The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-11-27

lature. is 1t not very poor taste on the
part of Senator Hepburn to oppose
the passage OF such law? Why at
the end Of another term of six years,
should he be afraid to trust his cleo
tion to vote of the people? Is not
this very fear on his part significant?
am friend Of Senator Hepburn.
/ want to vote for him II 1t seems
best. but ! was delegate to the state
convention, and ! know and every
other delegate in that convention
knows. that had Senator Heyburn's
endorsement been deferred for IL
hours, no endorsement would have
been given him by the convention.
] believe the press of the state
should advise members-elect of the
nature of the fight that is to be made
against direct primary at the coming
session Of the legislature.
One of two things will happen un-
less the friends Of direct primary are
on their guard: first. the friends OF
Senator Hepburn, following his lead.
will defeat such law, II 1t is posi-
BILE. Should they find defeat of a
primary law impossible, they will,
secondly. attempt to draft bill to
suit themselves, making it SO obnoxi-
GUS as to utterly defeat the purpose
for which 1t was intended. The dele
cation from Shoshone county is al
ready at work oDl just such bill.
VIII you, as an editor OF wide influ-
ence in the state, help to prepare the
legislature for this piece of trickery
and give the people an opportunity to
say what they want?
During the last campaign, heard
one of Senator Heyburns speeches
against the direct primary. In the
course of his argument against it, he
asserted that no poor man could be
nominated under such a law. You
have only to cite the case of the state
of Washington at the last election to
give the lie to this statement. Mr..
Jones, elected to the senate over
Senator Ankeny, is a poor man, a
very poor man, while senator Ankeny
whom a direct primary law defeated,
Is many times a millionaire.
Since the election, notice that
the press of the state almost without
is strangely silent as
touching upon Senator Heyburn's sue
cessor. What does it mean? Is it
not ominous for Senator Hepburn?
l believe that this letter, if pub
lished in your paper, would call forth
a wide expression, and that is what
we need.
| have signed no name to this
article, because who am could be of
no possible interest to any one and
yet, should it be known, it might
work against me, and thus impair the
work for my county in the legislature.
In regard to the direct primary law,
The fact that Senator Hepburn is OPP
posed to something that your own
county favors, does not signify that
you and your county are to give up
your opinions because somebody diff
'ers with you. Senator Hepburn
differs with many people in Idaho,
yet the state chooses to return him
% the, United States Senate, and his
work is in the senate, not the legisla-
,ure. The fact that the state conven-
ion was not unanimous on the mat
er of direct primary law, and
prominent men of the state still dis
lgree, is significant, and should con-
rince legislators of the need Of care
ul work on this bill. Hepburn has
10 place in the legislature, and
should keep his hands off and prob
lbiy will.
The threat of Shoshone county
that they will defeat local
option and oppose the direct primary
S not proper reason for other mem
,ers going about looking for new ma
erial tor United States senator
When the representatives of the peo-
lie have made choice of Hepburn.
)ne violated pledge or threat of vio-
alton is not license for another vio-
alton. II Shoshone county members |
want to go on record as a bunch OF
epudiators let them do 1t. /!
1t Is unfair to Senator Hepburn to
barge that he is opposed to direct
Urinary law because he might fail of
reelection under it. He is probably
opposed to 1t on higher grounds, and
he is not, he is unworthy Of the po-
ition he holds.
II the convention changed its mind
q twelve hours. as stated above, it
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