The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-12-15
THE COMING CAMPAIGN

Idaho Republicans should not take
too much comfort in the knowledge
that the normal majority of their par
ty in the state is some $4,000 votes.
The unexpected happened last
election, and may happen again. On
ly by thorough organization, perfect
harmony and gentlemanly campaign
ing upon the part of the candidates
in the primary election campaign can
the party avoid the discord and
strife which prevailed in the last
election and resulted in the loss of
the governorship. The losses that the
Republican party in this state sus-
tanned by the loss of the governor
ship and of county officials in var
ious counties should suffice to inn
press all Republicans that "in union
there is strength" ana that too high
a regard for organization and organi-
cation methods can not exist. To the
contrary, If the party hopes to main
tain it's supremacy In this state, it
must get back to the old paths, to
truly Republican principles, and
. avoid the heller SHELTER course that
it has pursued. 1t must recognize
the necessity and logic of organiza-
ton and the ACCESSIBILITY of main
tanning and cooperating with that or
ganization as a directing force. The
function of the integral parts of that
organization must be duly recognized
and respected if the state is to be
held in the Republican column. On
ly through an efficient organization
recognized and respected by the rank
and the file can any political party
be enabled to accomplish results and
bring about needed legislation, and
such an organization can only be
maintained by a recognition Of the
principe that the majority should
rule, and that the majority view is
the safest guide for the party. A
party which observes no formulated
policy but is divided within itself,
has no unity of purpose, and is COM
mitted to any kind of an ism regard
less of its demagogic, tendency, or
allows itself to be dominated by some
individual member for selfish purpos-
es and by him carried from a logical
course is not very we'll capacitated to
win a victory. The idea of, county
tickets being in the field advocating
principles Numerically opposed to
those advocated by the state ticket is
an metropolitan one, and it is to be
hoped will not again arise to weaken
the Republican party in this state. 1t
may be argued that the state plat
form presented reasons for this con-
dition. II SO, all the more reason for
the argument that careful and intelli-
gent thought should have been prac-
ticed in formulating that platform.
indeed the ork Of harmonizing and
organizing the party has not begun
too soon. 1t is in order for the lead
ers as we'll as the rank and file of
the party to take retrospective view !,
of its mistakes. 1t behooves them to !,
get to safe and sane ground and hold
that ground. The time has passed
for populistic tricks. By such indul-
gence the organization has suffered
and has been weakened. BY devia-
lions and tricks for the plaudits of
the gallery, the illogical and lament
able necessity for harmonization has
been created. We must about face or
surrender the state to the democ-
racy, and the earlier we recognize
the fact, the better chance we will
stand to remedy all defects which ex-