The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-08-29
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.

began Through corporation influence he was easily
elected to succeed himself the state at that time being
in of those deadly moral and political frances
that now afflicts the mountain region
The political state convention held in South Da-
kota, in 1904, completely under the direction of
Senator Kittredge. Railroad officials hocked to the
scene from every quarter and in a caucus, the night
before the convention, presided over by Mr.. Kit
redge, the entire republican ticket was made up and
it ratified the next day by the convention
The railroads special free trains to the con-
venton city from all parts of the and the moral
effect of corrupting mob was added to the acknow-
edged supremacy of the enthroned railroad boss.
Idaho is going to witness another such scene in
a few days. here in Boise Perhaps not so bold and
domineering and INSCRIPTIONS but the machine will
go as far as it now dares to go and, with the en-
enlargement of success, will take complete and open
possession of politics and government next time
But in South Dakota, the final straw was laid upon
the camels back when Mr.. Kittredges railroad
venton took possession of the state The people be-
thought themselves that back in the populistic days.
a provision for the initiative and referendum had
been placed in the constitution and in the statutes
1t had remained dead letter under succeeding ma
chine rule, but it was now awakened from its long
sleep and put to work
A comprehensive primary election bill was initiated
and filed with the legislature. 1t the plain
stitutonal and statutory duty of the legislature to
submit the to vote of the people The
railroad masters of the state through Senator Kit
redge, commanded the legislature to violate the con-
sttuton and the law and refuse to submit the bill
and the legislature obeyed
1t then that the voters of South Dakota rose
against corporation outlawry and smashed the ma
chine All of its votares were turned out and Sena
Kittredoe went ALONG with Them The urinary
election law enacted by the next legislature with
out appeal to the initiative and referendum, for
an anti-nachine ticket swept the state and filled
the legislative body and the executive de-
partments with reformers. The primary election
law thus secured had its first trial last June
and when the ballots counted it found that
Mr.. Kittredge had been elected to stay at home No
more complete act of justice could have been mea-
sured out to him by his constituents.
There is no more corporation rule in South Dako-
a in Kansas and in North Dakota it has been near
y wiped out and will be entirely disposed of in the
next encounter. These uprisings in the middle west
are undermining the senatorial citadel of the inter-
ests The defeat of Long, Hansbrough and Kit
redge takes away three of the corporation votes and
adds three votes that will always be cast for mea-
sures of public benefit.
Iowa will send another reform senator to take the
place of Mr. Allison The Pacific slope is to be rep
resented by democrat from Oregon and he will
surely be of the right sort.
In the current issue of Golfers there an account
of the political career of Senator Ankeny of Wash
ington, that reflects credit the subject of the
sketch or the state he represents His term will ex-
pre next March and his successor is to be elected by
the incoming legislature
The last legislature of the state of Washington
enacted primary election law and the first election
under the provisions of the act will take place the
9Th of September, and a candidate for the United