The Idaho Republican., 1913-02-14


ballot appears in the paper, people
now sit down in their homes and dis
cuss the qualifications of those who
are asking the support of the peo-
pie for public office, and the prop
er method of marking the ballot SC
as to safely register their choice
And, in this way greater attention is
being given to the class of men and
women filling public positions. Our
annual school elections show q great
increase in the vote cast; thereby
evidensing the value of the puoli-
city required now by law to be given
to the election. The financial trans
actions of our school districts, being
required to be published, afford the
taxpayer an opportunity to digest the
expenditures at his own fire-side
and determine as to the manner in
which the school interests are being
looked after 1t is the same with
municipal ordinances. They are now
required to be published in a news
parer; the result of which is tfat
people can be informed as to the 10
cal laws begin to be passed by the city
fathers. No one who has any re-
gard for general good would make
an effort to remove any of this leg
islaticn from our statute books, be-
cause the beneficial results that have
already accured and are generally
admitted by those who are in posi-
tion to know, are worth a hundred
times more than the dollars and
cents paid the publisher. The coun-
ty Superintendents from one end of
the state to the other will testify to
the great good that has been accom-
plished since the school law was "a
mended to require the publication of
the statute dealing with the compul-
sorry education of children. It has
had a most marvellous effect in the
attendance at our schools and bring
ing to a realization of delinquent par
ents the moral duties devolving upon
them with regard to the education of
their offspring.
There has been some question as
to whether the law requiring the
publication of the official transac-
tions of the boards of county commits
sioners should not be amended so as
to do away with one of the two pub
lications called for. This is mat
ter that this convention should de-
eide. l believe, however, that it is a
good idea and will demonstrate the
honesty of our position with regard
to securing official publications of
legal notices. I notice that a num-
ber of the newspaper editors take a
favorable view of the suggestion, esp
ecially our worthy President Mr.. Byrd
Trego. He recently published quite
an article faboring the amendment
of the law, doing away with one of
the two publications required. be-
lieve that the present Legislature
should be approached through it's
legislative committee with a bill to
this effect, provided this convention
decides by a majority vote, if not
unanimous vote, to take this step. 1t
may be that there is other legislation
for the newspaper men present to re-
commend I would suggest, as
chairman of the Legislative Com
mittee, that those who have any sug-
gestions to make regarding the en-
actment of legislation along the
lines of our work, should consult us
at once recommend they write out
their suggestion, accompanied with
any argument that they may desire
to present in support of the recon-
mendations they make. The news
paper men must look after their own
interests. They have great interests
at stake, as much so as any other
business. Your business is legiti-
mate one, and is entitled to the same
consideration at the hands of the
public as any other business in the
community. Conduct your affairs
along business lines, and demand the
support of the community in which
you operate as a matter of right and
justice. Allusion has already been
made to the fact that we are not OBJ
jects of charity. The newspaper
man who cannot make his business
pay after thorough trial is only los
ing money and respect for himself
by remaining in the business. There
is room in Idaho for good newspap-
er men; men who know their busi-
ness; men who are in It for the good
that they can accomplish. The pap
'er that is conceived in spite or to