The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1910-10-13
WHY THROW away YOUR VOTES?

Leaving u every personal wish, every prejudice every inherited or
acquired partisan affliauon, there are few real political observers who
do not concede that the republicans of Idaho have every reasonable ex-
peaaion of carrying the legislature at the November election
The best that could possibly be said for Mr. HawIey, democratic can
ddate for governor, i. that he @mght'win. He goes against a normal
republican majority o at least 10000 votes, probably a lot more.
Granting that Mr. Hawey is a capable, honorable mainland all the
good citizens of Idaho rejoice that it is SOFT is worth while to consider
what his election would mea to the state.
His platform is not a whit better than the republican platform, n a
single particular Assuming that he would live up to it As well IS the
republicans will live up to thers-ad to believe any more is foolish,
in view Of the fact that Governor Brady and his party have lived up to
me las letter OF heir patforms-he could not possibly Offer any spe-
cl inducement for the people to support him. On the other hand, there
are very potent reasons why they should net support him.
His platform is not as good IS the republican platform. The repub-
ieans passed the local option law; last year the democrats said moth
ing 1t all on that question, though they worked actively to defeat the
law. But the law was popular, the people demanded it, and now Nj.
Hawleyts party though he himself is opposed to the law, meekly says it
VIII stand for the law as it is-the republican law. No progress, not
eve a sincere hope that the presentlaw will be mantaned--foIown
the lead Of the republican party, and years behind The republican par
ms mo tbem two voars to spnr go ne nresant law Tno @" pom.+ ms 81.
fled with the present In he promise of a Carey Act commission a rail-
road commission, and any other important thing any one wants to name,
the republican party leads And it Keeps its promises. Why change
There is another even more important consideration, in view of the
fact that the republicans are morally certain to control the legislature.
II IS lot IN me political history OF ay nation state municipality or
any unit Of government, large or SIN II, that an executive of one political
faith and a legislative OF another, ever got the results that their pledges
might warrant one to believe. Granting that Mr.. Hawleys ability and
honesty ar equal to those Of the republican legislature, he is just as
saw lin HawIev dsmorat reformed Idaho a yp" thnv a Dy ntou uSo !"
the honor with a rival party that controlled the legislature? Would the
republican legislature willingly pass a law giving the governor the pow
er to appoint the great new reform boards, like the railroad or the Ca
rey Act commissions? Or would Mr.. Hawley willingly, Or otherwise, as
sent to a bill that took this power out of his and his partys hands?
Even the tro in politics knows that such a divided authority, with its
partisan jealousies, is almost certain to defeat the whole reform idea;t
Is certain Is the sunshine to bring a misshapen inefficient law, if
any At ali, framed along partisan lines, and worthless as a real reform
There is n argument. in saying that Mr.. Hawley is able or clean.
So re the republican candidates. The party nov in power has kept its
pledges; it will keep every pledge this year, as before. If the demo-
We're going to win the legislature, then it might be good citizen
to give them a clear field for their reforms, rather than block
all progress by elecdng an executive who would stop it all But they
possibly.
With a more advanced platform, with the men and the reputation to
good every syllable, every Implication of the platform, and with
harmony between themselves and the people, the republican party offers
The state a lot more than could possibly be secured from a divided gov
eminent 1t is a plain business proposition of whether it is wise to try
o do public business with two dissimilar elements that must work in
harmony if any good is TO be accom shed. 1t would be a baky team;
md the democratic governor that might be is going to be more baky
han the republican legislature that is sure to be.
by waste two years in standing still, OF moret than that in going
backward, when by voting the republican ticket straight progress is as
ured?