The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-08
By @. E, ARNEY.

Special to The Tribune.
BOISE, Ida, Nov. 6.-Thc new stat,
capitol building had cost the state o
Idaho on March L of this year 1924,
S06.S9. The last session of the leg
islaturc made an additional approprja
tion for this purpose of $4,000, The
session previous TO this one made pro
vision by which the state land boar6
could purchase for the state capito
fund the deferred payments on pub
lie lands, and this sum now amounts
to $4,000 more, which, with u small
amount left over from an original ap
preparation, makes today n total sun
on hand Tor expenditure for the con
tinuance Of the building Of approx
niately $147,O 900.
A recent contract was let to n local
firm, Murphy q Storey, upon which
work has Just begun. for the coustruc
tion of the approach to the capitol
building and for the fourth story. ii
is fairly estimated that an additional
sum of approximately $750,000 will be
| required to complete the building
without taking INTO account the wings
and this is presumed TO be adequate
space for the easy accommodation of
the supreme court and the state officers
proper. The last session authorized n
vote at the next general election 10
amend the Idaho state constitution so
the legislature would be privileged 10
! bond the state for an additional mil
! lion dollars 10 provide funds 10 com
! pletc the state capitol building to the
maximum Of the original plans.
! With the completion of the building,
rs contemplated by the Murphy Storey
contract. there is a plan on foot to
connect the new and the old state cap
itol buildings, which stand but twenty
feet apart, by closed walk on each
OF the three floors, so the entire old
portion of the capitol may be used
! for the convenience of the state legis-
lature; and by the appointive office
force Of the state when the legislature
Is not in session.
Of the present state officials. the
governor, Acknowledgements attorney
general. supreme court Judge. auditor,
superintendent of public instruction and
treasurer arc expected TO be candi-
dates for reelection. There has been
no public announcement Of the remain
ing officers, but il is fair TO presume
that few if any OF them would refuse
a nomination. especially that it will
now conc, if at all, through the dl-
rect primary route.
These aspiring officials arc all Re
publicanS Ia point of service. Jus
ticc !. y. Sullivan is the veteran of
the administration. lie was first elect
ed to the supreme bench at Idaho s
first state election in 1890, and has
been reelected twice since, the second
time on Il fusion ticket, he then be-
ing a Silver Republican.
Governor Brady. General MacDou-
4
Governor SweetSer are serving their
first term, while Superintendent Miss
Chamberlain and Treasurer Hastings
have each served two terms, or will
have done so at the end Of next year.
The primary election law is causing
q deal of speculation among the as
pirauts for public Office. Few if any
aspiraDts have operated under direct
primary laws. and il is entirely new
to the large body of the Idaho voters
just how TO reach the people for these
nominations is the disturbing factor
with the Idaho politicians. It is gen
orally conceded that the local papers
viii be very powerful in molding pub.
JIG sentiment for the respective candi-
dates. 1t is problcmatical what. if any
effect the present or previous party
organizations viii have in determin.
ing choice from the ambitious
An advisory convention has been
| suggested. Its announced purpose is
| 10 assemble 4 convention, under the
Republican organization, TO determine
what aSpiranfs viii receive ORGANIZED
support at the primaries. which must
be held. There are grave elements of
danger in this plan, and many are fear
full 10 enter into it, lest is should he
construed by the popuIus as plan
To beat the devil around the bush.
Others appear TO incline 10 the idea
that a fair and square advisory con
ycntiou would bc we'll received hy tho
people, who would rely with confidence
ON the suggestions of he leaders should
they assemble for the purpose of
strengthening party interests in The
shaping of the personnel Of the state
ticket.
There arc many disappoinimcnts over
the passing. of the old plan of uomi-
mating state officials at u convention.
These bi-aunuai conventions had their
attraction. They were looked forward
10 by Il great many with keen inter
est and the shaping up of conventions
| had become AN accomplishment with
many who, because Of their familiarity
with those who attend from wear 10
year and their experience with rules
Of procedure and convention tactics
where very powerful agencies i'm con.
Vcnilon results. These adopts at the
game in Idaho are not confined alone
. 20 the Republican party. The Dem
ncrats have some men who have passed
from the kindergarten class along ny
TO tho higher grades of proficiency i'm
the line Of convention munipuIatiou.
Tho history of the state is fun of
interesting, if not brilliant, achieve
mcnts of men in public life, who have
won distinction i'm state conventions
by their clever, adroit moves, made
TO The admiration Of The participants
and the lookrrs.ou
But his system is in vogue no more
II goes down and out before the popu-
lar uphe"val for reform. The conycn-
tion for the nomination of party can.
didatcs for office has been STYLED as
ihc bulwarll Of fraud. hy which The
masses arc deprived of their right Of
choice through The agency Of mauipu-
| lation, and that the direct primary has