The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1915-02-26
THE APPROPRIATION VETO

vetoed Jhe Dill apprOpriating
funds for the Lewiston Livestock
show. Not because the show is
not a good one, nor because it is
undeserving Of assistance, but
because he promised the people
of the state to give them one ad-
ministration in the states history
wherein appropriations Of funds
and expenditures should be held
down somewhere near the neces-
stiles of the states legitimate
expenditures.
In other words, the governor,
invoicing this measure, was but
keeping his election promises.
The legislature may pass the
bill over his veto; or it may not
do so. If it does, it will not be
keeping its promises, so that the
question will be squarely before
the people to determine whether
or not they meant what they said
when they elected Governor AL
exander, or whether they were
merely blufing about it.
That the people Of the state
expect the governor to keep his
promises to reduce the taxes,
there can be no doubt. That
the majority in the legislature
is determined THAI he shall not
be allowed to keep those prom
ises, there is no doubt. Be
tween these two directly conflict
ing facts stand the people, like
grain between two millstones.
Whom shall the people back;
the man who tries to keep his
pledges and make good his prom
ises, or the men who stand in his
way, placing every obstacle in
his path, interposing every op-
position and forcing him to
break his promises by breaking
their own?
But, as matter of fact, the
Lewiston measure did not have
such great merit behind it as
seems to have been claimed and
admitted all around. By that.
we do not say that the livestock
show is not worthy, but we mean
that financially the association
is not in serious need Of funds,
and whatever funds the state
should make the people pay,
would merely represent so much
velect to the livestock men back
of the movement by way of saw
ing to themselves.
The report made by President
Sweet of the association, who is
now one of the states senator's,
was most bOastful of the fact that
all bills had been paid some mon
ey was left in the treasury and
the association was in splen-
did shape for next year.
This is said merely to empha-
size the point that there are
other places where the expendi-
ture of state funds is needed
more than for the Lewiston Live
stock show. Very many taxpay-
ers of the state are not so for
tunately situated. Many of
them have not yet paid all their
bills. More of them have not
any surplus cash fund on hand
and not a few of them are in &C
tual need of state aid.
1t may be that the Republican
legislature is playing the best
politics. We would not be sur
prised if that were true. But
the governor is playing the only
honest course. OF course, the
Republican hope is that all Lew
iston and Nez Perez county peo-
pie and many others from other
northern points, will feel unkind-
ly toward Governor Alexander be-
cause he vetoed this measure. If
the legislature should pass it
over his veto, the Republicans
would expect those northern peo-
pie all to feel kindly toward them
Or even if the bili is not passed,
it is the expectation that the
governor will be the loser in the
good opinion of the northern
people, while the Republicans will
share with the governor in the
good opinion Of those who are
grateful because the tax bill is
lower. In other words, they ex-
pect the governor to lose through
their acts, while they expect tC
gain through the acts of the gov
ernOr.
If the governor were expecting
to continue in politics, this littlC
game might benz the Republi-
cans. but inasmuch as he is play