Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1913-02-08

at Idaho Fai'S. Inc city
recently expended $4,000 on a
hydro-electric plant. 1t is
creating hundreds of horsepower
more than the legitimate needs Of
the city require, and consequently
that surplus power Is lost--a pure
economic waste. If nome rule ex-
listed such as | would like to see,
there would be nothing to prevent
the citizens of Idaho Falls from say
ing to a street car company or to
a manufacturing concern, or to any
industry they may desire to locate
there: Here you do so and so and
give our people such and such SER
vice, and We will give you franchise
for operation, and we will give your
power free for a term OF years :"
That would result in city building
and state building, but at present the
law says that a municipality may
furnish electricity for lighting, but
that it must charge an equal rate to
all consumers. 1t doesn't mention
power at all.
But | am getting away from the
subject of my paper. The question
the publisher and editor
is how to bring out his honest views
On these questions at the same time
make a living and a fair profit, and
retain the respect and the patronage
of his fellow citizens. Like the
peer there is always with us the man
who says, flight for the right and
the people will support you" His
name is legion. Generally he bor-
rows the paper from his neighbor.
It sounds good in theory, but it's
very poor practice, have learned
by experience. The trouble Is we're
not all agreed as to what Is the right
is mighty unpopular at first, and the
people flock to your support-but
the flock carries a rope and they
want to support you with it by the
neck.
Whenever a public question arises
the newspaper, because of it's public
nature, is expected to take part In
the discussion. Other business men
will keep a close guard on their ton
CUES, crimped with fear of hurt
ing business But the newspaper
man is expected to rush in, give his
time energy and brains to the solving
Of the problem and generally, this
is what he does. And as he most al
ways has red blood in his veins and
wants to see his community prosper
he forgets to stipulate his remuner-
alton in advance, and about all he
gets is a cussing, a lot of arguments
with irate subscribers stopping their
paper, and the loss of advertising and
printing customers.
Pondering this, the thought has
to me that the newspaper man
could pursue this course, without
sting of conscience nor the loss OF
The respect of his fellows, and that
Is think the question out carefully,
decide absolutely what policies and
what candidates you will support as
q citizen. Then gather around you
those citizens who are of the same
mind, and say to them something
like this, "As citizen, have decid-
ed to cast my vote for this policy
and that candidate. You fellow citi-
zens are of the same mind, but Jones
is not leaving his dry goods store,
nor is Brown abandoning his gro
Gerry store, to preach these truths
from the house tops. All l intend
to do, Is to vote my convictions and
talk to my friends unless you fell
lows want to clip In and pay me for
my time, the use Of my circulation
and my valuable plant for the pro-
mitigation of the ideas you believe
to be right, and l, believing also
that they are right, will contribute
equally in service. That Is all |
can be expected to do. l must make
my living and my competence out OF
my services and my plant, and I'M
less you want to make good the loss
of time used in writing articles pro-
noting the cause and the loss OF
business that may follow, | had bet
ter devote my time to my printing
business. and say no more about the
campaign than does Jones or Brown,
because it will hurt business"
Such a course would naturally
bring ON the charge from certain
quarters, that you had been bought,
but your own conscience would be
clear and your pocketbook some
where near whole. 1t would be un'
questionably legitimate, as no other
citizen, merchant or otherwise
places his entire business at the dis.
posal of the promotion of an idea
or a candidate as does the newspa'
per man. Even the precinct worker
who piuac only a daY Or two of his