Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-10-22
BLOWING HOT AND COLD.


The opponents of Governor Alexander get their wires
considerably crossed 1t is matter that should receive
the attention of the head OF the campaign department.
The point illustrated in a manner that ANUS
ing in its at the recent meeting held by Guy
Martin and State Treasurer Eagleson at the Pinney in
this city. Mr.. Eageson the first speaker and he
sought to dscredt the claims made for the present adj
mnist1aton Among other things he spoke of the reduc
ton IN state taxation to the amount of $3.50 900 during the
Two years of the Alexander administration
1T is taxes have been reduced in that amount
said Mr. Eagleson "but who deserves the credit for it
Governor Alexander is only member out of several
upon the state board of equalization which fixes the tax
eves, and it the votes of the Republican members
that fixed the levy and all Governor Alexander had to do
with 1t was to cast one vote for 1t.
Then Guy Martin took the same stage and declared
Govemor Alexander is taking great credit for reduc-
ing $535000 during his of office is true
that the taxes have been reduced that amount but let
about it. The money raised by this years levy will be
spent next year. and he deliberately levied insufficient
amount to meet the expenses of the state; the result will
be that the next administration will have raise the taxes
to meet the deficiency and the people will have to pay the
tax any way with interest added That is the kind of
economy that your Governor Alexander is practcng
he declared with what he intended whitening
Both these statements greeted with applause by
the very same members of the audience who did all the
appauding that done. Both of them admitted the
tax reduction but Mr. Eageson because he thought there
could be Republican credit taken declared that the
governor was not responsible that he should take the
credit, and that he had had very little do with it, Mr.
Martini because he could chance to find fault took
the directly opposite view by seeking to cast dscredt
upon the reduction for which he blamed the
hrely. With Eagleson the governor wrong because
he had done little nohing with Martin the governor
was condemned because he had done everything in the
very same matter.
And yet Mr. Martin undertook to cast some aspersions
upon those who could blow hot and blow cod all the
same breath!
This is but of many many instances in which the
opponents Of Governor Alexander seek appeal to the
IreJudces of both sides of every matter discussed by
them One speaker will declare the claims of the governor
are untrue; the next speaker will admit their truth but
condemn the for the methods by which they were
brought about find other method of finding fault
Or both speakers may admit the truth of the claims but
one will deny that the deserves any credit be-
cause most OF the state officials Republicans while the
other speaker will condemn him for the entire thing for
getting entirely his Republican associates.
Sc say headquarters ought to caution their speak
ers to stick to the same line of arguments either all should
admit and condemn all should deny. Better still it
would be the part Of wisdom well of honesty to ad
NIT and JOIN III the praise for services well rendered
The absurGity of the efforts to take all credit for er
torous administration from the governor and to place all
blame upon him for things sought be blamed is shown
IN the declarations that the work done bv the
ernor but by Of the departments i'm the one case
while trying to place the blame, if blame is mentioned
upon him because lie stands at the head of the admins
traton
This illustrated in the of the pure food DEPART
ment Where is conceded by all that better service has
suited less than oneha the expense of the former adj
mnstratlon The opponents of the governor declare that
all the credit belongs to Pure Food Commissioner White
But who was It, pray that forced the reduction in the a-
preparation for that department.? Who that made
the issue before the people compelling reduction in ex-
pendtres not alone in department but in all depart
ments? The opposition legislature had prepared and was
about to pass appropriation bill increasing by nearly
half million dollars the cost of the government Who
was 1T that stood like stone wall between that legisla-
ure and the people and by threatening to veto the Whole
and calling the legislature into extra session.