Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-08-02
REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES
ARE noTLY CONTESTED
Fight Over the Leadership Mixed With Several
Candidates. Brings Out
Heavy Party Vote.

That the republican primaries held /,
here yesterday to elect delegates to the
county convention which meets here |
august sth was the liveliest affair ever
held In the city Of Lewiston h without
question. Early yesterday morning the |
workers of the various factions were |
laying the wires which vas 70 mean
the defeat Of one or the other That
the result was closely drawn " evi-l
dence Of the persistant organised effort
Of the Thompson johnson workers.
That the night II not vet ended and win
be carried into the county convention
AZ well AZ the next primaries and the
next county convention to nominate
county officers II apparent. The night
yesterday was the beginning and while
the Thompson johnson element claim
the day the opposition are equally con-
fdent OF the ultimate result and con-
tend that the victory was a. much
anti Thompson as 1t was for Thomp-
son.
It is not conceded. however. that thu.
fight in the three Lewiston precincts
settles the matter 30 far as the choice
for the state officers are concerned.
There are many complications In the
several tickets put up that so TO make
the true situation almost incompre-
hensible. 1t can be said almost with
certainty that the night was solely one
Of supremacy for control OF the state
organisation and the victory claimed
by the Thompson element would seem
to leave the impression that Thompscn
had gained the day. There ars many
who believe that the sentimant Of the
voters, who were inhaled in1O voting
FOR the Thompson ticket, were under
the impression thAt they were vetina
against certain candidates ftr|state Of
nee whom in reality they desired Il
turn down the one man.
In the West Lewiston precinct fhs
excitement was at fever heat. Gay
lord w. Thompson was at the polls
with his iieutenants tabbing every vot-
er that came to the polls. Carriages
and hacks were running to and from
the city hall all afternoon. The anti.
Thompson element were just as active
i in It's own interest. J. B. West led tn
anti Thompson forces and the battle
!: was a royal one for leadership in thi
) precinct The Thompson elemen
J claim the victory. The West elemen
claim the fight has not ended. Tha
the leadership of the West Lewiston
is claimed for Thompson can not b
denied. The votes tell the tale. Tn
story 10 different In the other precinct
Thompson needs them to control but a
the votes were counted his dominatio
Of the politics of Lewiston and Ne
Perce county seemed apparently endet
There were many adherants on bot
sides present at the count in the wei
Z Lewiston precinct. Doubt existed up I
, being counted. A doubt existed up
the last minute AZ to who had won tn
> victory. It was close. Eight votes
; what stood between the contestant
and the victory was for Thompson.
: great shout went up from the throat
OF the Thompson-Johnson sympathi,
ers and there was a grand rush to cell
brate their victory In the most fittir
style. Thompson and Johnson wei
carried along by the impetus Of II
crowd and the boys began to chez
for a speech. Hon. Miles 3. Johnsc
was soon hoisted on q convenient, tab
He made an eloquent talk on his p|
! sition with relation to his nght for II
nomination as attorney general on Il
republican ticket and stated that Il
domination Of his ticket was an ev
dence Of his popularity with the peopl
He made various promises provide
he was nominated and elected as q
f, torney general In substance he salt
"If I am nominated for attorney gel
= eral Of this state and am successf
- in being elected I wish 1t understo<
that on any measure Of important
coming before the state land board
!" any other board Of which may be
member, every citizen OF this sta
shall have an opportunity to EXPIRE
y his wishes upon such question. and
- will be governed by his wishes"
Mr.. Thompson was called upon
9 address the crowd stated that in Il
o victory which he said ne had pust W
= was . just demonstration Of the vol
Of the people. He said that the stat
i meut made that he worked for or W
y interested in the famous Clearwat
boom bills was untrue In every pArti
ular. He said that he was but wor1
ine for the interests and supreme
,ul Of the republican party that he want
pdl NJ once and that he was following Q
AsI the dSctations Of his ccnscienee.
Ri sasd nat It was . iasht among fhetie
rel Tor control Of the organisatase .,
thet ens o. the othsr must - -
-, .s,.