The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-09-29

anu tucIO WcI0 mduy OtuCI 1dmliIcS
in Bingham county who would have
esteemed 1t fine privilege to have
their son appointed to a position at
the capital where he could have the
opportunities for learning that a ses-
sion of the legislature affords. We
could go out and select such a per-
son from each one of the 20 pre-
cincts in the county, but Mr.. Johns
ton evidently asked for such appoint
ment for q member of his own
family. Mr.. Thomas evidently asked
for such place for his son. We
did not hear of his Offering to get
it for the son of anyone else in the
county.
Employing relatives in office and
having relatives employed by col
leagues in office had already become
scandal in the state and the various
counties The Idaho Republican had
been sounding notes Of warning
against these and other corrupt prac-
tees for a year, and had protested
the bills of such persons who were
unduly favored and persons who
were drawing monthly salary in one
position and putting in bills for work
by the day in an adjoining office.
Such a bill was just then being OBJ
jected to by the editor OF this paper,
and it was passed and paid by the
county commissioners in defiance of
his objection, and the person was.
put on the payroll by them against
his objections as being an unfit per-
son to be so employed, and year
afterwards this alleged unfit person
was fired from the public service
amid a scandal that required the
combined efforts of the administra-
ton to keep down. While Bingham
county was inaugurating its new
family of officials after having at
tracted statewide attention by the
exposures of its wasteful and graft
ing officials, Senator Thomas was
slated for some important committee
appointments If they could be OBJ
tanned; his son was slated for po-
sition as page, and Representative
Johnston was slated for speaker of
the house If he could get 1t, and his
son was in the race for a position
upon the floor. 1t came to be re-
marked that Bingham county did mt
want much. Mr.. Johnston had Is
votes and Mr.. Conner had 16 in
about the twenty-second ballot for
the speakership. Mr.. Koelsch had
votes for the speakership and the
crisis had been reached. Men were
urged not to support a man who
sought to keep members of his family
in these appointive positions, and it
was cited that Bingham county had
member in each house who were
seeking such positions for their sons;
that if Johnston we're made speaker
of the house he would probably make
many committee appointments
whereby combinations might be made
with Senator Thomas in the upper
house and accomplish undesirable
things. The deadlock was finally
broken, the opposition to Johnston
carried, and word went broadcast
over the state that Bingham with its
usual rapacity and greed for the
spoils of office had been beaten in
an attempt to make scoop. The
wand of power went to the opposition
appointments were made as pleased
the winners, and they went so far
as to enact a measure prohibiting by
law the employment of relatives of
any state or county officials; a d.
rect slap at Bingham county and the
practices of its officers and represen-
tatives from state senator down to
road overseer.
The people at home felt this slap |
keenly. They would have been glad |
to have their representative rise to
the speakership, but to have him
beaten possibly by the effort to Sc
cure favors for relative, was not
sting. Both men were Re-
publicans, and it was reproach |
upon the party. Both men lived on
South Shilling avenue in Blackfoot,
and it had its influence in the NUM-
cipal election that followed. 1t was
said that Shilling avenue had always
received more attention from the city
council than other streets. That it
was seeking to become the home of
the privileged classes, and that resi-
dents OF that street were continually
asking for street improvements and
getting them away from other streets
LudL were loSS U6duLiLul DuL uOT0
needy. In the midst of the city cam
paign it was urged that teams were
in hauling dirt away from
he high ground at 200 to 260 South
Shilling avenue in front of the homes
If these two statesmen and from
heir homes southwark where they
had interests, and in front of the
homes of their friends out in the
country so-to-speak, and at the same
lime a troublesome low place and
chronic duck pond within stones
throw of where the dirt was being
oaded on the wagons could not have
he dirt scraped into it because Shil-
ing avenue wanted 1t. 1t was con-
veniently located to fill the duck [
,ond on South Stout by scraping it
/ few rods, and such an uproar was :
'aised about 1t in the neighborhood, {
hat the teams were called off by I
members of the council. II
In the city election that followed,
he member of the council living on !,
Shilling was Unexpectedly defeated !
or reelection because he lived on
shilling avenue. Many voters de-
Jared their intention of arraying all !
he forces they could against him
nd they did. Even now when there