The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-08-18

by n crane his neck at all the
churches in the county once every
campaign.
SELECTING LOCAL
OFFICIALS
When the people of this county
last voted on the liquor question
about 80 per cent of them favored
abolishing the traffic. Then for a
few years they noted the improved
conditions but complained that nc
set of officers could be found who
would enforce the law and run down
the bootleggers. The legislature was
called upon to amend the law so that
almost unlimited power could be ex-
ercised by the officers and court if
they chose, and it was said that these
extreme measures we're designed to
be used only in handling extreme
cases where every possible effort was
being made to sustain bootlegging
and defeat the purpose of the anti
liquor laws.
Believing that the temperance peo-
lple and their temperance officers
would be temperate and reasonable
in administering the laws, the legis-
lature enacted the severe measures
In Bingham county at the last cleo
|tion officers were chosen who have
set a new pace for running bootleg
gers to earth. In certain instances
where there were e%xtenuating cir
NJ ~, ~ n c11oh oC uvnI11H no11Cn onv
reasonable person to hesitate, the
hand of mercy has been put forth
and alleged offenders have been left
on probation. While the milk of
human kindness has been in evidence,
the strong arm Of the law has re-
NAMED ready to reach out and get
them. The liquor traffic is being
.snuffed out slowly and very surely,
provided, however, that the temper
|ance people do not forget themselves
and do one of two Incorporate
things.
First, they may forget to be mercii
full and reasonable, and they may
do things that are unwarranted and
Incorporate and severe in their par
ticular lines but especially in admin
istering the law or invoking action in
the courts where mercy and reason
and forgetfulness might be the true
healing balm and cessation of the Of
tense.
Second, these 80 per cent Of the
people may feel so well satisfied, so
oversatisfied, with the virtuous re-
straint of the present administration,
and may so magnify the unpleasant
parts of law enforcement, or may
take such one-sided views of mis-
takes or plumbers made in admins
tering the law or the weakness or
undue zeal of individuals, that they
will ente,tain a desire for greater
License and go to the polls and vote
to rebuke the very thing they have
been clamoring for and insisting up
on having. 1t will be very much
like the citizenship of this county and
especially the town of Blackfoot, to
just absolutely seek a change to sat-
isfy their present feelings, and go
to the primary and nominate officers
to undo what has already been &C
complished.
The earth moves in it's orbit and
is steadfast; human nature remains
about the same in it's operations and
is tickle. Humanity is rel making
trouble for itself by its ever-changing
moods and f%ickleness. 1t is not likely
that 80 per cent of the people of
this county will go about their voting
the fifth of September and take
a backward step, but it is altogether
probable that those who were keen
for enforcement Of the liquor laws
two years ago will be Indifferent and
not go to the polls, or give only sup
study to the pointed fight that
will be in progress in getting possess
sion of the Acknowledgement machin-
cry that day and at the November
election. 1t is quite certain that
those who are opposed to existing
and to law enforcement
we have had it the past year and
half will present a united vote to
win the first step in the process of
taking those out of office who have
done their sworn duty unf1inchingly.
We shall look on with interest to
see what the majority will accom-
plish thru the Indifference of those
who have at times combined to make
up the majority. Society is apt to
a certain service of it's Of
ficials and applaud for a while if
they receive it, but let the same Of
icia1s offend them in some matter
and they look for a chance to ad-
minister a rebuke even tho it cut
off their own wishes. If the present
administration of the sheriff's office
receives a rebuke at the primary,
hen will society have proven that
It dislikes the true and is bidding for
he other.