The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-10-27
REPLY TO BEAKLEY
Mr.. Voter:

w. A. Beakley, my Democratic OPP
ponent, challenged my honesty, repu-
tation and my administration of the
office of prosecuting attorney, and
knowingly and wilfully made false
statements relative to many of the
cases he mentioned in his article. l
deplore personalities and dirty poll
tics, but cannot permit any man to
impugn my honesty and good faith,
or to maliciously assail an honorable
district judge. without attempting to
refute such base misrepresentation
Two years ago, Mr.. Beakley, who
now criticises my party affiliations,
was one of the many who endorsed
me and demanded that l become a
candidate for county attorney, not
withstanding my we'll known adher-
ence to the principles of the Republi-
can party. / was elected by a ma
jority of 485 votes. Mr.. Beakley was
candidate for office in the primary
election that same year, as he is at
every election, and only received 1853
votes in the entire county. I am
now seeking second term, these
being the only two times have ever
asked the people of Bingham county
for their suffrages. In September
1916, the Republican party endorsed
| my administration in a gratifying
the county, with a total majority over
my opponent of S23 votes. l deeply
appreciate this magnificent express
sion of confidence. Had l, like Beak-
ley, run for office and been beaten
so decisively so many times, l would
not now have the temerity to again
appear as candidate for any office,
using his words | ask which of us
is the place hunter?"
Mr.. Beakley comments upon the
sentences imposed upon bootleggers,
and evidently does not know that the
prosecuting attorney cannot pro-
nounce sentence; that officer only Sc
cures the conviction of the offender,
and the court imposes the punish
ment. For Beakley to criticise the
punishments meted out in these cases
is for him to publicly charge Judge
F. J. Cowen, who has shown himself
to be one of the most able, fair, and
upright judges in the state of Idaho,
with misfeasance in office. Of neces-
sity Mr.. Beakley's indictment is
against Judge Cowen, as the prose-
cutting attorney has nothing to do
with the imposition of sentences Mr.
Beakley, who as you know and the
court records show, was recently sus-
pended from the practice of his pro-
fession because of illegal and unpro-
feSsiOnal practices, now sets himself
up as paragon of virtue and asks
the PEOPLE who believe in good gov
eminent to elect him to enforce the
prohibitory law, and infers that If
he were elected he would give the
criminals more drastic sentences, or
would dictate to the judge how he
should perform his judicial duties
During the 20 months in which
have been in office | have convicted
Is persons in felony cases resulting
in those persons being sentenced to
the penitentiary, and in the trial of
such felony cases three defendants
were acquitted by jury. During
that time | have convicted 80 per-
sons on misdemeanor charges, and |
7 defendants were acquitted after
trial on such charges. Besides these
cases | have convicted SIS persons
charged with the violation of the
prohibitory laws of the state, and
only one bootlegger was acquitted
1t is true that | have dismissed s |
liquor cases, but | filed written rea-
sons therefor with the district judge,
which reasons were publicly stated in
open court and approved by the judge
before the cases were dismissed, the |
INV ri hnino thnt thu nui- |
dence was insufficient to warrant a
conviction, in view of the fact that |
material witnesses could not be lOcat-
ed or induced to testify. There are
still II of such cases now pending
for trial in the district court at the
November term.
Mr.. Beakley asks, Does the above
record indicate to your mind the &C
lions of an officer who is trying to
suppress the illegal sale of intoxicat-
ing liquor, or rather does it indicate |
permission to violate the law" What
do you think, Mr.. Voter, with rec
ord of IS convictions and 1 acquittal, |,
and II cases now awaiting trial. IL Il
my record shows lack of ability,
effort, or purpose, then | can promise
nothing better for the future. If |
am reelected | will continue my
work along the same lines.
In Mr.. Beakley's published article
he wilfully makes mis-statements
relative to 13 of the cases mentioned
evidently with the purpose
of prejudicing the public against me.
The court records will verify every
statement | have made herein, and
are subject to the inspection of every
person desiring to investigate my
record, or that of Mr.. Beakley. 1
| was first admitted to the bar in
1902, and am admitted to practice
in all the courts of three states, and
the U. S. supreme court, and have
never been disbarred or even sus-
pended during that time, and am
willing to have my life and character
and standing as man, and reputa-
ton and success as an attorney in
vestigated and compared with that of
my Democratic opponent.
This article was induced by the at
tack made by Mr.. Beakley upon me,
and is written solely in self-defense.
| have no doubt about the result of
the election, judging from my past
al h1Y