The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-08-05
COMMENT By NEW CHAIRMAN.

Evan Evans, chairman of the Repub-
lican state committee, has been in
Boise for the past week. Early in the
week he held a meeting of the exc
cutive committee for the consideration
OF preliminary plans for the campaign
OF next year. At this meeting John
w. Graham rendered his resignation as
member of the state committee from
Twin Falls county. His reason was
that as he is a member OF the public
utilities commission, a non partisan or
ganization. he did not consider it prop
er to serve longer on the committee.
Furthermore, as his official duties keep
him away from Twin Falls county most
OF the time, he thought some other
man could serve the party to better
advantage. The resignation was ac-
cepted and w. l.. Guthrie was elected
in his stead.
While in the city Chairman Evans
held conferences with Senator Borah.
Senator Brady and large number Of
other party leaders. He Is planning
to hold similar conferences in the next
week or two at Spokane, Moscow, Lew
iston and other points in the north.
In the meantime he is getting In touch
with the men at the head of the or
ganization in every county in the
state.
After brief visit with his daughters
in California, following his return home
to Grangeville, Chairman Evans will
take UP the active work OF party or
ganization. He proposes to devote his
whole time to the work and to visit
every county in the state. His ideas
as to the situation and the nature of
the campaign to be conducted are clear
ly set forth in the following statement
submitted by him to the executive COM
mittee when it met in Boise on Sat-
urday last:
1--WE have met together here for bust
ness, to inventory our stock, to take
counsel of each other In the interest
OF our state and party and not especial
ly for oratorical flights; so, being any
thing but an orator my remarks shall
be brief and bear upon few points
which l consider more or less vital
First, desire to express my appre
citation OF the treatment which I have
been given by the committeeman OF
this state. 1t could not have been
more liberal and magnanimous; all that
has been accorded me has been with
out reservation or division and places
me under a double burden OF obligation
While not asking for the office Of
chairman, consented to assume the
strenuous duties which 1t entails, some
thing which / would not for a moment
have considered in the present condi-
tion Of my health, had 1t been a strict
ly business enterprise, or had the con-
ditions of our party been other than
they are. But having accepted the re-
sponsibility, have come to offer the
In the service which have assumed, and
this is given freely and without men,
tai reservation and without motive
other than to see the best interests
of the state and Republican party ad-
vanced.
"In speaking Of the present conditions,
I want 1t distinctly understood that
there is absolutely no reflection intend
ed upon the retiring state chairman and
secretary; they have labored unoeasIng-
iy under the most trying and, at times,
disheartening circumstances; and the
marvel is that the party has been held
together as we'll as 1t has. / extend to
them my hearty personal thanks for
the honest labors performed by them.
"But, gentlemen, we must all realize
that there is an unusual political con-
dition for us to meet in this state, and
in referring to that fact, We need not
speak Of 1t with bated breath as though
1t were not known to all men. We
cannot at this time afford to play the
ostrich act by simply hiding our heads
and hoping that nobody will be able to
see the rest of us. There has been en-
tirely too much of this done already.
We must be frank. open, and honest
with the public and carry our plea d.
rect to the people of the safe and ask
them to help us right the mistakes Of
the past and guard against those OF
the future. No party or man ever miss
ed anything by taking the people into
their confidence and then dealing alb
solutely on the square with them. Now
is the time to show the people OF this
state that the Republican party is to
be trusted and that 1t means to honest
ly give them the very best in II In the
way of men and measures. and that II Is
depending upon them to help accomplish
this most desirable end.
sc
"This object can only be attained by
thorough organization. and now, at this
early date, is the time to effect such an
organization. There are to be no favor
ties played In the forthcoming cam
paign. Men must stand absolutely up
on their merits as honest. reputable cit
liens and their qualifications for the
office sought. There will be no per-
sonal friends rewarded strictly for
friendship sake. nor old scores evened
on account OF past differences What
we want, and must have, is honest, in
dustrious. and united workers, and every
man who is willing to get in and do
service will start even with every other
man, with a good chance for rapid ad-
vancement The test at this time is to
be the working qualities OF the man
and what he is willing to do to help
rehabiiitate the party and not what
his opinion may have been on certain
decisive questions in the past: not what
man has done. but what he will do.
This Is a time when men are tried out,
weighed in the scales of service and
their usefulness, and loyalty thorough