American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1910-10-15
MIR. HARPOON.

81 shot an arrow in the air;
1t came to earth, | know not where.
Saturday night James Fl. Haw-
ley, the Democratic candidate for
governor, SHE'D his harpoon. Like
the arrow in the schoolbook jingle,
It ''fell to earth" he knows not
where. No more does any one else.
Mr.. Hawley's was the Democrat
ic keynote utterance of the cam
paign. it was adroit, for Mr.. Haw-
ley 3 a clever attorney. Those who
know hiln best professionally would
be- perhaps as deeply interested in
an argument from him on the other
side, which he is eminently qualified
to make and which really could be
rendered more impressive because of
the substantially of the evidence.
The habit Of attorneys when they
have a poor case is to abuse counsel
OIL the opposite side. Mr.. Hawley's
speech suggested that he had not
forgotten the courtroom custom.
AS an amplification of the Demo-
cratic platform his speech served to
join the campaign issues in Idaho
for 1910. In that respect it removes
all doubts as to where the Demo-
cratic party stands. Its standard
bearer has brushed aside all uncer-
tainty that may have attached re-
speeding the platform.
+ +
There are just two points to the
Democratic campaign - the liquor
question, with the Democracy taking
a stand on the "wet' side, and the
state land board, with the Democra-
cy attempting to kick up dust re-
speeding it in the hope of dimming
the vision of the public as to the
liquor issue and to it's past record
in this state.
Putting it another way, it is a
straight-up wet and dry PROPOSE
ton. The Democrats are on a wet
platform and the Republicans on a
dry. No matter what efforts may
be put forth to confuse the situation
the public might as we'll understand
from the first that it is wet Dem
ocracy and dry Republicanism. The
votes in various counties under the
local option law reveal to the DEM
ocratic leaders the desirability of
~blinding the people to the real issue
enc the land board declarations
4 :. +
MT. Hawley made himself quite
clear on the liquor question. He
stated that he had been opposed m
the local option law in its present
TORN. but that he stood for its en-
iorcement. He declared that the
democratic party will not amend the
local option law; yet if it is not
VIVA IT should be in his opinion as
head of the party of the state
why should it not be perfected to
ohtorm TO the ideal set forth in
Mr. Hawley's speech? He is hardly
when he declares in one
breath that the local option law is
imperfect and in the next states
the Democratic party. 'if re-
Iurlled to power, will see TO il mar
no amendments to this law are
passed. Such a position is opite
lkely @ give rise to suspicion. The
public is more apt to look for a dor.
meaning than IL Mr.. Hawley had
IF there is anything wrong
this law. my party. il success
will correct it,"
There is no question. though. as
o Mr.. Hawley's position. He is a
wet" He is making no effort To
leceive anyone on that score. no
more than when he presented Nav
IT Rose of Milwaukee. who came to
'oise to aid in defeating prohibi-
Ion. The Democratic party is as
wet as its leader. There is no ev- {
aence that Mr.. Hawley. who /
peaks for it authoritatively. is at /
empting to deceive the public on I
his point. either. The question of /
may be done in of $
wet policy in case the Democ- I
acy should win in Idaho is the n ]
hat may cause doubt even in the I
lind of the liberal who favors local |
ption as against statewide prohibi- t
Gould Mr.. Hawley control his |