The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1907-12-07
Violated Promises.

last State convention INDUCED in by the Republicans
of Idaho, it held under suppression during the
subsequent proceedngs-that is, the proceedings of
the Republican Legislature by which its pledges
were inherited That body so largely Republi-
can that out of membership of seventy-two, the
Democrats were able to muster only eighteen
The convention was profuse in its promises along
the line of legislation that has popularzed itself in
States representing those reforms that bring gov
eminent closer to the people, and the convention put
forth its declarations with the evident purpose of
gathering in the votes without fulfilling its pledges
The convention promised the people that its can
didates if elected would favor the passage of a
primary election law, antitrust law, an antpass
law and fellow servant law. These are measures
that operate in the States where they are in vogue
to the disadvantage of corporations and machines
and to the advantage of genuine popular govern
ment The Republican party represented the ele-
ment against which legislation of that character IS
aimed in alliance with the Mormon element and
together the two were able to overthrow almost
every agreement put forth by convention that pro-
claimed itself to be Republican.
A bill for a primary election law introduced
in the House by insurgent Republican and, with
the support of insurgent Republicans and Democrats
it passed the House. 1t was opposed in that body by
Mormons and Jack Mormons. In the Senate, the
bill was given the support of the Democratic MEM
hers and it encountered the opposition of the Nor
mon and lack Mormon members who succeeded III
defeating it. A bill for antitrust law was Ia
vorably reported by the judiciary committee OF the
House and was passed by the joint votes OF 1nsur-
gent Republican and Democratic members, being
opposed in the House by Mormons and Jack Nor
mons In the Senate the Democratic members Ia
vored the measure but was there defeated by the
Mormon and Jack Mormon alliance.
A bill for an anti-pass law was introduced in the
House by an insurgent Republican and 1t prevailed
in that body through the support it received from the
nsurgent Republicans and Democrats. 1t was OPP
posed in the House by the Mormon and Jack Nor
mon members and in the Senate it was defeated by
a like combination.
No effort was made to enact fellow servant law,
it having become evident that the Senate alliance OF
lack Mormons and Mormons against popular leg1s-
1ation was too strong to overcome, although the
convention alliance of the elements had VIZ
tuously agreed that the subjects under discussion
should be legisated upon in favorable way
It is safe to charge that the convention was de-
lberately deceiving the members of its own party
with the purpose of securing their votes on election
dav and afterwards betraying them into the hands
of the alliance
Rishon Tohn W. Hart, of Fremont County, rep
resented the hierarchy in the Senate and took occa-
sion while there to defend the celestial marriage
Bishop P c. Johnson, of Bingham County, was
leading Mormon in the House. President George
c. Parkinson of the Oneida Stake, was conspicuous
as a lobbyist during the legislative session. these
three leading Mormons opposed the Legislation the
Republican party had promised in convention ana
succeeded in defeating it. with the assistance of
other Mormons and Jack Mormons
The hierarchy was directly interested in the sup
preston of primary election law, which is
vehicle of the free expression of the people, if they
4 "a a,.nrecc themselves anart from the dictatlOn