The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-10-16
LAWSON AND ASSOCIATES
ARE HOPEFUL OF
SUCCESS

G. w. LamSOn, candidate on the
independent ticket for state senator,
was in the city from Nampa We'd
nesdav meeting with other candidates
on the ticket and with the people gem
orally. Mr.. Lamson informs The
Tribune that the candidates will con-
duct a vigorous campaign from now
until election. He states that the
sentiment in favor of independence in
politics is growing rapidly and feels
confident that he and associates will
be elected. Following it's time-hon-
ored custom The Tribune asked Mr..
Lamson for statement fthe views,
principles and ideas of the candidates
on the independent ticket. Mr.. Lam
son said:
We have become candidates on an
Independent ticket, because of a pop
those who feel that they have been
DISTINGUISHED. We say DISTINGUISHED,
because the highest privilege of Am
erican citizenship cannot be ,exer-
cised by voting for the legislative
candidates running on either of the
platforms of the old machine parties.
The political platforms were not
made by the people or by a repre-
sentative body of the people but were
made and adopted by few self-con-
stituted delegates. That is to say,
the county committeeman met at
Caldwell and selected delegates from
among their number as far as pos
sible but when all present had been
elected, others were chosen who
could not attend and were known to
be persons who could not attend.
Then too the sole object was to pack
the Boise convention with men of the
one idea stamp, of wet or dry. There
fore, we have platforms in which pre-
tended principles appear, but which
are not in reality political questions.
We go before the people, unfetter-
ed with pledges and above all else,
we are not subservient to any political
machine, church, league, trust or
other combination. We are aware of
oun own condition as taxpayers, bur-
dened with unbearable taxes and
freak legislation and we take it for
granted that any reforms that will
inure to- our benefit will help the
people generally. We are willing to
use our best efforts in reducing taxes,
by whatever means is available, to the
state legislature, and we feel that it
is expecting to much of the machine
candidates to conclude they will help
smash machines, useless Offices, and
commissions, which are of their own
making, besides, in voting for them
we are ratifying their past career.
We feel there is a popular demand
for the initiative and referendum and
that because of such a demand prior
legislatures have been found wanting
and are not fit to legislate. If legisla-
ton shall be referred directly to the
people our present ratio of represen-
tation is too high and we would favor
a reduction and even the adjustment
one branch of the legislation.
We feel that the present agitation
of the temperance question is largely
due to the outside influence of dema-
gogues who share no part of our bur
dens, but who prey upon our super
StitionS.
We would give the liquor question
a rest, except that we would favor
changing the present unit of local
option to some form of precinct OPP
ton commonly called home rule, in
stead of making the county the unit.
So long as the voter regards the
qualifications of legislator from a
wet or dry standpoint, SO long will
Idaho be cursed by freak legislation.
The people are not ready for state
wide prohibition, at least until they
have tried out local option.
There are other important matters
that need fixing. Our legal rate OF
interest is too high, and our elections
cost entirely too much money.
We believe the county government
could be run on less than $83,OOO a
year and if legislation will reduce 1t
we would find the way.
We believe taxes could be reduced
by creating revenue and revenue
could be created by selling our down
and matured timber.
Heretofore our legislatures have
consumed about half the allotted time
in dickering, swapping, sparring and
jockying for place. Then lot OF freak
legislation follows by reason OF
lack of time for consideration, all OF
which is the direct result OF machine
politics. We have no campaign fund
back of us, we have no money to hire
public halls or to pay demagogues TO
speak for us. We do not expect to
be endorsed by means OF printed dod-
gers distributed at church meetings or
prayer meetings, and we know that
some of the machine candidates who
have been so endorsed, are the vic
Tins Of misplaced confidence, yet they
were induced to make pledges which
exposed their hypocracy or suffer
defeat at the primary election. How
can you expect the best men to run
for Office under such conditions.
We stand for independence and thu
highest degree of American citizen
ship, regardless of party politics, /
we shall be elected it will be because
of our inability to present our caus'
to the people"