The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-05-09
Historical Notes
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Parting of the Ways.

The Pocate1lo republican convention which met in
Tune of 1896 to elect delegates the national conven-
tion which was to meet at ST. Louis, was one of the
most dramatic and the most interesting in the history
of all parties of Idaho. This the beginning of
the break in the republican party, which at that time
was in entire control of the political machinery of the
state The legislature previously to this, had but
one straight democrat in either branch, that
Davis of Oneida county William H. Watt, demo-
crat of Blaine county, was a member of the lower
house. but he was elected by fusion of republicans
and democrats populst ticket in that county,
but voted for Shoup for senator. throughout did
Davis in the final vote.
A fierce struggle took place in the primaries of
the state and the county conventions leading up to
the Pocatello convention to send delegates to ST.
Louis.
Pending events in both branches of the national
congress pointed clearly to the fact that break
bound to come over the silver issue in the national
republican convention, and the two senator's repre-
sentng Idaho took opposite views in this contest;
Shoup choosing to remain with the party without
gard to it's action on free silver Dubois declaring
his independence of the party by resignng from the
republican caucus of the senate of which he was at
that time secretary thereby yielding up his chair
manship of the committee public lands.
A. A. Crane of Kootenal county was temporary
chairman and I4ytteton Price of Blaine county per-
n1anent chairman of this Pocatelo convention. Many
prominent characters within the party were present
at this convention as delegates, including Senator
Hepburn Senator Borah JOS. Perrault, N. J. Sharp,
Dan Lockwood. Vic Berbour, Mart Patrie, julie
Bassett Frank Smith, Monte B. Gwinn, Alex Rob
ertson C. W. Beae and George A. Robethan.
The real test in the convention through the
offering of a resolution to the effect that matter
what course was pursued by the republican national
convention as to platform, the delegates from Idaho
should remain in and endorse the platform OF the
republican national convention This motion was
voted down.
The second great contest came over the preSenta-
ton of the name of Senator Shoup as delegate 10
the convention, and he received the largest number
of votes of any except those who were hnaly chosen
The list of delegates chosen to represent Idaho III
this national republican convention and who Dolted
the convention were: Fred T. Dubois, Willis Sweet,
A. B. Campbell. Lvttleton Price, Alex Robertson
and Ben E. Rich
Of the prominent characters mentioned above as
members of this memorable convention, the following
remained with the republican party: Senator Hey
burn, JOS Perrau1t, N. ]. Sharp Vic Bierbour;
while those who left the party Senator Borah
Dan Lockwood Mart Patrie, julie Bassett, Frank
Smith. Monte Gwinn Alex. Robertson, c. w. Beale
and George A. Robethan
AS indicative of the spirit of this convention, we
quote the following, found in The Scimtars scrap
books from Wallace paper which paper gives the
details of the Shoshone county convention winch
elected delegates to attend the Pocatello convention
in 1896:
REPUBLICAN COUNTY CONVENTION.