American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-06-08
TROUBLE FOR NUGENT CAMP

Boise, June 6.-There is trouble and
plenty of it brewing in the Democratic
ranks of Idaho and the Alexander
Pence-Nugent-Elder wing realize that
heroic methods must be pursued or
they will lose control of the state CEN
tral committee at the September pri-
maries. All of Governor Alexander's
influence was exerted for the re-elec-
tion of National Committeeman Elder
and he only won by the most un-
scrupulous methods of machine poll
tics. Alexander is now determined
to reflect Pence as chairman, but the
rank and file Of the party is in open
revolt and such leadaears as Hawley,
Perky, Frank Martin, the RegaIs,
father and son, in Boise and the Days,
Frank Moore and Talkinton in the
north will not stand for Pence. I'm
der the four years of the supremacy
of the Acknowledgment combination
only favored adherents of the machine
have been permitted at the pie coun-
ter-and, hence, the determination of
the other crowd to force a change.
AS long as Bryan was supreme at
Washington, Nugent and his coterie
had things their own way, but since
Bryan retired the administration has
looked askance at men, who were
known to be Bryan men first and Will
son men afterwards and 1t is now. a
wellknown fact that number of ap-
pointments have been held up at
Washington. that Bryan would have
put through for Nugent and Elder.
Upon his recent visits to Washington,
Governor Hawley was called into con-
ference by the Interior department
and requested to make a recommends
tion for the position CT United States
surveyor general, for which office,
Nugent and Elder are making the fight
of their lives to land C. w. Whiffen,
of Caldwell, in whose interest the
lrumpus was made that forced a con-
testing delegation to Pocatello. from
Canyon county, and each side receiv-
ed Is votes through a compromise
otherwise Elder could not have been
reelected. 1t is understood that Haw-
ley told the department that he had
no choice in the matter, but that he
desired the appointment to be filled
by Democrat of recognized standing
as civil engineer and that any Other
appointment simply to pay political
! ,l1l H. l1. -,
ty and to the service. He asked q
thorough investigation of candidates
along these lines. Now Whiffen is
not an engineer of standing, although
since applying for the position he has
taken some kind of a course and beer
granted a certificate. His qualifica
lions, otherwise and his party regu
larity are bitterly attacked by man.
Democrats of his own county and thu
ability of Elder to land him is being
questioned. This is not the only cas-
showing that the national administra
tion is beginning to realize that it ha'
been the victim OF misplaced conf
dence In the matter of following Nu
6tllL hIttdAdioii do w ituti "a dPpOih'
ments. There are a number of pos
offices in the north, where Elder
recommendation have been held W
and some assert the administrator
will not make any further appoint
ments until the primaries are he'll
and some understanding can be ha
as to the relative strength of the fac
= tions with the rank and file of III
party.
= The whole situation means troubl
; for Governor Alexander as his adher
ence to the Pence e-Elder-Nugen,- fac
ton is incensing the friends Of forme
Governor Hawley, and there is quie
ak that there may be q reckon'a
with the governor at the polls in W
vember AS one prominent Democrs
. put it, Hawley was betrayed in Nv
a campaigns by the men row in contrC
of the party and It may be about tim
: for loyal Democrats to recall the fact
when they go to the polls this fall