The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-08-11

When the constitution or the
United States was being discussed
and adopted, the speeches that were
made on points of difference became
the record on which Interpretation
of the meaning and intent of the
great instrument was afterwards in
terpreted. Speeches that are made
in legislatures are constantly being
quoted to show what the law makers
intended when certain measures were
enacted. The final Interpretation of
law depends not only on the language
used when it is written but upon the
statements put forth by it's advocates
when it was under consideration and
they explained what it was designed
to do.
=, In the platform convention of the
Republican party at Boise in June,
1914, when the committee on resolu-
lions and platform went into session
to formulate the statement Of
the purposes of the party for the
coming two years the question was
raised whether or not any visitors
should be permitted to sit with the
delegates, By the word visitors they
meant press representatives, there
being several newspaper men present
who were there to hear the discus
sion on various subjects so they might
better understand the undertakings
of their own party. The committee
by a vote of about rs to two or three
decided to excuse the visitors, and
those who came with solicitude for
their party for the purpose of know
ing at first hand and being able to
expound their purposes relative to
public questions, were by that act
told in effect that either the commit
tee had something to say that 1t was
ashamed of or that the particular
editors present were not fully trusted
with the condolences of the party.
The several editors took their hats
and walked out and in the campaigns
that followed, each did what he could
for the integrity of the party and the
success of it's candidates. Two years
passed away and a similar committee
was opening a session in the same
room and with some of the same men
constituting it's membership. Only
a couple of newspaper men were pres
ent and the same question was raised
again, the vote this time being unan-
imously in favor of allowing them to
remain.
In September, 1914, the Bingham
county central committee of the Re-
publican party met to organize and
prepare for its campaign and to for
mulate a platform. One visitor was
present, the editor of The Idaho Re-
publican, and the committee voted
to hold an executive session, which
meant that no visitor would be
privileged to remain. The editor said
that he was going to leave, of course,
but that in leaving he asked their
indulgence while he stated to them
that it was a reflection upon their
own integrity and upon the purposes
of their work to acknowledge that
they would feel uncomfortable at
tending to the business of the party
with a visitor present. They dis
claimed having anything in mind to
say or do that they were ashamed of,
acknowledged that they probably had
nothing in mind of so lofty a purpose
that they cared for publicity of it,
said thew simply wanted privacy in
their deliberations and that they
would inform the press later of any
thing it was desired that the press
and the public should know.
That may be a habit that all parti-
san central committees have, but it
savors of things suspicious. 1t is
somewhat like the present manage
ment of the United States army on
the border, refusing to allow the peo-
to know what their representatives
are doing and why they do it. When
the people go to the polls to vote
at the primary election on the fifth