The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-01-07
Conner Selected for Speaker
of The [ Lower House

Breaking a deadlock THAT existed
up to and including the twenty-fourth
ballot. Representative A. H. Conner
OF Bonner county was elected as tho
Republican majority caucus nominee
for speaker of the next house of rep
reSentatives at an early hour this
morning. His selection took place
on the twenty-fifth ballot by vote
of Is to IA over Peter G. Johnston
of Bingham county Representative
c. F. Koelsch, himself candidate
for speaker, although he never gain
ed more than six votes, withdrew from
the race after the twenty-third ballot.
Three votes in the Ada county delega.
ton werc thrown to Conner and his
election followed.
Anti-Prohibition Victory
Viewed from a political standpoint
and as considered in party circles,
Representative Corners choice for
speaker by the Republican caucus, is
distinct wet, or anti-prohibition, vic.
tory, it is said. Conner has been
known as the wet candidate in the
speakership race Johnston; was known
as the dry candidate While the
prohibition issue was not allowed to
come up in the caucus contest, it has
been well known for some time that
the liquor forces have been active
with regard to the speakership fight.
The drys today admit they have lost
the first round by a shade in the fight
TO place Idaho in the prohibition col.
umn.
Representative Johnston was a
weaker candidate in the speakership
race Immediately after and following
the election of Senator John Hart of
Menan as president pro tenn of the
senate. Outside of the caucus and
amcng the represcntatives-clect the
fact that the senate had elected a
president pro tenn from the southeast
who is Mormon, and that Johnston,
also from the southeast, was a Nor
mon, had its influence. Knowing that
Johnston was a dry, the vets also
took advantage of this fact and ulti-
mately it was used with effect.
Realizing their margin of majority
in the house at the present session
Is small and that Whatever differences
there existed among the Republican
members-elect an organization could
not be carried on to the floor of the
house, the members of the majority
wing went into caucus between and
. o'clock last night to decide the
organization problem. It was from
this caucus that Representative Con.
ner came forth victorious.
Three in Contest
The fight for speakership was be-
tween three old members of the house
Representative Johnston, the south
eastern Idaho candidate; Representa-
tive KOelsch, the southern and south.
western Idaho candidate, and Repre-
sentative Conner, the Northern Idaho
candidate. Due to the fact that prac-
tically all counties in the southwest
with the exception of Ada went Demo-
cratic and elected Democratic men,
bers to the house, Representative
koelsch was isolated in the speaker.
ship race and therefore did not de.
velop at any time into a strong candi
date. Johnston, on the other hand.
had been figured as the strongest
man In the race and it is said that
prior 10 the senate caucus had the
race won. Fourteen of the 80 votes
are said to have been signed for him,
and the three additional necessary
to elect, it was claimed, could be de-
hvered. Conner had the backing of
the north. some - or IA votes.
Johnston Leads
Inc caucus opened in room 200 in
tho Owyhee hotel and was called by
George A. Day, chairman of the Re.
publican state central committee. at
the request of the three candidates
for speaker. L. w. Thrailkill of Ada
county acted as chairman and d. J.
Lau of Bannock county, secretary.
The selection of tho caucus candidate
Tor speaker was Immediately taken
up and balloting started after the
three candidates had been placed in
nomination.
Johnston and Conner jumped to the
front as leading candidates on the
first three ballots, while Koelsch was
q poor third. Conner and Johnston