The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1912-09-27
ABERDEEN TINES MISTAKE

Times in boosting for the legisla-
tive candidates of the Democratic
ticket last week must have exercis-
ed mistaken judgment or was impOs-
ed upon by his advisors when he
dubbed P. G. Johnson a professional
politician and a boss, and spoke of
A. S. Dickinson as one who, if cleo
ted would probably vote as the Boss
told him.
Mr.. Toner is a comparatively new
man in this state, and is eminently
fair and reliable in his newspaper
work, and we assume that he has re-
posed degree of confidence in
statements to him, which in this in
stance lead him into making an ana
lysis by which he sacrifices some of
his own merited influence.
We belive We state matters cor
rectly and that people who know
tllCoC lHCu w LII Clluol w hat we Say,
regardless of whether they are
friendly to them or not, and we Of
fer the following statement in cor
rection of what the Times said.
P. G. Johnston has long shown an
interest in politics, and since the
time he received his nomination for
the legislature the first time, he has
never sought the office except to say
when asked if he would be a candi-
date, or something to this effect:
.If the people of my party think
that | am competent to represent
them. if they feel that conviction
sufficiently to tender me the nomi-
nation I should feel very much hon
ored and very grateful to
them, and would esteem it a privi
lege on my part to have the school
ing that term in the legislative
body gives man."
After he had served once in the
legislature, and the same question
was asked him, he replied that it
was a matter for the people to de-
eide; that he was willing to serve
again if the people were satisfied
with the service he had rendered.
After further service as member
of tne legislature he was asked by
the writer if he desired to go to
which we published on the 18th of
March, 1912, as a part of an article
on the National Wool Warehouse
meeting which rendered him the
management of the business at a sal
airy of $500 year and expenses,
and which he declined. Our state
ment on the political question was
as follows:
st is understood among Mr..
Johnston's friends that he is getting
quite we'll qualified to represent Ida
no in Congress, and it was thought
that he might be in the race this
year, but when asked as to that, he
stated that he would like to serve
in that capacity, that he would take
such work with as much interest
and zeal as he had the work in the
state legislature, but that there were
many things to be considered, and
he thought it would be the part of
wisdom for him to leave this honor
and duty to others. He says he
feels very grateful for the honors
conferred upon him by the people of
this county and will be happy in SER
wing anywhere in the ranks
In the recent primary he was
nominated for reelection to the
state legislature. and we are not
aware that he made any effort to Sc
cure such nomination other than to
announce that he was candidate,
and during the primary campaign
he went about looking after his
sheep business as usual.
In view of this record we do not
concede that it is fair to Mr. John
ston to berate him as professional
politician. If this Is not correct
statement of his record. or if he has
done things affecting his constit-
uents that did not please them or
was dishonorable it is il order for
somebody who knows to make a spe-
cific statement of them.