American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-10-15

the solicitation of the people who wanted a county, be-
cause they believed him to be the most fOrceful man In
the proposed new county, he consented to become a candi-
date for the legislature and was elected. He was success
full In his legislative efforts, and all rejOiced.
A little history here will not harm anyone and may
add some useful information to some. To aid Mr.. Davis
there was an organization of business men and public
spirited citizens formed, known as the Power County
Club" They raised money to gather needed data, and
assisted him whenever and wherever possible. When
the bill creating the county finally passed Mr.. Davis, not
wanting to exercise the privileges his position enabled
him to, asked this club to ecommen persons for ap-
pointment as the first officers of the new county. The
request was complied with. In some instances more than
one name, either of which would have been satisfactory,
was sent him, and the appointments followed. No one was
appointed whose name was not suggested by this club.
Where more than one name was suggested for any posi-
ton he was forced to make a choice. His only aim was
to secure competent officials, and to distribute them as
nearly as possible over the county, and he was successful
in doing both. He has felt that inasmuch as he was in
a way connected with the appointment of the officers
that any suggestions made by him might appear to some
to be d~ictatorial, he has refrained from making any sug-
gestiOns to the appOintees, being less free than he 9TH
erwise would have been.
Now, II any wrOng-dOing on the part of any official
can be pointed out, or any ineaiciency, the Press will join
with the News in securing the defeat of such Official. Or
IL any evidence can be produced that any individual, whe-
ther a member of any "old Republican ring or not, is in
fuencing or attempting to influence any official to do
other than what is right and for the public good, or is
using or attempting to use the offices for his own fnan-
clal benefit, the Press will join in exposing such, and in
demanding its cessation. But until evidence is produced
that anything wrong or selfish, or improper, is being done
it might be well to forget this ring business and talk
facts and common sense.
Before closing this article it may be well to 90 a little
further into this ring business. No doubt MANY will be
surprised to learn that there is a ring in the Mormon
church. But such is the fact. 1t is composed of Charles
Johnson, ". w. Becksted, Fred j. Kohhepp. and a number
of other. thoroughly good citizens. They WELD a control
ing influence in that organization, and their influence is
for good. There is the same kind of a ring in control of
the Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran and Catholic churches.
those who compose these various rings are the real work
ers-the factors, the people who do things. Then there is a
county fair ring. 1t numbers among its members M.
p. Drake, Frank Kluck, George Stanger, E. E. Earring,
II. c. Allen, ID. w. Davis, E.. E. Geesey, D. T. Farnham.
S. b. Rowe, Philbrick & Greenwood, 7. E. st. John, L.
L. Evans, David Burrell, M. A. Wones, Mrs. BENJAMIN
Howell, and about a dozen others. These people have
done practically all the work in getting up the fairs that
nave been held here, giving freely of their time and in
the early days of their money, and not one of them has
ever received a cent of compensation. Someone has to
take the lead in every undertaking and it is the public
spirited men and women who do so.
There is a ring in the Democratic party as well. It is
as "old" and Just as worthy and just as unworthy, as the
old ring in the Republican" party. 1t is composed of the
party Workers-and workers does not necessarily mean
otflce-seekers nor candidates. There are men of strong con-
vlctlons and OF pulsating energy in every party and in ev-
cry walk of life. Such people are the ones who take an
interest in what is going on ,and a hundred times more Of
ten to see prevail what they believe in than from any pc
cuniary advantage that may come to them. Such are
the good citizens, the leaders in business and thought.
They dominate and control all political parties; they
give direction to all social, religious and business matters.
They are leaders because they have the courage, the en-
ergy and the independence of thought, and take a serious
view OF the obligations of citizenship. No party, no So
ciety, no organization has a monopoly of them, nor sue
ceeds without them. They are the hope and the mainstay
of progress and civiization-the rocks upon which good
citizenship and good government are founded.
THEY ATTACK THE PRIMARY.
The purpose of the present attack on the direct primary
1auy IL hooounip~ r1o,p1, ov:Lo-A