The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-10-19
Speech at Pocate||o by Idaho's Foremost Public
Man Vital Issues Of This Campaign
Discussed Steunenberg Case
and Mormon Question

United States Senator W. b. Hepburn,
ldaho'.s foremost public man. delivered
the following brilliant address in Poca-
lelo Tuesday evening October 8, before
one of the largest audiences ever as
sembled in the Gate City:
Mr.. Chairman and Fellow Citizens
A few weeks ago the Republicans of
Idaho met in this hall for the purpose
of formulating and declaring the prin-
cples of the Republican party, and OF
nominating candidates 10 be submitted
to the people at this election. They had
nothing new in the way Of party prin-
ciples to offer you; it was merely Il
reaffirming of the recognized, long-tried
principles of the Republican party
/ saw an editorial in one of the Dem
ocratic papers of the state yesterday
Which complained that in my political
address delivered at the town of HALEY
Il few days ago that / was preaching the
same old political doctrine that I had
been preaching for the last twenty
> years The editor no doubt thought
when he wrote that statement that he
was charging me with something that
should be reformed. I plead guilty to
it. He could have paid me no higher
compliment than to say that I was rep
resenting the same political principles
today that did twenty years ago. The
Republican party is party of principle.
1t dominates it's candidates, not for the
purpose Of formulating new policies, or
new principles, but for the purpose of
managing the affairs Of the government
according to the long-established and
MISUNDERSTOOD principles of the party.
The candidates, while we see to 1t that
they are men worthy to represent the
party and it's principles are all less i'm
portant than are the principles Of the
party. They have not changed; they
will not change. The scheme Of govern
ment which the Republican party stands
for. enacts into law and enforces as
law, are the principles upon which the
nation was originally founded.
Stable Government.
Minor local and neighborhood differ
ences or conditions cannot change or
modify the great, broad necessary prin- |
ciples Of the Republican party. To al
low every side breeze Of sentiment or
Of local conditions to effect change In
the policy of government would render |
it uncertain, unstable and unsafe; and
the Republican party pleads guilty, and
I, in speaking for it, plead guilty, to
preaching the same doctrine that we
preached in this state and elsewhere
twenty years ago, and we are preaching
the same doctrine and representing the
same principles that those who founded
the great party preached, believed and
enacted into law.
So that we will start out upon that
basis, and discuss the principles Of the
Republican party as a permanent propo-
sition, and not as an evershift1ng wing
or an ever-futtering sail seeking to
catch favorable breeze to drive the
bark into office. (Applause.)
The Party's Purpose.
Political parties in this country are
organized for purpose The purpose
is either good, bad or negative. Once
in while a small percentage Of the
people, conceiving that things should be
different. will organize themselves into
what they call new party 1t Is of
uncertain growth, and subject to
speedy death. Do you realize that to ev-
cry person in this audience. and in this
country under thirty-two years of age,
the things that happened before the
present reign Of Republican prosperity
are only history; that to have been a
voter in 1896, to have participated In
the political affairs Of the country, one
must now be at least thirty-two years
of age? I see before me a great many
in this audience who are under that age.
To those we have message. Those OF
you whose years enable you to remem-
Der. to have participated in the expert
|
years Of Republican rule ask your pa
thence while 1 speak for few moments
to this younger generation. numerous
enough today to change the political
power and complexion Of this country.
There are enough voters in the United
States who cast their first vote since
that time to turn the election either way.
with large majority to spare Now,
1 will agree that great number, large
percentage Of that younger voting ele-
ment, have been alert; they have learned
by listening by reading, by studying of
the conditions that existed prior to the
present Republican era, the times when
the Democratic party was In full and
complete control In the nation-Presi-
DENT and congress-An thu ststs Of Ida-'