The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-09-01
TRUE AMERIcANIsM. 81

The action of Judge X. T. Morgan
and his numerous friends, in assert.
ing their American independence at
the Standpoint conference, can In no
sense be termed bolt Of their party;
but 1t Is clean and manly protest
against the Republican machine
which controls the politics of their
party in county and state. In de-
claring for principle Judge Morgan
and his friends have proven them
selves the benefactors Of their party,
and when the votes are counted In
November will find that their action
has been endorsed by a large number
of their Republican friends.
The questions involved in this
campaign, so far as the state and
county are concerned, do not affect
the political principles Of either
Democrats or Republicans, but are
largely moral in their nature. Nor
monism IL state issue, and machine
rule may also be classed as another
state issue, because no governor has
before devoted so much time and en-
ergy to building political machine
as has Governor Gooding.
In the county campaign we have
the question of county division as the
chief issue, with the Democrats on rec
ord In a clearly worded resolution
defining the line, while the Republi-
can convention resolution avoided
this most important matter, and flnd-
Ing later that they had gone too far,
the leaders called a mass" meeting
which adopted the Democratic line.
This, however, does not bind thier
Legislative candidates, whose only in
struction must and did como from the
county convention, and no man, nor
set Of men, have power to change It,
Machine rule in the Republican par
'ty Of the county, and the arbitrary
manner Ia which the sl-ted ticket was
forced upon the party, are obnoxious
40 many Republicans.
For these reasons, and others
equally legitimate, Judge Ralph T.
Morgan and his numerous friends
and supporters, after mature deliber-
aion, and correspondence with prom
inent Republicans in every precinct
In the county who advised house
scieaning, decided that q stand for
principle would serve the best inter.
ests of their party, and had the cour-
age OF their convictions. It is by
tho independence of such men that
tbs safety and permanency of our
sferm Of government Is secured. They
are benafactors Of mankind
II takes a man of strong convic-
tions and courage to break away from
party ties, even when he knows II Is
right, because he 10 then subject to
all the abuse and vile wrath that his
former political associates can heap
upon him.
The action Of Judge Morgan and
his friends was not taken In the heat
Of passion, but after mature delibera-
tion, and as result It will have an
influence throughout the state, and Il
khe more important because every
effort was made by prominent pollti-
clans to influence Judge Morgan Co
remain loyal to the machine, and
tempting promises were made him OF
. fat federal position and the control
OF political patronage; but his sense
OF honor and right was greater than
the tempting offer Of those who
would use him to further their own
selfish ambitions. By their stand for
clean politics and honest dealing with
the people ON the division question
Judge Morgan and his friends have
shown themselves TO DO men among
men who from the bulwark of Ameri.
can liberty.
The friends Of Judge Morgan and
his advisers should stand loyalty back
of them and give voice to their action
at the polls.