Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-10-10

cred at Twin Falls September l4th b,
Governor James II. Hawley and al
though somewhat late in reproducing il
the Free Press feels it of so great al
Importance that we give it to our read
ers entire in this issue. The governor
since the Twin Falls effort, but in none
of them has he eclipsed the following.
"Mr. Chairman and fellow citizens
of Twin Falls | know of no better
place to sound the keynote of the great
est campaign of Idaho IS history than in
your city, so representative of American
energy and pluck-so fitting an illus
tration of what well-directed effort can
accomplish.
1.-The democratic party, founded by
jefferson to protect the masses of the
people against the privileged classes,
who, in his day as well as in ours,
sought to direct the operation of the
government for their own purposes, the
democratic party has from its begin
ming been more party. of measures
and of principles than an organization
to acquire and retain political jobs.
"Each decade since jefferson g
time has produced its group of party
leaders, thoroughly impressed with JEFF
ferson's views and ably advocating
their adoption, but at no time has there
been a more thorough exemplification
of jefferson 3 sentiments and methods
than displayed in both action and words
by our peerless candidate for the coun.
try's mightiest office, Governor Wood
row Wilson of New Jersey.
Importance Of This Campaign.
''Not since the establishment of the
republic has there been campaign,
the termination of which was fraught
with more momentous significance than
the one in which the American people
are now engaged. To national, to state
and to county matters does this impor
lance attach. 1t is well for the people
to meet in all sections of our common
country to carefully consider their po-
litical duties and especially to hear from
those who are candidates for high posi-
tons the ideas which will control them
If elected in the discharge of their pub
lie duties. 1t cannot be expected that
all the important issues pertaining to
the campaign in its entirety can be dis
cussed in one brief address, but stand
ing before you as a candidate for the
highest position within the gift of the
people Of the state; put forth as rep
resentative of one of the great politi
cal parties; ! feel it is my duty to ex-
press my opinion ON the more important
matters affecting both state and ma
ton. even if my ideas are not so fully
formulated as, under ordinary condi-
tions where time would permit, might
seem advisable.
Through Colored Glasses.
"a democrat all my life, and now
the candidate of that party for chief
executive of the state, it is but natur-
al that | should look at all political
matters through glasses that would per-
haps fit democratic eyes better than
those of our political opponents; and,
possibly, that ! am prejudiced in favor
not only of those political principles for
which ! have long contended, but also
of the candidates of the party of which
l have been a lifelong member. l am
not, however, of those who believe
man should stand by his party nominees
regardless of his conclusions as to their
fitness for the positions to which they
aspire. ! believe good citizenship re-
quires a true American should take
higher ground than that, and that the
good citizen will hold higher than any
false sense of duty to his party that
greater obligation we all owe to the
state and to the nation, and which
should prompt us to oppose men dis
honest or unfit for official position,
even when nominated by our own party,
providing proper candidates have been
selected by our opponents. | have no
patience with the man who proudly
asserts, as seemingly expressing his idea
of what constitutes good citizenship,
that he has voted the straight ticket of
any political party for 10, 20 or 40
years, as the case may be, because l
believe that, while such an assertion, if
true, implies the most intense loyalty
to his party, it is generally at the ex-
pense of that loyal duty which he owes
to his country.
Speaks for Wilson
speaking then, not only as can
didate for an official position and not
only as partisan of a political party,
but from the higher plane of good
American citizenship also, l earnestly
and hopefully urge upon you, my fellow
citizens, as your first duty in the pres