The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-03-31

other laws are based. A rule of con-
duct by which moral questions are
settled or upon which plans or meth
DDS are built. A theory or truth to
which rules and methods are adapted.
Two men may be moral and yet
adhere to different principles, each
of which appears to some people to
be the true and fundamental one to
base laws or rules upon. In that
case nothing immoral was charged
against either of the candidates.
We do not refer to these matters
for the purpose of refuting the "Citi-
zen's" statement but to correct in the
most kindly spirit wrong impression
that must of necessity do injustice
to Mr. Modem.
There is another matter upon which
Citizen" is equally at fault in his
conclusions, and it is only justice to
those he brings under the ban, to
make those matters perfectly plain.
He says Mr. Vests candidacy is
insisted upon by a clique who are
petty and narrow and are looking to
their own selfish interests. People
who by reason of their positions of
trust ought 10 be impartial except
when there is moral issue. We do
not question Citizens" integrity in
making that statement; we think he
has simply been misinformed or that
his observations arc faulty.
We believe correct statement of
the matter is this:
The progressive element of the
town belongs to both political parties
as does also the present city admins
tration The mayor hest ated about
calling partisan nominating conven-
ton representing the Republicans OF
the town of which he is the mayor,
and where he is also chairman of
the county Republican organization
To do that was to force a new align
ment in civic affairs for which he
would have been criticised. 1t would
have been considered that he was
trying to use his Office to build up a
Republican machine and bar out the
many loyal Democrats who are work
ing in perfect harmony with what is
being done for progressive develop
ment of the city.
There was an honest difference of
opinion as to which horn of the di-
lemma to take for there were those
who advised against the mass meet
ing and declared they would not par
ticipate in it if it were called, for
reasons that were demonstrated two
years ago. For this reason they
staid away and took the only method
there was left, and the one that is
generally considered now should have
been taken at the first,-that of po-
tition, and it was their right. The
only question in anybodys mind il
an ethical question-that is, whether
}" not Mayor West should have al
lowed his name to 60 before the mass
meeting and then allow it to be used
on the petition. That matter is dis
cussed in another article on this page.
Now who are the petty, narrow,
selfish clique looking for profits
through Mayor West? This reflec-
tion attaches to his appointees, the
official paper, and to some extent
those who have been employed in
construction work or to whom con-
tracts have been let. The latter to
less extent because work was gen.
orally let by bids or upon the recon-
mendations of committees made up
of councilmen. If it can be shown
that the nominations by petition have
been made by the beneficiaries of the
administration, then 1t is for the pub
lie to Judge of their purposes in do
| ing it. 1t is for them to judge also
whether or not there is similarity
in the alignment with two years ago,
and mistrust that those opposing
Mr.. West, are doing so on matters OF
principle and for purposes of carrying
o t a policy Of retrenchment rather
than of progression. Whether Mr..
West is as Citizen" says ne Is
..being used as tool BY q small
clique" or Is acting in response to
II dar,anA nv Iargo number who