Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-09-10
IOODING GRILLS
REPUBLICANS
enOunces Acts of State COnyen-
ton as Reputation.

cago In response to telegram de-
handing his immediate presence
there In connection with some mat
tiers of the highest Importance rela-
tive to irrigation development In this
state. The governor has returned
and has had time to 60 carefully into
the conventions action and today
he made the following statement:
The convention was great dis
appointment to me, especially in the
defeat of Congressman French and
the refusal to include strong advo-
cacy of a direct primary law in the
platform. 1t had been taken for
granted some time that Mr.. French
would have no opposition for the con-
gressional nomination. There were
large number OF the delegates in
structed for him, sufficient in num-
Der to insure his nomination, but
Mr.. French paid the price for stand
ing for the rights of the people.
Republication OF Pledges.
1T is well known there was an
organization formed of ali the men,
bers of the Ninth legislative session
among the republicans. who repudi-
ated the party's pledges, looking to
the control of the nominating con-
vention, and Congressman French
was slated for defeat by this organi-
cation. Open. threats were made
against him, because of the fact that
all the legislative representation from
his 0atah) county, had stood firm
for the faithful performance of the
party pledges. Mr.. French was ad-
vised of this but it was thought that
the organization would not be re-
vived. But evidently new life was
breathed into it and with the assist
anee OF, Hoffman and Thompson and
other combinations. our present con-
gresham met his Waterloo.
I'm my Judgment this is to be
much regretted as Mr.. French has
grown to be strong man in the
house of representatives and his ex-
perience of six years in congress
has made him particularly valuable
servant of the people.
Need Direct Primaries.
Possibly no better demonstration
has ever been given a people of the
need of a direct primary law than
the broken pledges of the Ninth legis-
lative session and the wholesale re-
pudiation of instructions by num-
Der of county delegates at the last
nominating convention. / sincerely
trust that each county will take up
this important matter and instruct
its senator and representatives to la
Dor for the enactment of such a law.
A direct primary law, in my opinion,
is step toward better government,
for II makes the nominees of the
party for all offices directly response
BILE to the people.
Says Hepburn Is Wrong.
Nor do agree with Senator Hey
burn that the party should not pledge
the state nominees and its members
of the legislature to the enactment OF
it's pledges and principles into laws.
The people are entitled to know posi-
lively what the party stands for. No
man should accept a nomination on
the state ticket for the legislature
who is not in full accord with the
principles and pledges of the party
enuneiated in the platform. Every
member of the legislature practical
ly comes doubly pledged on legisla-
ton; first. by the state convention
and then by his county. The man
who repudiates these pledges should
himself be repudiated by the people
IT he asks for their suffrage.
Advocates Railroad Commission.
II regret that the convention did
not declare for a railroad commits
sion law. or possibly better for q
public service law. Idaho is one Of
the few states Of the union without
legislation along these lines. This
neglect on the part of the platform
makers can. however. very properly
be taken in the county conventions
and instructions be given the nomi- |
nees for members OF the legislature.
Practically all the counties which |
have held conventions have declared
in favor OF such legislation. The
good work should 80 on"