Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-11-20

the matter for the 6rst time. that him.
self and others had been consulted In
regard to this situation.
vetsrs Expressed Themselves.
Before this matter goes further. and
before conclusion IL reached or any
action taken, want to make my indi-
.vidual position absolutely clear. am
firm believer In the good old Demo-
cratic doctrine Of absolute acquiescence
in the will of the majority Of the voters
as expressed at the polls in an election.
So believing, I would not under any
circumstances permit myself to be the
beneficiary OF successfully conducted
election contest where. by reason Of
legal technicalities. the honest prefer
ence of the voters in the selection OF
their officers was overruled by the
decision of the courts. II proof was
forthcoming that fraud had been prac-
ticed upon voters and a true express
sion of their wishes not had, an cleo
ton should be vitiated because Its re-
suit would not express the sentiments
of the majority. While, however. be-
lieve from what has been stated that
there has been such an open, wilfull
and notorious violation Of the statutes
Of the state as probably would cause
the courts to reject the vote OF FIRE.
mont county, still there is no evidence
tending to show that the voters of the
county did not express their real senti-
ments at the polls. and I would not,
therefore, even If positively knew
that proceedings instituted would result
in the vote of the county being rejected
and thus insure my election, assent to
its being done or qualify for the office
to which l was declared elected in the
event 1t was done.
Condemns RegistrarA Acts.
do not understand Hhat am desir-
Gus of staying contemplated proceed
ings so far as other officers are con-
cerned. I am expressing myself with
reference to the office for which was
candidate and that alone.
II cannot too severely condemn the
action of the registrars who have vio-
lated the plain, and, as l consider, the
mandatory provisions of our statutes,
if the reports circulated are true.
Above all other things the American
people pride themselves upon their will
lingness to bow to the will Of the ma
jority as expressed at the polls. Any
thing that tends to weaken the con-
fidence of the people in the fairness
of our often recurring elections equally
weakens the high regard all have for
our institutions. 1t follows, therefore,
that when the officers of election vio-
late their sworn duty and make 1t pos
sible for frauds to be committed and
an election vitiated and set aside, they
should Immediately be proceeded
sainst and punished for such crimi-
nal departure from their duties. Pros
ecution of this kind, followed by con-
viction, would not only entail just
punishment on the delinquent officers
but would prevent similar outrages
upon the elective franchise and the
rights of our citizens from being per-
petrated in the future. I believe 1t
the duty of the officers of Fremont
county entrusted with the execution
of the law, to bring the offenders to
the bar of justice, and, if the officers
refuse to do their duty in this regard,
that the citizens Of the county should
take the matter up and insist upon
proper prosecution being had.
Il appreciate the kindly interest of
yourself and others in this matter so
far as l am personally concerned and