The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-04-15
PLACE.

qulremenC only 10 LnO6o VINO were
candidates on the Gay "a ho4uing IL,
primary election, but this does moi
yet answer the Question as " no"
lar back such candidates should &C
in designating their personal" ex-
penses. Governor Brady Is accused
of being candidate even since his
iIst ele.tlon; he admiLs that he Is a
candidate now, but says he VIII lot
file a platform declaration, or make
a formal declaraIiGn OF candidacy Tor
some time yet. O'Neil has been an
acknowledged candidate for several
months and undoubtedly was a pros
pectlve candidate 1or several months
| before he became an avowed one, and
he was an avowed one several weeks
before he made formal declaration
OF mat TACT accompanied by a plat
form declaration. Clagstone took a
tour around the state and partlcI-
pated in various functions before he
made his formal announcement Must
lnese three men include in their
sworn statements expenditures al
ready made at this time?
Such statements would make
mighty interesting reading, wouldn't
they? 1t would be safe gamble to
wager that if the law should be SO
construed, not one of the three gen
tlemen has failed to disqnalify him
self from holding the office, which is
one OF the penalties for violating this
provision of the law.
But really, during all this prelimin-
airy struggle, is either any more a
candidate than he was maybe ten
years ago when the ambition to be-
come governor first Stung him.
If not, then the law has not ap-
piled yet. But why should it not ap-
ply so soon as a man makes a formal
declaration of his intention to be a
candidate? That, however. would
make the law apply to GLADSTONE and
O'Neil, who have declared their in
tention, but would not apply to Brady,
who is just as much Candidate"
as they are, though he has not made
his formal declaration of principles.
The effect of such construction
would be to cause candidates to de-
lay announcement of their principles
and of the platform upon which they
expect to make the fight, as long as
possible. Which may or may not be
an advantage just as you look at it.
The question has of course been
decided in the courts under laws,
however, worded different from the
wording of the Idaho law. In at least
one case it was held that this provis-
ion of the law does not apply until
the candidate become such by filing
declaration with the proper officer;
in the case of candidate for state Of
ice this is with the secretary of state
and in this state this year, need not
be made until June 10.
If that be the construction of the
aw, candidates may go ahead with
heir expenditures just as they please.
They may buy newspaper support; I
pay workers and managers in ad-
vance; build up Independent ma
buy votes to be delivered at (
he primary election; place money in
he hands of friends to be used during
he real campaign when they are for
hidden to use the same money or the
'ame methods, and, in fact, may do
my other corrupt or disreputable
hing they may see fit to do, or be-
ieve they can keep the public from
hiding out.
This is the construction, however,
hat the courts are most likely to ap- (
'ly to this law. In that belief, with
lue respect to the opinion of the
We'll papers which have been fight
ng the law so hard because of it's
Puritanical" provisions, the Capital
Jews believes the real criticism to be
irect toward it is that the law is
ot drastic enough in this respect.