Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1915-12-30

THE POLITICIANS AND The FklMAkY.
A little while ago the politicians of southeast Idaho met at
Pocatelo. Later the politicians of north Idaho met at Lewis
ton. The purpose of both meetings, disguise it as you will,
was to hit upon a plan for knocking the direct primary into q
state of 'innocuous desuetude.' - Of course the politicians
claim that the purpose was holy and patriotic, to-wit: to dis
|cuss party affairs with a view of settling differences, explain
ing past actions, and promoting harmony in the future, with
out regard to candidates for office. No one is deceived by the
observations of the politicians. When Brady and Borah, Hart
and BurriIl, Davis and Height, get together, politics as applied,
is the purpose. They are all practical men OF high Ideals"
We are not quite so we'll acquainted with the north Idaho
politicians but we imagine that they are men of like purposes
and similar aspirations. They too want to put something
across in the way of a few state officers.
The Tribune has no objection to shelving the direct pi-
mary law. We would prefer that it be repealed. A straigh-
forward repeal of the law is not the way in which politicians
work. They prefer to do by strategy that which ordinary men
do openly and naturally. If the direct primary system is to be
abandoned by the Republican party, as is now promised, it will
be abandoned in broad day light so far as The Tribune is con-
cerned. We will not pretend that the party is acting in accord
with the spirit of the law when we know very well that it is
doing nothing of the kind. We will not shout the virtues of
the direct primary law while bending our effort to see that the
purpose of the law is nullified. If a slate is to be made up;
well and good. All that we ask is that the rules be published
that all may know them. We are willing to take our chances
with the slate that is made. We will support a ticket, made in
any manner whatsoever, provided everybody knows the rules
and has an equal chance before it is made up. We will not
support a ticket agreed upon at clandestine meetings of
patriots who have an axe to grind. If the Republican state
central committee will call a state convention for the purpose
of recommending candidates to be finally selected at the prim-
airy election, and provide, under proper safeguards, for the
election of delegates to that convention, The Tribune will sup
port the ticket recommended. 1t will not support any ticket
made up In any other manner, and it will look with suspicion
upon any candidate for the Republican nomination who is the
beneficiary of any action taken by a clique of the party in
secret caucus.-Caldwell Tribune.
1T is noticeable that among republican editorial writer's of
the state, outside of some of the ragamuffin language used in
sneering at Governor Alexander, touch very carefully on Re-
publican affairs in the state and spent most of their time re-
peating that future conduct of the state organization must be
exemplary and exceedingly pure. To afford diversion for the
moment while they are endeavoring to permit the people of the
state to forget the recent republican maladministration in the
state, they expend their steam trying to bust into national af-
fairs by attempting to criticize the democratic national ad-
minlstration. In the meantime the way to work in Idaho, un-
der present conditions, is for a few of the Republican elect of
North Idaho and South Idaho to get together and confer on the
candidacy OF some favored choice.
An Idaho paper the other day took occasion to remind its
readers that Wilson was a minority president. in that he did
not receive an absolute majority of the total vote. If any one
is interested will take the trouble to look it up he will find that
minority presidents were not unknown before. Lincoln, at his
first election, was a minority president, so was Hayes, and Gar
field, who followed him, and Cleveland again. Harrison, who
separated Ceveland's two terms, not only was a minority pres
ident, but his popular vote fell below Cleveland's by $4,000.
cleveland, In his second election, was again a minority presi-
dent, with respect to the total vote. Indeed, with three or more
strong parties in the field, it is more than likely the successful
one will be a minority rehabilitation Idaho News.
A farm laborer at Lewiston recently broke into Jail by
throwing a stone through a store window. He stated as his
purpose that he was cold and hungry and found this as the
easiest means of securing food and sleeping quarters. At his
trial he testified as to having worked through the harvest
around Pendleton and his summer wages got away from him
faster than he intended. Many of the unemployed can tell a
like story. While money is coming in they live in careless ex-
travagance. And when it isn't coming in they live in regret
or join the I. W. VS.. And if you catch this individual just
after he has spent his cash and is broke and work is scarce he
is good specimen to work on the calamity bowling.
Although we have heard considerable of late of the merg-
ing of progessives with the republicans, and the thoroughness
of the job, yet the expression is current these days about
"hyphenated" republicans. The question occurs as to wheth-
er that little insignificant hyphen will be strong enough as a
coupling pin to securely couple the men of progressive belief in
the hyphenated group to the unprogressive but faithful follow
ing of Cannon, Penrose, Barnes and the others who dominate
the policies of the Republican party.