The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-02-18

Win an attendance or something
like three hundred Republicans and
an unprecedented measure of enthu-
siasm and harmony
g ! ! !: J: !: ! ]. ! / / / / / /
the anniversary of
A# a the birth of the IL
lustrious and i'm
V4&S mortal Lincoln, the
~ founder of the one
NMA II party which has
SS ever protected the
citizenship of its
country both at home and abroad,
and maintained such an adequate
protection to all the diversified in
dustries of its different sections as to
afford all its citizens prosperity and
happiness, was celebrated Saturday
evening of last week in this city, Abb
solute harmony and an optimistic
outlook for the party in both nation
and state characterized the meeting
throughout. In attendance this ban
quet, which is destined to go down
into the history of the party of this
state as momentious epoch, were
conservatives and progressives, vie
ing with each other in the effort to
pay tribute TO the great founder of
their party, to renew their faith and
confidence in the party he gave to his
country, through a study of his life,
and to dedicate their concerted eff
forts this year, during this era of
democratic financial depression, in
dustrial inactivity and general lack
of confidence in the business world
to the redemption of the country
from the party of incompetency which
has ever had depression, disaster and
failure following in the wake of its
victory.
Indeed the harmony, so manifest,
BODIES well for the party in this state
and insures the election of the entire
republican ticket. That the memor-
able words of counsel that "A house
divided against itself can not stand, :"
uttered by Lincoln in the distant
past, will have their effect upon the
party and operate to the unity of its
former factions and be the means of
future victory is to be believed.
The one purpose of Hon. Charles l..
Heitman, of Rathdrum, who has we'll
been termed 1.-The dean of the Repub-
lican party in Idaho," in initiating
the observance of the anniversary of
Lincoln's birthday was to afford the
members and the leaders of the party
the opportunity of coming together
once a year that they might take
counsel together, take an inventory
of the dangers which menace the
party, draw fresh inspiration from a
study of ''the great emancipator,
that they may continue to strive for
the attainment of lofty and beneficial
political ideals and cooperate in the
elimination of all internal discord
and strife to the end of their accom-
plishment; and not little praise is
to be given the little giant of koot-
enai' for his political acumen.
At the banquet, as might have been
expected, candidates for the different
offices, now in the field, and pros
pective candidates, we're discussed by
the republicans in attendance in
their conversation, and in this con-
nection it is interesting to note that
the name of E. II. Dewey, of Nampa,
was on the lips of republicans, from
every section of the state. The con-
census of opinion seemed to be that
he would yet enter the gubernatorial
contest, and that in the event he does
90 SO, Ills DOlltlCdl lCA6tA WAAA pS
confined to no particular section OF
the state, but that in all parts of it he
will prove formidable candidate.
Governor Alexander has resumed
his pulpit stunts and will speak in
two churches in the extreme southern
part of the state this week. An au-
thentic notation of the days that he
has been absent from his office de-
livering church addresses since his
inauguration as governor would be
interestingly would possibly evidence
that he had been at his post of duty
less than half of his time. Just now,
he and his press are busy in the ef-
fort to show that the great increase
in taxes is due to county expenses and
not to his administration, but that
notable speech delivered by him at
Star, during his campaign for cleo
ton, like Banquo's ghost, will not
down. but confronts him at every
turn. In substance he then said:
"The republicans are placing the
blame of high taxes upon the coun-
ties and excusing the state govern
ment. This is evasive as the blame
should be placed upon the parent and
not the child. Elect me and Will re.
duce your taxes. You and me VIII
settle the tax question. 1t now de-
yelops that me" has not made good
and is endeavoring to dodge the is
sue.
The north and south railroad Is
again being constructed-upon paper
The announcement is made from the
governors Office that a represent
atiye of his had gone to Chicago and
will probably close mp the contract
for its immediate construction. What
fools we people are taken to be! We
are expected to believe that the gov
ernor can of his own initiative con
tract the state in a project involving