The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-06-05
MACHINE POLITICS
AND OTHER KINDS
Presbyterian Brotherhood Holds In
teresting Discussion of Live
Topic.

and condemnation at the meeting of
the Presbyterian Brotherhood held
last evening in the parlors of the
church and those present, numebr-
ing about SO of the prominent bust
ness men of this city, were given
some idea how the organizations of
both parties properly pull the wires
at the right time and organize city,
county and state. The meeting was
by far one of the most interesting
held for some time. The subject un-
der discussion was, 1.-THE Brother
hood and Politics"
The meeting was opened with ex-
Governor j. T. Morrison In the chair,
who, after few preliminary remarks
introduced the speaker of the even
ing, James Bogart, who delivered an
instructive and highly interesting ad-
dress on the general subject, cover
ing the duties of the average citizen
and especially the members of the
Brotherhood In political affairs. He
stated that in order to keep politics
clean and to bring success to the par
ty every citizen should take it upon
himself to do all in his power to
work for that end. you should
not wait until after the various can
didates are nominated and then start
to interest yourself in the election, -
said Mr.. Bogart. "But rather, see to
1t that you interest yourself at the
very first of the campaign, and that
means when the primaries are held
Mr.. Bogart thought that every man
should make it point to pay atten-
ton to his party's call. He should
attend the caucuses in his ward or
district and then when the delegates
are elected to the city or, county con-
ventions, attend them also, and see
that the right men are nominated.
This policy holds true in state and
national politics. He went further
into lengthy discussion of the work
ings of the machine politics or more
particularly the organization which
conducts the affairs of both parties,
explaining how city, county and state
chairmen and committees are elected;
how calls for the various caucuses,
primaries and conventions are decid-
ed upon and issued; who issues them
and how the various leaders gain
their positions. Various other mat
ters pertaining to political parties
were gone into
In conclusion Mr.. Bogart urged
that theonly solution of the difficult
problem of getting the bulk of the
voters interested in clean politics, is
to work up public sentiment along
this line He stated that he was in
favor of party organization, and be-
lieved that all good citizens should
help in 1t. He further discussed the
direct primaries. but stated that he
did not favor it in regard to state
matters, claiming that it is more de-
sirable in local politics.
Following the address of Mr.. b.
CART, which was received with hearty
applause, Harry S. Kessler, DR.. ]. M.
Taylor, Ex-Governor Morrison, Mr..
Pierce and Supt. Williamson, gave
short talks along the same lines. 1t
was evident from their addresses that
there is a diversity of opinion in re-
gard to direct primaries, the majority
being in favor of 1t. Various reasons
were given for their objection to
the issues. A few claimed that they
had often wondered who called the
caucuses, as they had never seen any
names signed; others had never seen
the calls, etc.
In answer to the argument that
the citizen who took time from his
work to attend to politics, was as
good, If not better, as far as citizen
ship Is concerned. than the business
man who fails to take any interest
at all in politics. one of the members
present stated that this reminded him
of story. He said that the theory
had often been advanced that 1t could
always be foretold what kind of a
citizen child would make by plac-
ing before him bottle of liquor, a
dollar in silver and bible. the gem
eral supposition being that II he Sc
lectled the bible he would become a
minister; the bottle, a saloonkeeper;
or the dollar, business man. In the
case he referred to the test was tried
and the child pocketed the dollar, |
then took possession of the bottle and |
finally got up and, taking the bible,
walked away. When asked what |
kind Of citizen he would make. the |