The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1914-02-26
A TRAvESITY ON THE NAME OF
DEMOCRACY.

OEMOCHAOY.
The democratic national committee
man for Idaho, who by custom has
come to be regarded as the dispenser
of federal patronage in the state, an
nounces to the people of Boise that
mastership of that city TO a poll,
owing to the bitter controversy waged
among the candidates and the fac
lions for the place. Il am mailing
each of the candidates a communion
ton tonight notifying him of my de-
cision in the matter" the announce
ment reads. 81 think this is the
democratic was to settle the ques-
Ion. The republicans will have moth
ing to do with it, of course. The
voting will be confined to democratic
patrons of the office who are at the
same time legal voters in the COM
munity. A democrat is a voter who
supports President Woodrow Wilson
and the principles and policies for
which he stands"
II that ds the democratic way in
which to settle the FILLING of an i'm
portant and responsible public office,
then democracy has come to have
some strange and indescribable mean
ings these days. Democracy means,
Notwithstanding the authority of the
committeeman, government by the
people as whole, exercising full and
exact political equality IN public az
fairs. It does not mean q favored and
privileged class. such as the sover-
eighty Is now vested In by the COM
mitteeman's order. It does not mean
republicans. progressives, prohibition.
It's. socialists, non-partisans and all
except the pretorian guard are ex.
Guided from participating IN a public
election for an office of great public
trust I'm which all are equally inter.
ested and In the manning and the
conduct OF which all have an equal
right. The vast majority of the citi.
Gems Of Boise City are disqualified
by this arbitrary decree from expires.
sing choice In the filling of one OF
their chief offices, under the unctious
pretense that "thie Ia the democratic
way to settle the question"
But, 1t will be retorted, the office
belongs to a democrat, the postmas-
ter-general and the president intend
to appoint a democrat, and this is
only a means of advising him intelli.
gently. Even SO, and still the national
administration exercises the right OF
discretion and excludes none from
applying for the office or from ex-
pressing a choice dn the selection, as
this order does. Other things being
equal, or reasonably SO, the president
will naturally appoint democrat in
preference to one of opposing activi.
ties. At the same time In doing sc
he consults the interests and the pref
erences of all classes of people, and
he doubtless receives information and
even advice from men of the oppos-
tie party. In numerous and all toe
few instances presidents have appoint
ed men of the opposite party to post
masterships and to other offices. The
right of the public to be consulted
at least nominally, in the manning oil
the public service has never been de-
MED or questioned before, we believe
until the announcement of this die
tum that the ballot Is to be reserved
to distinctive class calling them
selves democrats (sic).
The postmastership of an import
ant. growing and central point like
Boise is position requiring firstratt
abilities, good judgment and nice tao
1t seems, however, that no specia
qualities or any qualities at all are
to be required under the new dispen
sation other than that of being ablt
to outleg the others in getting votes
Any democrat is invited to run fol
the office, and the one landing the
most votes gets the prize. The mos
popular man, the most needy, the
most mportunate-any condition tina
will poll democratic votes is the only
standard set up for the important ser
vice required in conducting the posta
business of a metropolitan city. A
more foolish proposal than this has
scarcely ever emanated before from g
responsible urce.-Lewiston Tribun
DEM.