Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1912-02-08
SEM atorship Added to the Gem
States lnvblvments.
REV ENUE MEASURE COMMENT
C.. E. Arney on Special Session.
Position of Two Parties.

U nder the date Of February 2, in
a letter to the Tribune, Charles E.
Arnev reviews the political situation
in Idaho as well as commenting on
the recent revenue laws passed in the
folio wing terse manner.
To the Tribune: 1t appears at this |
date, six months before the biennial
election of all state officers, a legisla-
ture to elect United States senator
and presidential electors as well, that
Idaho was approaching one of the bit
terest political contests of her hitherto
interesting history.
The extra session which has just
closed has served to emphasize the
feeling between the two parties and
between individuals within, especially,
the dominant party. The session
closed with no evident signs Of either
sane action on the part of the men,
bers as law makers, or shrewdness as
politicians. No member has arisen
above his fellows to stamp his ability,
his genius or his tact on the people
of the state beyond the standing he
had when the eleventh session closed
its Disappointing session in March of
last year.
If there is any one thing for which
Gov ernor Hawley is to be criticized
more than another, it is for calling
the eleventh session together, because
of tile measure which he should have
had of that body, as whole. Not
that his complaint in the premises
CHS original message1, was not justi-
fcation for the special session; not
that there was lack Of ample work
to do for deserving constituency of
the higher order of craftsmanship:
but that the "elusive eleventh" had
spent more than sixty days in Boise a
year ago in demonstrating that they
as q law-making body-were more
bent on playing politics than they
were on attending seriously to the
busi ness of the people.
1t is by no means fair to attribute
this unfortunate condition to the body
of the eleventh session in its entirety.
1t had some of the very best men in
the state among its numbers. That
they were sadly in the minority, was
the universal conclusion of those who
are fair and who have been familiar
with Idaho legislative assemblies
since statehood.
1t was the ardent hope OF all the
serious minded folks of Idaho, that
sober business judgment would be the
ruling spirit of the reconvened ses
sion; that political chickering's, peanut
politics and ammunition for the ap
proac ching campaign would be cast
aside until the serious duties Of state
were considered. With such effort Oh
the part of the majority, the none,
Of the state would have been wei
spent. As it is, folly has resulted ane
the membership Of the session canno
themselves escape the responsibility o.
successfully lay it to others. Suppose
the cash valuation of the governol
was wrong. Presume that it was il
his mind to "play politics through
the extra session call, What of that
The session was the thing the people
look ed to for relief. They held th'
keys TO the situation. Theirs was th'
golden opportunity to rectify enough
of tile ills besetting the situation t.
ease up on the taxpayers.
F rom the sound of the gavel Of tn
spea ker and the lieutenant governo
calling the extra session to order, un
til the rap Of dismissal of the tw
bodies, there was a wild scramble TO
political history with which one o
the other party could fortify itself, i
the oncoming state and congressiona
campaign.
To the citizen Of reflection and hig
idea Is of state affairs, it matters littl
whether republican or a denocra
is governor of Idaho for the next tw
year >. With the uncertainty Of tn
result in the nation, Of which Idah
isa small but interesting factor,
may be of little concern-so long
there be honesty and brains in ev
dence-who represents the state
either or both branches Of the col
gress. 1t is of concern to the peopl
however, that the state of Idaf
Should hoor n rood name worthy ,