The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-01-15
NEWS FROM THE
NATIONAL CAPITOL
French in the open for Senator

French in the Open for Senator
Washington. D. c., January H.
During the last two months, Reprcsen
tative Burton L French has been re
ceivinE many letters from Idaho. urg
ling and advising that he become :
candidate for Senator. and rumor hal
persistently associated hts name will
the Senatorial fight in spite Of thu
tact that he has constantly refused
to make q final statement on the sub
ject
Mr.. French has decided to be q
candidate, and today gave out the
following interview:
"You may say that I have decided
to become 4 candidate for United
Statse Senator from Idaho this year,
I have withheld making any an.
nouncement until the present. because
I desired to hear from all sections Of
the state before doing 80. Member
ship in the United States Senate at.
fords far greater opportunity for pub
lie service than does membership in
the House, and would not be can.
did II l did not frankly admit that it
is one Of the greatest ambitions OF
my life to be elected to membership
in that body from the state of Idaho.
This ambition is one that is worthy
Of the ambition of any American citi'
zen who loves his country"
Il would also lack in candor If
did not say that my present course
in making this announcement is in
response to the multitude CT letters
that l have received during the last
ten weeks. These letters have come
from every section of the state and
many of them unsolicited.
II had hoped to have the oppor-
tunity of making trip home before
coming to a conclusion. This is out
of the question, however, on account
of my work. At the present, l am
giving very largely of my time to
the passage OF my bill providing for
the survey of all the lieu la1d selec-
lions in North Idaho. The passage
of this bill will place on the assess
ment rolls of the counties of Idaho.
two million acres of land that is
now untaxed, and that is chiefly owne
by large investors. The reason why
this land is not taxed is because II
is unsurveyed and unpatented. My
bill will relieve the tax payers of the
state of Idaho to the extent of $4,000
annually, for this amount it Is esti-
mated, will be paid to the counties
and to the state upon this land alone
az soon as it shall pass to patent"
Just at this time also, l am urg-
ing my bill for the surface entry under
the land laws, Of areas classified as
phosphate and locked from all devel-
opment This bill now has the back
ing of the Department, and its pas
sage will be of vast benefit to the
entire West
Both of these bills l expect will
be reported before long. Many other
problems in which Idaho is interested
are now taking my attention, but
these will be disposed Of during the
next several months"
"A little later l shall take up my
campaign actively, and must say
now that l am more than delighted
with the outlook. In announcing my
decision to enter the Senatorial race
l am following course that think
is fair to the state, fair to all other
candidates, and fair to my friends
1t is right that they should all know
my position.
Proposed Drainage Law Great Value
to Idaho
There is a bill now pending before
Congress for a National drainage law
The Department of Agriculture seems
to favor such law, and if this bill
passes it will be a wonderful benefit
to Idaho, as it will enable drainage
bitches to be formed under National
authority that will make the selling
of the bonds an easy matter.
However, this bill goes still far
Their and authorizes the Government
to do the work and take bonds for
the construction, and this seems q
be the law most suited to the needs
of the people. There are large tracts
of land in Northern Idaho eSDecially