The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-09-01
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON
Current News of the Week and Events
Of Importance in Which
Idaho Figures


ing with Representative Rucker, of
Colorado, and makes the statement
that Judge Rucker will be candidate
for the Unites States senate next year.
Among the accomplishments of Mr.
Rucker is pointed out the fact that
he comes from old Virginia stock,
which, Of course, is very fine breed,
as the first families of Virginia are
certain they constitute the American
aristocracy. However, Judge Rucker,
according to the Post, was born in
Kentucky. The Colorado congress
man has been making little trouble
among his colleagues in reference to
certain matters of legislation and has
not been altogether pliable factor
in the Democratic caucuses, in which
legislative matters arc cut and dried
in advance.
Representative Martin made Wig
orous speech upon the subject of the
veto message of President Taft in re-
ference to the recall provision as ap-
piled to judges in the Arizona consti-
tuition, and he voiced his regret in
the attempt not the override the veto
However, Mr.. Martin, like all other
good Democrats, who believed that
an attempt should be made to pass
the measure despite the Presidents
veto, got into line to help pass the
resolution by Senator Smith, which
was put through the senate, and
which later received the approval of
the President
A subject which has commanded an
increased amount of attention has
been that of the aid of the govern
ment to the good roads movement,
and many bills have been introduced
to advance the subject. The measure
by Representative Burton l.. French,
of Idaho, providing that aid be given
equally by the national state govern
ments as we'll as the local township
or municipality receiving the benefit
of the appropriations, has attracted
very favorable comment. MIR. Bor-
land, of Missouri, in addressing the
house upc1 the subject of good roads
a few days ago, said that; s'Its i'm
portanee lies in the direct bearing it
has upon the social ana economic wei ,
fare of the whole people. 1t is at he
base of the great probe moi trans
portation, that problem which is vital
to the interests of all classes--prO-
ducers, dealers and consumers. The
rural highway leads from every farm
to every market, and over it passes
annually the food supplies of the ma
ton The condition of our rural high
ways is not the sole concern of the
man who lives upon them, but it is
the concer nof all We should have
the finest roads in this country that
wise expenditure and trained engin-
eerign skill can produce. They will
prove source OF national wealth, a
bond of national unity and a crown of
social and intellectual advancement
upon the rudy brow of rural life.
l strongly favor national aid to good
roads. Wise conservation means the
highest possible use of our national
advantages for the benefit of all the
people
There has been some comment in
the capital upon the frequent strong
demarcation of policy followed by the
members of the Washington delega-
ton in the two houses of congress,
and in all the big pieces of legisla
ton, such as Canadian reciprocity, the
wool bill, the free list bill and the
statehood matter, the delegation has
divided as between the policies advo>
Gated by the regular and the insur-
gent Republicans. A wide divergence
VI OplHIoH appears W nave SAISleu
among the entire membership of the
western part of the country upon the
big subjects that have confronted
congress, and while the administra-
ton has had moer or less support
from the west, yet the real ''insur-
gents" have practically all come
from west OF the Mississippi river,
except, of course, those from Wis
consin, which is the mother state of
insurgents.
During the closing days of congress
there has been summing up of po-
litical attainments, rsults, and their
bearing upon the prospects of the
political parties and candidates Of
1912: The New York Times has pub.
lished a complete summary of the
Republican situation and says that