Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-03-15
RATIONAL COUNTY
DIVISION SOLUTION
VICTOR o. JOHNSON SUGGESTS
APLAN, SIMPLE, COMPLETE
AND JUST TO ALL


about to be inaugurated. important
in national, state and local respects
Republican, Democrat and Socialist
alike are keenly alive to our ma
tiOnal issues. Idaho has much al
stake. The splendid fight for a
railroad commission which came 50
near succeeding two years ago
should be organized for success
this fall Three proposed amend
ments 10 the Constitution providing
for the Initiative, Referendum and
Recall Will be voted upon in No
vember. None of them are self
executing. If they carry, as they
doubtless WILL the legislature will
have no more important task than
to enact proper legislation to make
them effective An unfriendly
legislature could and would rob
them of all vital force
The Carey Act land laws must be
amended to protect the settlers on
our tracts. We are more deeply in
terested in this subject than any
be carefully and thoroughly dis
other couny in the state. 1t should
cussed and definate plans prepared
Many other subjects demand atten-
ton.
Last, but by no means least, the
coming legislature will select a
successor to Senator Bofah. Every
Republican will deem it important
to send Republican to the United
States Senate.-the majority Is
exceedingly small. Every pro
gressive" is anxious to return Sen
ator Borah. He is the recognized
leader in the movement for the
popuar election of senator's Next
to LaFiollette, he is the most
prominent member of that distfn-
guished body. He is a tower OF
strength in the great contest be-
tween the people and the special
interests" To lose the legislature,
to lose Borah, would be national
If county division is an issue In
this campaign, every other issue
will be ignored and forgotten. In
stead of discussing a railroad com
mission. the Initiative, Referendum
and Recall. Carey Act legislation
and United States Senators. we
will be in fever heat over coun- |
ty seats and county lines. Candi-
dates will be selected and eleced |
on that issue alone, regardless OF |
other qualifications. Our repre-
sentatives in the legislature will be I
be useless. and worse than useless.
Instead of being aggressive cham
pions of needed legislation, they
will be obliged to Trade every
hing to get support for their coun-
" division program. They Will be
at the mercy of the allied railroads
and of every special interest which
can control a few votes.
Let us not demoralize our coun-
~ politics. let us not destroy our
influence in the affairs of Idaho,
let US not disregard legislative in
.erests of vast Importance to our
selves. let US not jeopardize the
reelection of our able and fear
less Senator by county division
light during the campaign.
Lincoln county is large. Ii muN
soon be divided County division
S a purely local question When
sver The taxpayers feel that they
ire able to support two or three
county governments instead of one
)r whenever they feel that the
greater convenience and other benz
fits of small counties viii justify
he additional expense. they should |
,e given the opportunity. They
lay the bill.
In other states the division OF
.ounties is accomplished under
General laws. A petition is filed,
he county commissioners call a
pecia election and the direct
is submitted to the voters.
there are limitations dpon the size,i
population and assessable values,
o that division is not carried to
This method should be
dopted in Idaho. Counties should
e created by direct local elections
Inder general laws, and the legisla-
ure should be prohibited from
reating counties by special acts.
This is not a new proposition :
nth me, nor did it grow out of the !