The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1913-03-27
DIRECT ELECTION OF NON
EFFECT IN IDAHO.

"
three states were now lacking to
effect the ratification of the
amendment to the federal consti-
tuition providing for the direct
election Of U. S. senators, while
not a single state had yet voted
adversely, and that the amend
ment was expected to become
operative almost at once, even
perhaps before Illinois could fill
the two vacancies in that state
upon which the legislature is now
balloting. This amendment will
apply to the election in Idaho
next fall, in choosing the success
sion to the short term seat now
held by Senator Brady. Nominal
ly, direct election will prevail in
this state, but actually there will
be no such thing. The people of
the state of Idaho, as they are
now organized, will have no eff
cient voice whatever as to who
is to be their senator, their con-
gressmen, their governor or other
public officials supposed to be
chosen at the general state cleo
ton. On the contrary, the election
will be determined exclusively by
the quite word passed out among
the stakes of southeastern Idaho,
where there is a sect of suffi-
cient numerical strength to hold,
and that does hold and exercise,
the balance of power as between
the contending candidates or par
ties and that thus effectually con-
trolls the nominations at the pri-
maries and the elections at the
final poll. The rest of the state
divides on normal and human
lines in the belief that it is per-
forming its solemn political duties
with it's best judgement and con-
science, when in point Of fact its
efforts are as futile and nugatory,
for all practical purposes, as the
electorate of Mexico under Diaz
or of China under Yuan Shi Kai.
In north Idaho the christian
jurist, the profound lawyer, the
dilligent public servant or the
capable man of affairs each
cherishes just hopes of receiving
the states commission to repre-
sent it in the senate forum. In
south Idaho other able and de-
serving men seek the suffrages
of their fellow citizens for the
same high seats and for other
high seats. Not one of them can
aspire to the public life of this
state with a reasonable hope of
success on his merits or his pop
ularity, but only as he receives
the seal of appreciation from the
see of the Mormon church. Having
the appreciation the rest of the
state is of no concern whatever,
because it will divide up on par
tisan lines anyhow, to at least an
extent that enables the practical
ly solid sectarian vote to deter
mine the result. The Righteousness
and purity of purpose, or other
wise. of such sect is not in the
least at issue in this connection,
but only the fact that the public
life and governance of the state
has drifted into it's hands through
negligence and a failure to take
a reckoning Of the circumstances
thereof, which it has now become
the supreme duty of the state to
apprehend and to correct, if it ha
not lost the power to do so.
The sect does not exercise its
power promiscuously or aggres-
slvely, by any means, Tor TO 90 So
would defeat its own ends, as the
state is too strongly the other way
when united and too distrustful
of Mormon government to permit
its direct control Of the public
power. This was shown in the
last campaign when the sect had
set it's heart on the elevation OF
Bishop Bulge to the supreme jul
dicature, but in spite of all the
influences that told in his favor
and against his opponents the PEG
pie refused to validate his claims.
So the ambition of the church for
political supremacy must be rea-
lized, in state affairs, by indirec-