The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1912-07-18
Thursday, July Is, 1912.
WHO CONTROLS STATE
POLITICS.

rapidly crystallizing in a demand
for regulation of public service
corporations. 1t is claimed by
some that we are too badly cor
pOration ridden to get anything
more than railroad commission
in the near future. We do not
hold to that view. We believe
that it will be no harder to get
a law regulating all utilities than
merely the railroads. Certainly
the regulation of the non-railroad
utilities is quite as important as
the control of the railroads.
To show what a corporation
ridden state can do, we give in
another column summary of the
California law which was enact
ed last December. What the
Southern Pacific did not control
of California was supposed to be
staked off by Patrick Calhoun
and men of his kind. But Cali
fornia set to work and has a law
that is said by men who are post
ed on such matters, to be one of
the best of its kind in the coun-
try.-Sandpoint News (Dem.)
The above editorial from the
democratic Standpoint News, was
written just prior to the conven-
ing Of the democratic and repub-
lican state platform conventions
at Boise. The Globe heartily
agrees with the conclusions of
the democratic editor on the needs
of this state of utilities COM
mission, but the democratic plat
form convention, which was com
pletely and helplessly controlled
by Governor Hawley and his lieu
tenants, undoubtedly held rad
ically different views, for not a
member of the convention had the
nerve to even mention the sore
needs Of the state along that line.
The republicans did better,
their resolutions committee re-
ported favorably a ringing util-
tiles commission plank, which was
only defeated after hot contest
of several hours by a vote of S5
to "a IL, very slim margin in
favor of the obstructionists.
Of course there are good poll
teal reasons for this ignoring of a
railroad or utilities commission
plank in the democratic platform.
Mr.. Hawley's friends admit that
he was elected in the state cam
paign two years ago by the aid of
the Oregon Short Line votes, Sc
cured to him on the grounds that
the democratic platform should
cut out the railroad commission
plank which had been ineorpor-
ated in it two years before. That
was a political transaction where
both parties honorably lived up
to their agreements. Mr.. Haw-
ley's friends cut out the railroad
commission plank, although they
thought it was the right thing two
years before. and the railroad com
pany delivered the votes as per
agreement, and Mr.. Hawley was
elected governor of the state of
Idaho over Mr.. Brady, the repu-
blican candidate, who was run
ming on a platform which declar-
ed for railroad commission.
Two years ago Mr.. Hawley did
not have as complete control of
his party as he has now, and
some Of the members made hard
fight to have a commission plank
inserted in the platforms. This
time, however, nothing is heard of
such a plank, but great cloud of
dust is kicked up about
many minor matters, and vast
amount of space and eloquence is
given over to the killing of govern
nent especial agents" and roast
ng the republican party. This |
,learly shows how, step by step,
he corporate interests are get
ing control of the democratic pol
ticians.
Four years ago the democratic