Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-09-19
That Chaotic Condition In Lincoln County
As Viewed from a Republican Standpoint.

nously back to the mass meeting that
hey could find no possible way of elect
ny any representatives OF their cause in
the Republican party on account Of the
control Of the party by Frank
Il. Gooding. A possible line up in the
Democratic party creating one new
county, to be composed of the Minidoka
project now in Lincoln county seemed
probable OF success if the Democrats in
Lincoln county, with the exceptions OF
those in Goodng precinct stayed in the
Democratic primary As it was proposed |
they should.
The mass meeting endorsed the plan
of a Democratic line up with only one
reservation, and that, both Republicans |
and Dcmocrcts generally denanded
That was the selection OF candidates for
the state Senate and House OF Represen
tatives who would pledge themselves, il
nominated and elected, to abide by the
result Of the preferential vote in the mat
ter OF United States Senator, which in
fact meant the recollection oi Senator W.
f.. Borah
The primary campaign began and was
so openly fought that ex-governor Good
ing recognized the possibility of HIS self
ish ambition being again. defeated, and
at the primary election swung the Re
publican votes oi the Gooding and Ru-
pert precincts into the Democratic pri-
can ticket he had trickily lined up, nom
mating, as he later stated, Democratic
Legislative candidates that neither he
nor the anti-three-county division Re
publican voters would support in the
general election.
Here is where the eX governor wires
began to be CROSSED. lie had gotten into
desperate situation. and politically had
taken the desperate course. He failed
To recognize that in this North Side tract
there was not an endorsed Republican
county candidate TO excite the Interest oil
these voters, and that these people were
Just A. desperately interested in protect
ing their rights as he was in gratifying
his selfish ambition.
He had at least equipped them Will
the right oi voting ior those Democrati,
legislative and county candidates he had
nominated. The people recognized thai
they were the balance of power, and j
the Democrats in other precincts stayeC
in the party. at least il there was an!
three-county division, the Democrats an,
not ex-governor Gooding would do it.
The campaign committee on the othe
hand recognized that the ex-governor
Gooding- nominated legislative candidate
would not vote for Senator Borah.s re
+ election and Immediately sought to max
this unforeseen condition known to thos
{ interested in his reelection throughou
! the state with the hope of getting som
influence for their cause that would j
least counterbalance the Democratic in
{ clination of the Republican voters, an
\ thereby elect Republican legislators who
i though pledged to the Gooding thre
- county division plan, would vote for Sci
ator Borah's reelection.
q The Republican campaign committee
- though it had no candidates, suggeste
- in an effort to keep things lined up, i
# precinct committeeman, some OF whol
4 were elected.
These precinct men accepted the
responsibilities and attended their NEE
,e ing with one exception, while the e
governor Gooding- selected members d
not attend, hut instead followed the o
= Boss Rule plan of proxies.
Al At the organization meeting as provi
l. ed for by statute, the temporary orga
In ization tried To vote 10 exclude proNit
That motion and an appeal from the d
H. cision of the chair were ruled ont
re order in spite Of protests and all rega
at for parliamentary procedure.
as In the face of this arbitrary posti
ne no holt or open warfare occurred, h
Y instead, the meeting proceeded with
n business ON the basis that the statu
ee and all parliamentary procedure wor
As equip the chairman, F. W. Hastlnl
us and the secretary, A. W. Bowler, elect
b. 10y majority OF the precinct men actu
cy ly present to perform the duties OF
ng offices to which they had been elect'
and to issue the only possible legal e.
mt dentials to the 50 regularly elected ST
nd committeeman, Paul r. kartzke.
,ty The kartzke credentials, as has bt
lgs announced, were contested 10y Frank
he Goodhng in the State committee.
lid presented his case in his usual mani
cir with no regard for the accuracy oi ia'
he lecency. or the weight of argument
Of cepting on the theory that noise and
,p- timidating loud talk is convincing.
OF Kartzke presented his case with cred
or tials and properly certified copies OF