
ports McKinley's war policy, and is cred
tied with having voted for Mckinley
state, owning large banking interests
many Thousand sheep, great herds of cat
, tie, big mercantile establishments ant
endless acres of land. He will probabl,
be prominent candidate for governo
! two years hence, but upon what ticket i