Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-06-29
|O'NEIL STANDS BY
HIS PARTY PLATFORM.
ReiteFates Original Declaration for Local
Option and is Not a Trimmer

LEWISTON. Idaho. June 29.-"My
position on the liquor question is in
nowise altered. | stand for a thor
ough testing of the present local OPP
ton law. and believe that any at
tempt by the next legislature to Sc
cure state wide prohibition not only
is undesirable from a standpoint OF
those who earnestly desire to rem
edy the unquestioned evils Of the IL
quor traffic, but would be political
folly for the republican party" said
b. f. O'Neil, republican candidate for
governor. in an authorized interview,
when his attention was called to the
announcement OF Governor James H.
Br"dy made in Lewiston few days
ago, in which the governor announc-
ed he had decided to stand in the
present campaign squarely for state
wide prohibition.
SIaAluS Dy the farty.
Early in the campaign / stated
this as my position, said Mr.. O'Neil.
Il have frequently repeated it, and
shall do so to all who wish to know.
AS a republican, and as state chair
man, | cannot discredit my party nor
endanger the success of our state
ticket, nor the success of any re-
publican who may be candidate for
any county legislative position in any
doubtful county by advocating the
abandonment of the present local
option law before it has been tested.
The republican party made this
local option a party measure in Ida
no and enacted II into law, and it is
not for me to presume the party did
not comprehend the needs OF the
state. Until the party has had an
opportunity to speak in its state
platform | shall stand squarely for
thorough testing of the present
local option measure
To abandon this law for any kind
Of state wide prohibition measure,
no matter by whom drawn, 1t seems
10 me would be unwise for the peo-
pie OF Idaho, and more than unwise
for the republican party.
Such is my position If a republi-
can convention. representing the
wishes of the people, should say that
state wide prohibition is desired,
shall gladly bow to the judgment of
my party.
Furthermore, if the legislature of
Idaho, representing the people, pass
es state wide prohibition bill, thus
evidencing that there is sufficient
sentiment in favor of such a measure
to insure its enactment, / will will
ingly sign it, if / am governor.
ION the other hand, as have re-
| peatedly said, If the republican con-
vention should declare for a repeal of
the local option law, so confident am
that it is a part of wisdom to give
that law a thorough test that 1
would under such circumstances de-
cline to be candidate for governor T"
OMEN Visits the Pioneers.
LEWISTON. Idaho. June 90. -
After a day of hard travelling B. F.
o'Neil again motored into Lewiston
Tuesday evening, stopping at the Boil
linger hotel. At O'Clock Tuesday
morning he and his party left here
for Grangeyille, where Mr.. o'NeiI had
been invited to participate in the fes-
tivities of the Pioneers reunion, IL
being his intention to return by au-
tomobile in time to take a train from
here TO Portland. The party had gone
but comparatively short distance
from Lewiston when a very serious
case Of trouble developed in the
machine, which impeded their prog
'ess. Although the party kept in a
continued good humor. the incidents
Of the trip were amusingly provok-
ing. No sooner had one dificulty
1 SSSh AShSuAed thdH aMother 'pTeSehteu
itself to be solved This was all the
more remarkable. inasmuch as the
chauffeur. j. NJ. Jack OF Grangeville.
Is considered one Of the most expert
chauReurs in the state, and his car
an exceptionally powerful machine.
The members of the party, Includ-
ing Mr.. O'Neil. entered into the stu
alton with the best Of humor and
ltook an active part in surmounting