The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-07-22
EDIToRsssHoULD OBEY

DeWduluS Tie ldCL JudI ~ udo sSSAS-
lated away certain privileges OF sell
ing advertising space, e
These gentlemen have been SO ac-
cust0med to selling space at such rates
as they and their customers agree
upon, that some of them do not COM
prehend that the state has the right
70 interfere and to say that they shall
not receive pay for announcements
that certain candidates want to be
nominated. They reason that IT is
their own space, their own paper,
their stock In trade and that they
can do what they please about 1t, but
some Of them will probably have to
60 through the tolls before they
grasp the situation.
A Parallel Case NJ
The people have learned that sell
ing whiskey is not for the best in
terests Of the state, ind they authors
zed their legislators to enact a law
forbidding men who own whiskey to
sell it or to give it away; forbidding
them to sell wine, beer or near-beer
or anything that serves as a cloak for
conveying any kind of malt liquors
whatsoever, and the liquor men all
tho while set up the protest that they
would do as they pleased; that this
is free country and that such law
should never be enacted; when en-
acted they said it was unconstitution-
al and could never be enforced; and
when the courts passed upon 1t and
said it was constitutional certain
class of men said public sentiment
would be SO against it that it would
become dead letter on the statute
books, and would develop more GRIM
inals evading the law than had been
developed in consequence of selling
liquors openly.
But that is proving to be erron-
eous; they were simply one-sided in
their views of life, and are compelled
to recognize the fact that where the
public has an interest 1t has a right
to safeguard that interest and 1t will
do it.
Now all the editors of the state are
placed in the same position for al
period for public good, and it isl
right. 1t has been found that 'un-
principled men engaged in editorial
work because it afforded opportunities
for making money easily IL they re-
sorted to unfair and corrupt practices
in politics. They could sell their
editorial and professional influence to
candidates, and under the pretense of
thinking that a certain man was the
fittest one for the Office, would boost
him in every way they could, and thus
get scoundrels into Office.
The new primary election law for
bids this practice, and says practically
that an editor may aid candidate all
he likes so long as he does 1t from
friendly or patriotic motives, but the
moment he does 1t for profit or from
any pecuniary motives he becomes a
criminal and shall be subject to pun
ishment, and the fact that editors do
not like 1t and are disposed to ignore
it or ,evade 1t or seek subterfuge does
not change the law nor it's perfectly |
proper intent. It's purpose is to pu-
rify politics, and editors who seek to
evade 1t will speedily 60 out Of the
newspaper business If they persist in
It.
H Section "a applies to the candidate
and provides penalties for hsi VIOLA
ton of the law and section % pro-
vides for the punishment of the pub
Usher If he accepts what the can
didate offers. \
Sec. "a. No person shall, In order
to aid or promote his own nomination
to an Office under the provisions of
this law, directly or indirectly, him
self or through any other person, give
pay, expend or contribute, promise to
give, pay, expend or contribute any
money or other valuable thing or SER
vice, except for personal expenses.
The words, Personal Expenses, as
used in this law shall include only
expenses directly incurred and paid
by candidate for travelling and for
purposes properly incidental to travel
ing. and for writing, printing and pre-
pairing for transmission any letter, cir.
cular or other publication, not issued
at regular intervals, whereby he
states his position or views upon
public or other questions, for sta
tionery and postage, and for the me-
,cessary expenses in hiring halls. or
other room for the purpose of hold
ing public meetings to address the
voters and others upon public Ques-
H. ~ - A. l. - -