The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-07-29


had big job to attend to and select
ed their man accordingly. The Wash
ington view is that Colonel Hamer
is attending to about as much as or
dinarily falls to the lot of several
congressman, and that he is doing q
first class piece of work. Colonel Ha-
mer enlisted as private In the Span
ish- American war, and rose to the
rank of lieutenant-colonel of his regi-
ment. He became military governor
OF the Island of Cebu, and associate
Justice Of the Supreme Court of the
Philippines. This is his first session
in congress, but he has an acquaint-
ance and influence that many men
have not been able to attain in years.
Idaho has immense wealth in the
raw products that it furnishes, and In
the formulation of the present tariff
bill Colonel Hamer succeeded In Sc
curing rate Of one and one-half
cents pound ON lead, after the bill
had been practically completed and
the schedule placed at one cent a
pound. Wool, sugar beets and lum-
Der are the three other principal pro-
ducts and Uncle Sam has taken care
Of them all in the tariff schedules,
but one Of the principal reasons was
that Colonel Hamer was on the Job
looking after his states interests.
It Is said that out In Idaho there
is some criticism Of their congress-
mans alignment with the regular"
republicans--but quite likely this is
mostly campaign talk. True to the
traditions and the policies OF live
western men, Colonel Hamer early
discovered the surest way to get what
his state needed, and then he buck
led to the task and, began to land
things. If such states as Idaho do
not need tariff protection and piece
Of the "pie" that is being handed out
for reclamation and other great pro-
jects, then the functions of congress
might just as we'll be suspended; and
the strong man who can strengthen
comparatively weak state would
certainly be a dullard to come to
Washington with any falsely framed
notion that he is going to lead in a
great wave of political reformation;
that kind of thing may at this time
have certain degree of popularity,
but it fails to fit in with the plans of
practical congressman who have a
great deal to ask for on behalf Of
thinly populated states. Idaho GER
tainly possesses wonderful strength
in both branches of congress, and her
progressive sons are putting the state
on the map as it should be. Colonel
Hamer is interested in a bill to re-
store eight hundred thousand acres OF
public school lands, lately included in
the national ofrest reserve, to the
state, and his enlarged homestead
bill, which has also passed, provides
for 800 acre dry farm entries, max.
ing available millions of acres Of land
in the state that otherwise would re.
main unsettled. The great reclama.
ton projects of the west command
the earnest attention of all such leg.
islators as Colonel Hamer, and the
representatives who can best for
ward this kind of legislation are per.
forming a splendid service not only
for their state but for the nation.
Idaho's congressman is a type that
one reads about, but does not meet
every day-he gets there" and thai
certainly is a strong quality at the
national capital. A live wire counts
for more in Washington than in any
other spot on the Continent, and the
Idaho congressman happens to be one
of that class, but he possesses the ad
ditional advantage Of having the
forceful western way--and that
makes him all the more valuable tc
state.