The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-01-17
FROM STATE CAPITAL (!
Some Of the UnMitten History Is 4 Ap-
pe6s to 4 SpetN (sreslaadent Of
Ihe klhe Re(Mdef.

oRNldl W i bt ncCOIucI.
Boise, January l2.-As l predicted
in my last weeks letter, the Gooding
machine, with the assistance Of his
friends, the Mormons, are absolutely
In control Of the legislature ard both
the house and senate win be the sub
servient tools Of the Salt Lake hier-
archy. This statement will not be
considered oyerdrawn when 1t is un-
derstood that J. Frank Hunt was
unanimously elected speaker OF the
house. The insurgents pocketed their
chagrin and walked up to the trough
and took their medicine very docilely,
even though many Of them made wry
faces when doing so. AS was predict
ed, Gooding Is in the saddle and no
bucking bronco from the north dares
to say a word against the high-handed
proceeding, or else of would come his
political head.
The machine realized that there
was some murmuring and threats
among the northern members against
Gooding's Mormon friends, and at
once called a caucus Of the few who
were in the city and began to crack
the party whip. While this caucus
was supposed to be irregular, yet the
intent was to keep the secrets invio-
late, but the whipped insurgents were
so disgruntled, and SO keenly felt the
party lash that they had togo to their
outside friends and relieve their over
charged feelings by emitting few
cuss words, which would not look well
In print. We must concede that
Gooding and his party henchmen had
things well in hand, and rode rough
shod over those who were opposed to
their methods.
1t Is well understood how the ma
chine converted Kootenai and Nez
Perce to their way of thinking and
forced them to swallow J. Frank
Hunt, and at the same time the hier-
tarchy. Kootenai county is seeking
for division OF the county, and 1t is
intimated that the machine gave the
members from that county plainly to
understand that they need not look
for any favors from the legislature
this winter IL they did not swing into
line. Nez Perce was not looking for
anything special this session SO an
other scheme must be worked to con.
vince the members from that county
that their interests laid with Goodine
and the Mormon church. Realizing
that nothing could be done by making
threats the machine adopted other
tactics. After the machine went intc
executive session and stated TO the
Nez Perce delegation that they had
concluded to give the nomination fol-
governor In 1908 to George w. Thomp
son, of that county, the delegation fell
over themselves climbing into tho
band wagon.
When the most bitter OF the insur
gents--those who had no axe TO grin6
during the session-ascertained that
the machine had whipped enough
members into line to assure the elec
tion Of J. Frank Hunt, they began noI
to fold their tent and steal away, but
to make bee line so as to be the frs
to gather under the drippings OF thu
Mormon sanctuary, presided over b.
their most influential bishop in Idaho
J. Frank Hunt. Governor Goodinl
was not at all backward in saying tba
the republican party owed il TO th'
Mormon people to elect Hunt. 1t 4
said that Gooding has said so often
"Where would be-, meaning the re
publican party of course, had 1t no
been for the Mormons?" that tn
northern members are now thorough
ly convinced that there is something
to the Mormon question after all.
The actions OF the secret caucu
were 80 rank, and was held with 8
little disregard for the feelings O
some OF the members that the proceed
ings leaked out. II is said that ther
were many protests against bein
forced TO so meekly stand for the dc
mands OF Gooding and support J
! Frank Hunt for the speakershir
Some OF the most influential member
OF the party tried 70 show what effec
his election would have upon the pull
lie sentiment In the state. One men
Der stated In the caucus, "We got u
gether this aftereoon AND done som
trading" Willard White, from Ad
county, tried TO point out what eflec
it would have upon the party in th
future. One OF the local papers mus
have had a reporter on hand 10 tai
notes Of the caucus, as the followiu
report OF the protest OF Willard Whit
was printed the next day:
.'As i do not propose TO be misquc
ed In single word, / ask your indu
gence for a brief moment while / su
NIT my reasons why most empbati
ally oppose the motion under consi