Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-04-24
McBEE NOMINATED HARRISON
Made FOrccfuI Speech In Favor Of
Convention in that Town.

mhuc FOfccIW speech IN Favor OF
Convention in that Town.
Among the interesting features
attendant upon the meeting of the
democratic county central committee
in the city yesterday afternoon, was
the address of Edwin McBee OF Rath-
drum, In placing in nomination the
town OF Harrison as q candidate for
the county convention. MIR. McBee
among other things in his nominating
speech said:
Il hold In my possession a proxy
from the central committeeman of
Harrison. 1t was given to me, be-
cause the committeeman shared with
me identical views upon all the ques-
tlons which we anticipated would be
apt to come before this committee
for consideration, and because he
realized full well that upon all these
questions his vote would be cast
In accordance with his views as
he had expressed them to me. l
have also another proxy and have
endeavored throughout the proceed
ings of this committee to faithfully
discharge this confidence and trust
reposed in me. have endeavored
to conduct myself in all matters per-
tanning to this committee meeting
just as those committeeman would
have conducted themselves had they
been In attendance, and realizing
that we're they present at this SEES
sion they would favor Harrison as
candidate for the county conven-
ton, deem 1t my duty to place in
nomination as the place for holding
the county convention the town of
Harrison.
II have conversed with the com
mltteemen-the business men and
citizens of that place, and all have
expressed themselves as DESTROYS of
having the convention go to that
town. and have assured me that the
city will welcome and afford the
best of entertainment to the dele
gates making up the composition of
this convention. A distinguished
friend OF mine, Charles Hoffman.
leader and dictator of the republican
machine In Kootenai county. is said
to have recently remarked that poll
tics was a great and grand game, and
that In war he who would be sue
cessful must reward his friends and
punish his enemies. and when Har-
risOn come up as a candidate at the
meeting of the committee where these
words were uttered he carried into
execution the idea he had framed
into words, and through his man
ipulation gave the republican county
convention to Spirit Lake. l am not
prepared to say whether this SEEM
ingly oppressive rule laid down by
this politician Is guiding one to
success In the political arena or not.
| do not know that there were many
Harrison republicans who voted the
republican ticket last campaign, and
know that there were those who re-
VOTED against the machine rule Of
Hoffman and voted the democratic
ticket. and that they did so because
In doing Il they felt that they were
casting &C the polls conscientious
ballot, am not. as I have said,
prepared to say whether the policy
mapped out BY Hoffman and placed
IN execution was political wisdom or
not. but do not believe that it was
right--that II was just--but that 1t
was a blow directed by a machine
created for the purpose of fattening
few with political spells and booty
Ito crush out independent polit-
teal thought and independent voting
at the ballot box. and / am prepared
to say that democracy does not be-
lteve In muzEling the freedom Of
speech---ln Stacking the minds OF Its
s--eircumscribing their ac-
lions at convention. or on any other
occasion. or melting out punishment
for their Independence Of action al
the polls. but believe In absolute