The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-09-01
THE
Is KING

Next Tuesday is the primary cleo.
ton, and it is proper to announce
and discuss rather frankly the politi-
cal situation as it confropts the peo-
pie and as it appeals to them by rea-
son of their interests.
When people vote on a question
they do so because there are two
SIDES to it, and the side that presents
the majority and thereby brings the
most people to be served by a certain
policy, is entitled to dictate the
policy.
In the present campaign for county
offices there is one question that
holds greater interest and closer at
t~ention than others, and it is a sub
iect of interest all over the county.
Keener local interest may attach to
the selection of a commissioner for
some district, or a community may
be wrought up over who shall be road
overseer or they may have a ~favorite
son they want to elect or defeat, but
all over the county there is a decided
interest in who shall have the offices
that deal directly with the enforce
ment of the laws pertaining to drink
ing and gambling.
These things are controlled by the
sheriffs office and that of the prose-
cutting attorney. People are divided
as to whether drinking and gambling
should be restricted and how much.
The law has been established against
it, and laws are generally effective
according to the public sentiment
back of it. If there is no sentiment
for it's enforcement it is not enforc-
ed. If sentiment is unanimous for
its enforcement it is strictly enforced.
The people of this county have gone
on record as being 80 per cen in
favor of enforcement, and some of
them lied when they went on record.
Some are afraid to acknowledge that
they like to drink and gamble, and
they are are on record as being
against both practices. They drink
or gamble or both when they can
do so secretly. Many men more or
less elevated in business and society
or professional or official stations
like to drink. Many women aspiring
to be recognized as leaders, like to
gamble in a small way at their social
affairs and ONE of them like to
drink. Some Of them posed as tenn
perance workers before the saloons
were closed and yet had bartenders
carry liquor to their home after dark.
Individuals like to do a good many
things at times and places that hap
pen to suit them, and at the same
time they condemn the same acts
if done by others. Especially do they
condemn anyone that is discovered
In the act. A good many people have
been discovered in the act of drinking
i~ntoxicants, and society is quick to
them. More than 20 per
cent of the people would have l.een
glad to do the same thing themselves,
but are slow to say so, because they
lack the courage to face opposition.
20 per cent Of the people of Bing-
lam county are outspoken for the
privilege of drinking, and at the cleo
ion next Tuesday much more than
hat percentage will vote for candi-
lates who feel as they do about it.
f a majority of the votes cast are
against the officials who have enforc-
ID the law strictly, then it will reveal
something Of the number that are
'ecretly in favor of booze.
If the vets and those holding to
vet sentiments have anyone in the
unning who sympathize with them,
nd II such candidates are nominal