Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-04-28
WHERE DOES NOSE STAND :

WHERE DOES NOSE STAND
That the democratic state conven-
ton. which meets in PocateIlo on
May 18th will be about the liveliest
political gathering that has been
held in Idaho for several years, is
becoming more evident as the time
for the convention draws nearer.
Although Jerome Day announced,
shortly after the meeting OF the state
central committee, that he had with
drawn from the race Tor national
committeeman. there is lurking
suspicion that the statement was
made for the purpose Of throwing
the Elder forces off their guard, and
that Day win bob up as a candidate
at the state convention.
One thing is certain, the Day fol-
lowers are going to force Governor
Alexander to SHOW his hand" at the
convention. While Foxy Nose"
has been declaring all along that he
is neutral in the contest for national
committeeman, practically all of his
appointees are lined up with the Ell
. der faction. In commenting upon
this phase of the contest, the Boise
correspondent to the Lewiston Trib-
une, the leading democratic paper in
Idaho, writes this bit OF interesting
dope:
Although up to date Governor AL
exander has left the impression that
his attitude as between the two fac
tions is one of neutrality, it is to be
noted that the local followers of Jer-
ONE Day are growing dubious as to
the sincerity of his neutrality. In
the state central committee meeting
in which Nugent ran his steam roller
over Day, he was materially assisted
by Leroy Jones, state game warden
of the governor, and in the Canyon
county meeting Guy Graham, his
state horticultural inspector, was in
the front ranks Of the Elder van
leading in the onslaught on Day.
They are unable to reconcile the rad
ical activity of the governonr's offic-
ial family with his professed neutral
ity, and there is a growing impress
sion here that 1.-THE parting of the
ways" between the governor who it
is jokingly said is evangelizing to-
wards the United States senate, and
the northern senator whose eye is
thought to be rivited upon the same
objective point has come. The con
viction is strong and growing that
this is the situation. II this be true
the character the fight will assume
Is problemetical. The Nugent fac
ton of the party would be no more
favorable to the candidacy of the
governor for senator than would the
Day faction, and the natural infer
ence is that he will ally with Meth
er but take to "the middle of the
road and give still further empha-
sis to church and picnic addresses.
Both factions are accusing him of
straddling the issue and hint that
the day Of reckoning is fast ap
preaching. However, the govern
or's facility to take care of himself
Is matter of record and there are
those that believe that he is manip.
ulating between Nugent and Day and
that finally the development viii be
that while they fight, he will carry
off the coveted senatorship. Re
CARELESS of the senatorial contest
which is matter of future devotion
ment, however, it is safe to hazard
the prediction that there will be no |
compromise in the fight which is on.
but that it will be taken up in all |
parts Of the state and that at the |
Pocatello convention the political
corpse Of either Jerome Day or John |
Nugent will be on exhibit. More
over, the fight is one of danger for
Governor Alexander, for the activity
OF Ted Walters, a member of the
1900 SNNet1Aoh1A podIuJ anu Guy |
Graham, state horticultural inspec-
tor, both appointees of the governor.
in the Canyon county meeting In he
half OF Elder, has thoroughly arous-
ed the suspicion OF the Day demo-
Gratis of that county as to the COVER
nor's attitude, and they are now
talking out in the open meeting. In
fact they intimate they have been
feeling none too kindly towards him
for long time consequent to the
fact that they understood that he
would give them a member OF the
public utility commission and when
they went after that position for
Walter Griffith, the governor gave il
to them where the chicken got the
axe and then later when they con
centrated their efforts to secure the
appointment of William Thrope as
state game warden. they were again
turned down by his exsellency. de-
spite the governors promises by in
ference and intimation. II 1t devel-
ops, they declare. that his an
pointees have worked with the Nu-
gent element through insnfra4icn a |