Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1916-06-03
THE PEOPLE ARE
AT FAULT

III Inefe was even d t4A1o az 'AN
history of Idaho when the people
should take the time and trouble to
inform themselves ON everything of a
political nature, this is the very
time. There is something wrong With
the political system Of this state, and
today there are a number OF men
who are making a careful study of
the situation to try to find out just
what the trouble is and, if such a
thing lis possible, to apply a remedy
at once. Therefore, We say again
that all good citizens owe it to them
selves and to the state to make some
effort to acquaint themselves with
general political conditions and the
questions that are agitating the
minds of the party leaders and
prominent men in all walks OF life.
At the very least they should make
it point to hear the men who are
candidates for office; to find out
what they have to say and what
they stand for This will give the
voter chance to have at least a
general knowledge to guide him when
he goes into the voting booth to.select
candidates for his party.
Since the recent disclosures in con
nection with the so-called Huston
loan, we have heard a good many
opinions as to the reason for the lax
methods employed i'm the transaction
OF the states business, and num-
Der of our editor friends have ex-
pressed themselves ON the subject,
but not one has struck what in our
Judgment is the keynote of the whole
situation.
The political system under which
this state is now operating is entire
iy responsible for existing conditions,
because of the lack of interest on the
part OF the people. Under the old
convention plan man had to show
some qualifications for the position
he sought or he could not be nomi-
mated, and too, under that plan few
people from every county had a
chance to see the candidates and to
size them up. But under the opera
ton of our primary law bank rolls
seem to be the only qualification
prescribed. If a man has enough
money to pay the fee for filing his
nomination he can enter the race
Tor any position within the gift of thel
people, but his success at the polls
Will depend very largely upon his
financial ability to tickle the palms
that are alweys outstretched to every
Candidate and his subserviencv To
the wishes of a little coterie of state
mouse attaches who would continue
themselves in office. If a man can
measure up to these standards he
can figure that he has a. mighty good
chanse of getting by for the peopla
Will not lind out whether he has amy
OF the real qualifications that fit him
Tor the position he seeks until after
ne is elected, and even then NOT
more imam one-tenth of the people
Will ever know whether he filled tho
offlce with success and with credit
or whether he Just piffled away his
time holding down am easy chair in
a private office and hired a deputv
to do the work. And all this comes
because the people do not take the
interest in political matters they
should; because they are no more
,aithful in the performance of their
sacred duty as citizens than are
some of the men who are holding
tate jobs; because they will not in
orm themselves even to the extent
Vt reading their local and state
'apers. To impressively Illustrate
he truth of this statement we have
nut to go back to the general cleo
ion two years ago o. V. Allen was
he nominee of the Republican party
or state treasurer, but short time
efore election disclosures were
lade that caused him TO resign from
he ticket and later caused his ar
est. But some of the remote pre-
incts of the southeast had been |
upplied with ballots before the stick |
RS were sent out by which the |
anne of John w. Eagleson was
INSTITUTED for that of Allen. The
.ickers We're sent out later but were
ever placed upon the ballots and o.
F.. Allen, then in the penitentiary
nder sentence for enlightenment
some $4,000 of state funds, got
Is full party vote.
1t used to be said, i'm the old con-
entlon days, that state officers
)ent the first year of their first
frn 4