The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-02-25
AMUSING POLITICS

In days gone by it was the custom
for an Idaho man wanting Office to
announce himself through some
newspaper published in Portland
Spokane or Salt Lake, and have IL
come as special telegram-latest
discovery -all-important, broke-out-in
-a-new-place, in-thehands-of-his fri
ends, etc. Then it was picked up and
repeated by the dailies in Idaho, and
afterwards by the weeklies, and all
the dear people were informed that
Mr.. l Wantit had at last been pre-
vailed upon to accept the nomination
for the position of Right Worthy
Grand Watchdog Of the Picabo.
Finally this thing became tiresome
and the newspaper men In Idaho
came to feel that il man had to GO
out of the state to make his announ-
cement, he ought to go out of the
state to get his endorsements and his
votes and his salary and all. Matters
have gradually changed until the Ola
method was looked upon in pretty
much the same light as Sears-Roe-
buck order for groceries, and home
papers were honored with the privi-
lege of breaking the news to their
own people, only the candidate now
takes a trip to the part of the state
fRrthest from home to fire the first
shot. His announcement comes in
the form of an interview, and reads
something like this:
II have travelled over the greater
portion of the state and have met
with many prominent citizens who
are anxious that | should enter the
race. have met with so much and
such unexpected encouragement all
along the line that l have decided to
become candidate for the position
of watchdog of Picabo.
II realize that it is only fair to
the people that they should know
where l stand on certain matters, one
of which is.the subject of toboggan-
slide commission to regulate tobog-
gan slide rates. In this matter l am
convinced that the development f
new snow and ice along the hill con-
tiguous to the slide and the increased
sickness of the beaten track, justifies
the establishment of such commits
sion, and if elected l will sit near
the ,hitching post and howl every
hour after midnight for the speedy
enactment of such law.
Another matter of growing i'm
portance is the question of how long
a camel can go without drink, and
l am irrevocably in favor of camels
being left to enjoy their thirst so
long as it may seem best"
Having unburdened himself of this
great weight, he swings on round the
circle, and on reaching home he finds
that his home editor has generously
treated the matter something like
this
I'VE are pleased to learn that our
fellow townsman, l. Wantit, of Fork
edville, has announced himself for
the position of watchdog of Picabo,
subject to the ratification of the Plea
boans at their id-summer primary.
This comes as most welcome an
nouncement to the people of Forked-
vile since he has SO often been men
toned in connection with that i'm
portant Office. Mr.. Wantit is a self
made man as the term goes, and he
has been eminently successful in
everything but hokuspokus, a thing
he has no time for and has always
neglected to indentify himself with,
greatly to his credit. He comes out
squarely in favor of rate commits
sion for the toboggan slide, and in
favor of the "drys."
Newspaper men have come to be |
regarded with suspicion when they
take an interest in anybody's candi-
dacy, and the last legislature enacted |
a primary election law governing the
means of securing nomination, and
it impossible for a candidate
and the editor to 60 into collision for
profits, and now If the editor takes
the trouble to say anything about =
candidate 1t must needs be from pure
ly patriotic principles or from friend
ship pure and simple, and as he
warns up, it will be inter-
esting to observe how seriously the
and the editors take them
selves.