Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-11-22
TWO MORE HATS
May Be THROWN
into THE RING
It Is Reported That Colonel
Thomas r. Hamer and
E. A. Burrell Will Become
Senatorial Candidates.

The short term senatorial roster can
have two more names attached to 1t,
for the announcement was made last
night by those thoroughly cognizant
with the situation that Edgar A. Bur-
rell, former lieutenant governor Of this
state, resident Of Paris. Bear Lake
county, and Thomas r. Hamer of st.
Anthony. Fremont county, former con-
gresham from this state. defeated
after one term of service. will very
likely toss their hats into the ring. In
fact 1t is claimed they are candidates
and their friends expect to perform
the marvellous feat of Transforming
their hats into senatorial togas.
Colonel Hamer, and this title Is given
to the colonel because of valiant serv-
ices in the Philippines as a member
of the National Guard, will be a can
didate of the reactionaries. the con-
servatives, that wing of the party
responsible for the disastrous national
defeat experienced Nov. 5. The friends
of Mr.. Hamer believe he is the man
of the hour and his one term in the
lower house of congress Is conclusive
proof he will, If given the short SEN
atorial term, become a power in the
senate.
Opposition to Hamer.
The ST. Anthony statesman will,
however. have the same opposition to
his possible candidacy within the party
as he had when, following one term in
the house. he was candidate for re-
election. Few candidates in the his
tory of Idaho politics, it Is said, have
suffered a more disastrous defeat. This
was due. at least it was so claimed at
the time, to the shady manipulations
that took place in the 1908 Republican
convention when Burton L. French, |
then congressman, was q candidate for |
the nomination, and lost 1t regardless |
of the fact that two-thirds of the dele |
gates seated in the convention were |
pledged to him. The Hamer deal was
put across, it Is said. and the con-
vention was stampeded for him., result
ing in the defeat Of Congressman
French.
1t was this convention deal that is
said to have forced the passage Of
direct primary law in this state by the |
the next legislature. Two years later
the people had still fresh in their men,
Dry the convention deal. and they nom-
mated and elected Mr.. French, repudi-
ating Hamer.
Just what effect Mr.. Hamer's pro-
posed candidacy will have on the SEN
atorial situation remains to be seen. |
1t will result in bringing out an east
ern Idaho candidate at least.
Burrel Has eackine.
1t is claimed by party leaders that
Mr.. Burrell will go into the next legis-
lature with strong backing. His |
friends assert he Is Progressive and |
that he manifested his progressiveness
when in an interview during the recent
he refused to stand for the
theft of the Chicago nomination and
declared he would vote for Roosevelt.
During the prediction campaign he
was mentioned as a Progressive candi-
date for governor but his boom failed
to bear fruit.
Mr.. Burrell was lieutenant governor
Of the state during the second term
Of Governor Frank r. Gooding and by
virtue of that Office was president .of
the senate. presiding over the ninth
session. He was succeeded as lieuten-
ant governor by Lewis H. Sweetser of
Burnley who for four years has held
that office. having served during the
Of Governor Brady and
The present administration Of Governor
Hawley.