American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-03-11
THE PLEDGE

20 De lOun0 memOeTo OF the maJor-
ity party who regard certain inter-
ests that they represent. either per-
sonnl or corporate interests. OF far
more importance TO them than any
party success. party allegiance or
than public good. They always
stand ready to find excuse to vote
with the minority party to assist In
causing the majority to break It's
pedges with the people. While pro-
Tossing to be devoted partisans they
stand ever ready d betray their
party, and II matters no whether
the majority be republican or demo-
crat, this willing pledge breaker Is
always 70 be found ready on the spo
TO perform the act of stabbing the
party. ~Somestimes he does II to
subserve q personal interest; more
often he does IL TO subserve a cor
porate interest.
There are always found some OF
the minority who VIII join with
some Of the majority to enact leg
tslation for the purpose afterward
Of laying the blame On the ma
jority for Its enactment. These care
nothing for public good: they are
looking only for . possible partisan
advantage. shielding themselves at
all times behind the belief that the
people will not look for the cause
but be Satisfied to place the blame
upon the majority without question.
Both these classes--the class
which seeks to aid the majority TO
break pledges and the class which
seeks 70 enact new legislation for
the purpose Of placing the blame
upon the minority--while protesting
TO be the most layai partisans.
never realize q duty either to that
party or to the people as q whole.
Too often II happens that there are
enough In one party to be success
full In causing that party to break
tn pledges and then enough In the
other party to Join with them In
enacting unwise laws.
The recent legislature has fur-
nished holder examples OF these two
classes OF Legislators than any other
that this state has been afflicted
with Ia many years. II eve at all
before.
The republicans were pledged fair
~ and sQuarely to certain legisla-
ton Of vast importance to the state.
Enough OF its members united with
the democratic members to cause de-
feat OF the laws Intended 10 carry
out these pledges. These traitors
traitors not only to their party but
to the people M ~well-~have little
ems of the responsibility that they
thus assumed. and they little shame
for their treachery. for they feel
secure In the favors OF the special
interests they served by their treach-
cry and secure In the fancide ignor-
ance OF the people M to the real
cause for their treachery.
Both parties were pledged. fairly
and sauarely. to economy In admin
istration OF the states affairs.
Enough OF the majority party united
with enough OF the minority party
TO enact legislation which shows OF
It's face that the question OF econ
omy from tho sta ndpoint of the
common people and taxpayers never
entered their heads. or IL II did. II
was driven out again as an annoy
Ing pest Is driven away.
Although there was IA large ele-
ment of the majority party more
than willing to load up the appro-
priation bill higher than ever Il was
loaded before and higher than there
IL any reasonable need for Its being
loaded. the majority party alone
could never have passed the appro-
priation bill ia It's present form, MOI
could they ever have enacted the
great lot OF special road and bridge
bills passed.
The minority party had to fur
nish enuogh members to make en-
aetment OF these laws possible, and
the minority party furnished It's
quota right along with the majority.
II made 1t seem absurd and rid
iculously Silly. then. to hear one of
the democratic senators yesterday
IA senator who had been In the
very front rank of those who aided
In the pledge breaking that has
characterized this session, and u
senator who has given every en-
couragement possible TO expendi-
lures OF large sums of money-it
sounded very inappropriate to have
this minority leader arise Ia his
place as roll was being called on the
final passage OF the appropriation
bill and. holding up his hands In
mock horror. declare the iniauities
OF the bill and cast his vote against
IL. /.
II Will be most difficult for the
independent. thinking citizen OF the
state to determine how or where to
pace the blame. No one who has
At all followed the workings OF the
session. could hoid either
PARTY at fault. "a a party. for the EN-
ctmeut of i~il-advised legislation, or
'or the failure To enact promised
There were traitors to
he people In both parties. because
here were pledge breakers In both
aud II Is these pledge break
srs who are responsible.
Can we find men who viii not u
eel der their duty 10 the whole peo-
pie in return for fayors from spec
Isl interests who ave means OF
reachfng them as individuals which