The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-04-09
REPUBLICAN MEETING.

publicans VIII be held IN CaldWel
next Wednesday TO discuss men ant
measures and to hold what the Meth
odists would call love feast. Thu
meeting also has another ayowec
object--to launch Senator Borah as 1
candidate for president.
The first two purposes of the meet
ing are splendid. 1t will do the party
and its followers good to get together
recount the accomplishments Of the
past and talk over the promises OF
the future. New issues have arisen
out of the recent disturbance. Some
are good, few are bad. The Re-
publican party must separate the
wheat from the chaff--it must get
in step with the new movement In
political and economic reform if it
it is to survive. Traditions have their
influence in arousing enthusiasm and
inspiration among those who are con
tent with present conditions, but they
don't go very far with the fellows
who are dissatisfied.
The Republican party, if it is going
to regain power, must become a hui
name utility--a weapon for progress
and relief The political machinery
in Idaho is old and antiquated and
the people are becoming Disguised
with it, The laws under which the
public servants in state and county
have to work are cumbersome and
slow and it takes month to do a
thing that should be accomplished
in an hour. There is too much ma
chinery, too many jobs and too many
fellows with fingers in the dough.
Idaho, Canyon county and every mu-
nicipality in the state needs new ma
chinery and we will get no relief
from existing conditions under any
party until it is installed. The polit-
zeal party that shall have the courage
and the wisdom to formulate the re-
forms needed and which the people
in ever-increasing numbers will de-
mand--the party that will conscien-
tiously advocate them and sincerely
work for them will have little need
of traditions to restore it to power
and usefulness.
AS to Borah for the Republican
party's standard bearer in 1916, The
Index has nothing but the heartiest
endorsement. He is a big Drained
man, national figure, man who
has caught the spirit of the times,
man VINO has honored the state. If
there is real sincerity back of the adj
yocacy of Borah for presidential can
didate, well and good But if the 4,
party wants him only as political |
asset for campaign purposes and
hopes to regain power through the
name of Borah, rather than by advo-
,ating those principles of which he
ias been so jealous champion-then
he future Of the party is indeed dark {
3orah is big enough, strong enough a
o lead the party TO success-provided Q
he party is willing to follow him. b
The Index has never lost faith in S
he Republican party. We have looked o
lpon it's recent defeat as blessing v
ather than a misfortune. The party g
Ieeded a Christening in order to get v
out of the ruts. If it shall take {
he lesson to heart and get in line "
With the progressive spirit that dom "
mates the people, then its future will n
e assured. But if it fails, it will die. e
1t is safe to say that 30 per cent o
{ the Republican party is progress &
We. This is particularly true of the n
Western wing. Then what grounds j.
re there for the existence of a third g
arty? No one need doubt the sin b
Gritty Of the advocate of a third party o,
ut there is reason 10 question his RI
Judgment and 10 ask him to look il t.
yer. For years we have had the W
rohibition party and the voters who h,
ave east their ballots for that tick C
were unquestionably sincere And eC
ct as a party we do not see where II
ley have done thing for prohibit ju
on or for the enforcement of the II
Nv. Individually they may have W
eiped, but as a party they might II
ist as well have stayed away from is
re polls. To be a Prohibitionist il lii
as not necessary to be a Prohibition re
arty man. Now we have the Pro- III
ressiye party and il is no more nee tn
ssary for man who Is progressive sa
, belong 10 the Progressive party m
ian it is for man who is prohibit pr
onist 10 belong TO the Prohibition a
arty. The advocates Of the new party tp
re sincere, but their political judg- pi
ent is warped. They have a perfect &c
ght TO be Progressive party mem m
srs, but they have no more right be- tn
iuse Of that name, and in fact can &C
,ly accomplish one result, TO draw pr
enough votes from the Repubh- ex