The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-09-17
Our State Capital Letter.
Especial Service to the Tlmes.)
Boise. Idaho. Sept. II. 1915.

former chairman Of the Republican
State Central Committee, and recog-
nized state leader OF the "drys," has
assumed large proportions as the
next gubernatorial nominee of his
party, as consequence of the de-
cision handed down in the state su-
preme court the latter part of last |
week, holding that the strenuous pro-
hibition law enacted by the last leg
islature, and better known as House |
\ Bill No. 80 to be constitutional.
In its essentials, the bill was drafted |
by Heitman who spent a week in
Boise during the legislature carefully
scrutinizing it in all its details and
" could be no question of its constitute
nality.
The decision of the court is a great
victory for Heitman and among the
sdrys" his name is being put forth
as the logical candidate for the Re-
publican gubernatorial nomination
next year.
They emphasize the fact that not
only is he to be credited with this
law but also with the constitutional
amendment which is to be submit
ted at the next general election, he
having made bold fight for it to be
submitted by his party for years and
having as delegate to the platform
convention of his party taken bold
stand for the adoption of the plank
calling for it's submission and hav-
ing forced it through the convention
through his forceful leadership.
They point out that he has been
consistently for the dry cause for
long years, before it's advocacy became
popular among politicians, that after
one of the most severe fights with the
liquor men and the breweries of his
county in the history of the state,he
placed his own county in the dry col
umn and thereby took the initiative
in the state fight. They contend that
he is a church leader whose life is
known to be clean, that he is an able
lawyer whose ability for the office
can not be doubted and that as for
the past few years he has been more
Interested in farming and stock-rais-
ing than in law and has large farm
holdings which he personally super
Hst Of the farmers and can be de-
pended upon to safeguard their in
terests if elected governor.
They further emphasize the fact
that his nomination would inspire
confidence in the party, that the pres
ent temperament of the people de-
mands the nomination of only men
of his character and that his reputa-
tion as being one of the states best
citizens is so well recognized in all
parts of the state that 1t could but
be pleasing to Senator Borah, though
the senator will probably take no po
sition as between candidates, except
in insisting that clean man be nom
mated.
Heitman is doing nothing, saying
nothing and is not even known to bt
receptive candidate, but call il
going up for him in different sections
A number of progressive leaders
have declared that he would Prov
acceptable to them because of his at
titude upon the temperance question
Local politicians express the belle
that he is to be reckoned with be
cause of the strong advocacy for hi
nomination. The decision of th
court was an unanimous one and i
being we'll received. 1t holds tha
the possession of intoxicating liquo
except pure alcohol for medicinal
mechanical and scientific purpose
and wine for sacramental use is i
and of itself an offense and that 1t
application is not local, but statewide
applying to all the counties alike.
1t may be stated with degree @
certainty that o. v. Sebern, of Mel
idian, will be a candidate for count
commissioner at the next election
MIR. Sebern is well and favorabl
known as one of Ada county's mos
highly respected and successful farm
ers and stockraisers. He has long bee
prominently identified as one of tn
leaders in this county of the tempe
ance cause, and being we'll qualifie
- for the office he will seek, will prov
very formidable candidate.
Through arguments made in th
state supreme court this week in Il
case of the State of Idaho for use
b. w. Allen ct al VS. V. w. Platt, 70
mer state bank examiner which can
up on appeal. there was another eel
of the old State Bank failure. III
s,,it was brought by the state on b