Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-12-25
POSSIBILITY OF
BABB STAMPEDE
F0RSENATORSH|P
Lewiston Scribe Takes Few
Foxes at Boise Political
Dopesters and Boosts Fa-
vorite Son.

Lewiston for United States senator
That is what a political scribe Of
Lewiston offers as a possible result of
the present interesting fight for the
toga within the grasp OF Republican
when the next legislature convenes. In
cidentally, he takes a few sarcastic
jabs at Boise, the home of political dope
mixers. The story, as published in the
Lewiston Tribune. is as follows:
Boise the Whole Thing.
Boise, the capital city, has long been
admitted to be the political barometer
of the state 1t has distinction in
that regard over other seats of gov
eminent of the northwest states Olyln-
pia in Washington. Helena in Mon
tana and Salem in oregon are un-
known among the politicians of those
states except during the brief period
the law making bodies are in session
Portland creates senators for oregon
Butte for Montana and Seattle for
Washington. Occasionally, there is a
break in the machine, but a review Of
the history of those states shows that
the machine usually works true to pur-
pose or design. But Boise is both the
capital and the machine-the history of
to the present shows Boise has exert
ed surprising dominance over the
political affairs OF the state If by
accident some other than a home guard
man has broken through the lines and
found berth for period at the state
house, the same history Will record that
in nine times out OF ten that person
has established his permanent home
there. There is no accurate data avail
able as to just what percentage Of
Bosses citizens comprise officeholders,
ex- officio holders and those ambitious
for office, but ii is perhaps mod
est to say that this class comprises at
least 25 per cent Of the $4,000 peo-
pie who have opportunity to look daily
upon Idahos million-dollar, stil unfin-
ished capitol
Borahs Election Assured.
II should not be surprising. there
fore, in view of this situation, that
Boise is generally admitted ta be the
political barometer of the state, and
that it is there and there alone the
candidate must explore to determine
his chances, While 1t Is also from that
point must emanate the little informa-
ton that drifts out to the public
through the press as to the serious
status of any political matter Just
at present Boise Is making a United
States senator, and the entire one
fourth Of the city's population is en-
gagged in the task. 1t is not necessary
for Boise to worry about the other
senator-Borah was made prior to the
election, Almost daily since the cleo
ton there has flashed out over the
wires from the capital estimates Of the
senatorial situation All sections of
the big machine are at work, and, con-
sequently. all kinds of estimates reach
the public. Estimates thai Brady has
Il in a walkaway are followed by
claims that Gooding had completely
captured the plum before the November
ballots were counted Then would
come statements the south had cons
coded the senatership 10 the north and
to Ailshie. 10 be followed by tie COM
ment that Beale of Wallace was really I
the man who was being put over By
the machine OF course, all these
claims sent out through the press were
free from definite figures. They COM
prised just claims.
Wheels In Machine.
But Boise has some definite figures, I
and one-fourth of the population of
that city knows them-that Is, each I
wheel in the machine at this time de-
finitely knows the power il is % exert
IN the final process of turning out a
senator when the legislature meets in T
January But. while Boise would be
secretive as against the rest of the +
state, there has been drifting out OF T
the capital during the past few days F
a good deal of Inside information, and T
s is Of a most interesting character F
This is a review Of the exact situation {
IS the most acute Of politicians has F
been able to analyze it after days spent I
upon the ground in a position where he
had facilities for finding out the facts I
Count Ailshie Out.
AT present no candidate IN the race I
is even in striking distance of a ma ]
jority of the legislature Ailshie. at ]
the outset, and free from the embar-
easements of the supreme court bull I
moose decision, seemed assured OF 4
election. Now Boise comedies his de-
feat-all the power Of Roosevelt and
the rational Progressive party has
been thrown into the Progressive fight f
and the demand made: anybody but
Ailshie.' II is even said by some poll
tieians that Perkins money has already
dritted into the state TO see that ade-
qnate party organization is effected
among the Progressives to assure ALL il
SHES defeat. Roosevelt has sent word
that the fight against Aiishie is a fight
in behalf of the national party, and that
no Progressive can support him and
feel loyal to the party Nearly one half Il
the members of the legislature are Pro-
gressives. The AiIshie forces, it is said
are led by Senator Hart and Pure Food
Commissioner Wallis, prominent Nor
mons, but that they are now wavering
in view OF the Progressive onslaught
and are looking about to throw their
strength to some other man. Such Is
the status of the Ailshie candidacy. His |
voting strength at this time is
put at 25 BradYs fight is led by J II
Frank Hunt a state senator and for |