The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-05-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

! adopted resolution proVldlng Tor
open conference and caucuses of the
house members and in doing so ad-
vanced another step in line with the
demand of progressive Republicans
for the past several years.
The members of the Republican
4party in Congress appear to be fully
impressed with the significance Of
Republican defeat in the last election
and are bending their energies toward
policy of progressive legislation that
will commend itself to the country.
They believe that this course is es-
sential to the life of the Republican
party and they believe that the rank
and file of the Republican party will
sustain their actions.
Among those who are earnestly
working for the committing of the
Republican party to definite progress
sive policies among the members of
preceding Congresses are Senators
Cummins, Borah and LaFollette, and
Representatives Lenroot, French,
Davis, and others who are as we'll
known as progressive Republicans.
The Republicans Of both house and
Senate are greatly impressed with the
dispatches that have told of the out
come of elections this spring.
In Michigan for instance where
last fall the Progressives as party
led, a couple of weeks ago in the off
year election of several state officers,
the Republican ticket was successful,
while the Progressive ticket had fall
en- back to a poor third.
In st. Louis, where the Progressive
ticket received $4,000 votes last fall
the Progressive municipal ticket re-
ceived recently 4,661 votes as against
more than $4,000 votes for the Re-
publican ticket and $4,000 for the
Democrat. The Socialist ticket re-
ceived 10000.
In Chicago in the November cleo
ton. Roosevelt carried the city by rs
900 votes over Taft, while in the
municipal election last month, the
Republican candidates received three
times as many votes as the candi-
dates on the Progressive ticket.
Republicans, still smarting under
the rebuke given by the rank and
file last November are confident the
rank and file of those who admin
istered the rebuke are still Republic
cans, as indicated by the vote in Chi
cago, Michigan and St. Louis, and
that they do not propose to align
themselves definitely with third
party. At the same time candid
Democratic leaders see in the heavy
swing to the Republican party, the
possibility of a Republican congress
two years from now with Republi
can president four years hence of
such type as Hadley, Cummins or
Borah.
1t is generally admitted that save
geography alone, Senator Borah
would be strong candidate in 1916.
The state of Idaho is up in arms
over statement published by al
Wisconsin firm, and scattered broad
cast through the mails over the
country, branding Idaho alfalfa seed
as infected with weevil.
kilograms and letters are pouring
into Senator Brady's office from the
seed interests, state officials, and
other prominent Idaho citizens, urg-
ing his support at Washington.
Senator Brady is giving the mat
ter careful attention. He has laid
before the postmaster general the
facts of the case in detail, and he will
continue his activities until the af-
fair is thoroughly probed, and the
parties who are responsible for this
slanderous matter which was sent
broadcast through the mails are
brought to justice.
The Idaho Horticultural Depart
ment has conducted quiet investi-
cation and it is alleged that it was
discovered Rosenberg & Lieberman,
a Wisconsin firm had flooded the
mails with literature branding the
states alfalfa seed as infected. 1t is |
also alleged to have been discovered
that these people have bought up
large amount of Idaho alfalfa seed
and. labelling it Montana seed, was
disposing of it.
An Old Precedent Smashed.
Secretary of the interior Lane has
smashed a sixty year old precedent