American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-07-22

lie funds is bad enough, but the loss
of the money taken, should 1t be lost,
is altogether the least of the conse-
quences of such evils. Corruption In
public office is not to be measured in
its evil consequences by the direct loss
occurring-such things impair the
reputation and standing of the state
in every financial center in the United
States. 1t reduces the value of every
farm, of every horse and COW, of
every state and municipal bond and
warrant, ii increases your taxes and
lessons your values. Such things are
not only deplorable from a moral
standpoint but they are also bad as a
pure question of business. Men en-
gagged in legitimate business, capital
seeking legitimate investment, rail-
roads and corporate enterprise look
ing for extensions and for ways in
which to invest, turn aside If they
can from that state where incompe-
tency and venality prevail in the pub
lie service The best investment a
state ever made, the only real immi-
grafton agent hat is worth while
paying, are honest, upright, cour-
ageous public officials. And the best
way for you to raise the price of every
acre of your land, to increase the
value of all your holdings, to lower
your taxes and increase your bank ac-
count is to take sufficient time from
your other affairs of life to see that
we have decent public officials. The
we'll performed duty OF every citizen
toward the public by meeting the pri-
mary and solemn obligation of citi-
zenship by going to the primary and
to the election is the greatest asset
this state could have. A common
wealth whose people are blessed with
a deep sense of civic responsibility,
where there is an atmosphere of hon.
I'd conscientious public service
possesses that kind of wealth which
enriches and enlarges the material
wealth of the state a hundred fold.
The debauchery of the American
electorate, the incompetency and We
nality of public officials, the betrayal
of public trusts, the dull and sodden
sense of public decency which have
characterized to some extent our state
are not party questions, however, nor
state questions-they overflow party
lines and state lines and become pro-
foundry national in their import in
volving no less than the question of
, the perpetuity of the republic itself. /
wish they were party questions. l
, could see, then, / think, an easy way
to be rid of them. | wish they were
confined to a particular state even If
II had to be my own state, for how
simple would be the solution. But
look at the situation and conditions of
affairs In Texas, as lately uncovered,
in Kentucky and Indiana and New
York. A short time ago in Ohio so
widespread and prevalent did the
venal curse take its way, reaching
from wholesale bribery in public Off
ces to the most awful and widespread
corruption among the electorate that
it seemed like the ravages of some
fearful contagious disease spreading
upon the breeze to every home, ham.
let and city throughout the land
More important than all other ques.
tons, my friends, rising above party
fealty, overshadowing every economic
and political question Is whether OF
not the American electorate is going
to meet in full and with adequate
measures HI duties and responsible.
ties of citizenship In this republic
Such q question goes back to the
primal question, not shall the people
rule, but WILL the people rule. Be as.
sured of this, that you can have some
kind or a government here but YOU
cannot have a republic where justice
is distributed alike to each and all AND
where all shall share according 3,
their deserts In the growth and pros.
perity of the community unless you
are willing to pay for II in loyalty
in vigilance, in sleepless devotion tt
the public service, IN the sacrifice Of
time and energy necessary to protect
It from the inroads of those unweariet
enemies who pull down its pillars and
undermine It's institutions.
But let's deal with Idaho alone to
day. 7 must say to o frankly tina
I think the situation Is deplorable
State pride in some quarters Seems
utterly dead. The state seems, In thu
MINDS of some parties. a legitimat,
subject of public prey. and at the sam'
line Hundreds ana even thousands o
our citizens go neither to the prima
RES or To the election where uhc Off
GERS are finally rhOsea. II ] had NJ,
Nav about IT I would nr"Fe he RICH
20 pt" Co.,. ',.t he faithful e~,f
else ot the franchise and no: ri>'
r'''cI or sex. ! " dlsfrap
- lose NHO = r 10 r easop = 10
AVA roin il.c pu' - b'uatcl =.
81 public d%eccacy- q luT iu-., "A
"ii'eIair, s0dCau conception OF l, 90.
l.'.on Of a public q, 4at to t. lda
lie and 10 tie tf.- 'cYoaed 80 h