Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-02-06
THE SITUATION REVIEWED.
The Division Fight Explained by One
Of the Active Participants.
Jerome, Idaho, Feb. >, 1913.

Jerome, lhano, req. =, iHl3.
To the Editor ol the TINES:
As one who took an active part in the
late struggle against the division OF the
county, the writer wishes To give brief |
account OF some OF the circumstances for
the benefit Of those who, at great incon-
venience, so generously contributed in |
order that the effort might be made to
place the protest OF our people against
this iniquity, before the legislature and
the governor OF our state.
The gentlemen delegated to present
this protest to our rulers did their duty
well and thoroughly. They fought
against the most overwhelming odds
they did convince a majority OF the JUS
tice OF our cause but to sum up the stu
alton neither Justice or equity was taken
into consideration in the division Oi this
county. There seemed to be an under
standing by which our interests were
sacrificed in the election OF United
States senator
The wrlter- is firmly convinced that
had there been no senatorial contest
there would have been no division OF
| Lincoln county. The writer was present
when the bill was passed in the senate,
and is moved to say that a very pitiful
exhibition OF moral coWardice was cX-
libited by u senator who told some OF
our delegation the next morning, saying:
Boys, heard your arguments. ] be-
lieved you were right, but had not the
nerve to vote for you for fear it might
jeopardize some OF my own measures.
1t is to be supposed that the same feel
ing actuated others who were not a.
frank in their statements.
As to the senator from this county
The writer has always considered him Il
man Of his word, and stood at the polls
on election day and advocated his cleo
ton, telling the people that while he was
pledged to divide the county on certain
lines he would at least treat us fairly if it
came to point when the division would
be made The lines OF the proposed di-
vision were drawn on a blue print an,
shown the voters, and the senator state,
these were the lines he stood for. Nol
may Judge OF our surprise when we saw
, the line OF division as shown on the MAJ
hung up in the senate chamber to b.
-, three miles closer to jerome than on tn
, blue print that he had shown to the vot
crs. 1t seems that the voter was mis-
-, taken in his estimate OF the senator an
Il readers may judge for themselves.
After this piece OF iniquity had bee
1 recommended for passage 10y the senat
, sitting as Il committee OF tine whole,
- was then Immediately passed 10y the sci
=, ate in regular session under Il suspensio
80 OF the rules. Doubtless the people
- charge OF the bill were afraid that unle+
a.. they got action at once, some OF the seI
stors might discover that they had
u conscience and they did not dare della,
After the bill had been passed and b.
-, fore it had received the signature OF Il
governor it was discovered that the hi
!. as it read would disrupt our school iii
., trict. Some OF your committee Dissolve
- ,, this fact and telephoned the govern
n, stating this fact, and asked him to wit
hold ms approval OF the bill until TN
could arrive in Boise and 90 over t
81 matter with him. They lett for Boise
~ once. arrived there the same event.
j." and found that he had signed the bill
" five o. clock that afternoon. That acti
W. neccSsitated the closing of our schoo
1t would seem to layman that the |
'St might have been returned to the legis
lth ture for correction as To its effect on I
's' schools without altering any OF the Otl
provisions or depriving the advocates
m county division of any OF the fruits
its their victory. But it seems our govern
lyS thought otherwise, even to the extent
put forgetting his promise not To sign
bill until your representatives had st
-es- him.
has \ great wave of approval swept O
fine the state when the governor : message
has the legislature was read 10y the pee
and the writer took occasion while
,,r Boise to congratulate him on it, and
-. heartily glad to he able To do SO. hay