The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-07-01
POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES THE
STATE MUST COPE WITH

STATE MUST COPE WITH.
The Tribune heartily wishes ther,
were some panacea 1t could put for
ward to the state by which common
honesty on the one hand and COM
mon sagacity on the other could bt
obtained In the administration of it,
public business, but, unfortunately, Il
Is at loss as to how TO shape its own
political course let alone that oil
Others In order to reach that SUI
premely important end. 1t does nc
good to stigmatize the prevailing idea
that everything that has gone amiss
can be cured by legislative process
because those who have held, and
may still hold, that idea are the ones
from whom capable and sustained
effort must come In the present juno
ture, and therefore their interest, not
their antagonism, must be enlisted II
real and lasting progress is to be
made.
The records OF the criminal courts
tell enough of the story to indicate
the degraded condition Of Idaho state
politics. but this story does not tel
all OF 1t, not even the worst OF It, by
any means. 1t does not tell the story
of the interloclxing system bv which
criminal business has been so merged
with non-criminal business that each
came to depend on the other for Its
effectuation. 1t does not tell how
confessed criminal officials drew non
criminal officials into their system
and secured not only protection for
themselves but the pollution of the
entire edifice as a means of perpetu-
ating their hold, and the hold of 9TH
ers like them. on the public power.
1t does not tell Of the industrious cor
ruption of public standards and pub
lie opinion in order to excuse the
party responsibility for the accusatory
results that have come upon the state,
It will not serve 10 simply indict
one. POLITICAL party as embodying the
fault and set the other political party
up as embodying the remedy. II
that was all there were to 1t the
problem would be simple The Trib-
une can prescribe no such solvent
The chief of the state now belongs
to the opposition party, but the Trlb-
une Is not able, at this time. to APP
prove either his policy or his person
ality as advantageous for the state.
While the chief executive is, there Is
tFCiy tCacOH W otiltNtt uOHtbl cnOuS II
both In his own person and as to
protecting the state from depreda-
tions by others, there seems to be
here a mental incoherency and I'm
candor and responsibility that may
prove even more unfortunate to the
state than the petty larcenists whose
names now decorate the criminal
court records. We speak OF this here
with regret. and without the slightest
intention OF joining In the hue and
cry against Gov. Alexander who has,
generally. only done the things he
was pledged to do IL elected II that
were ALL If 1t were only necessary to
accept the blows dealt at Lewiston
and at other north Idaho interests as
due part of the considered program,
the Tribune would do. has done, that
without a murmur. That, however,
Is no longer the question. The real
question Is whether Gov. Alexander,
In justifying certain OF his policies
and practices, has not worked himself
into a mental condition Of antagonism
toward state institutions and broad
state interests that not only clouds
the future but leads to the creation
of prejudice against them in playing
on sectional rivalries and animosities.
1t is political truism that general
constructive progress is only achieved
by combining sectional or conflicting
interests in some joint program.
There are not wanting signs that
Gov. Alexander would use this same
human trait, setting off one against
the other, for the very opposite pur-
pose. that OF putting down or keeping
down instead Of building up. I'M
fortunately too, this perverted way OF
serving the state Is apt to prove pop
ular, dangerously popular. to an ex-
tent at least as to Justify the express
sion of these monitory words.
The state thus. as II seems, Is con-
fronted with exceptional difficulties II
seeking to extricate itself from tht
plight into which 1t Is generally
agreed II has fallen. The Tribune 1.
not able to see the way out The
most 1t can do is. as II herein ha,
done. to demonstrate that 4 is no
blackwashing one party In order I,
whitewash the other. We have n,
interest in denouncing one part,
merely in order to put another part,
In office, except as there is tangibl,
reason for relying on capable ans
faithful service from the other party
First of all, 1t is necessary for tn,
people of the state to understan,
their political problems and difficult
ties and dangers before they can ris
fully to meet them. At present
neither political party offers the stat,
promise Of satisfactory and efficien
government, and there is no piail
method by which this condition cal
be retrieved. Unless some method b,
devised the political prospect is no
bright nor Is the future OF the stat,
any brighter, in so far as wise, con
structive and provident government 4
factor in the making or the marin,
or that future.-Lewiston Tribune.