Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-04-20

| ing had been called by the county
chairman. One Of the speakers made
the statement in the committee meeting
on Saturday last that he was reliably
! informed that an effort had been made
to reach me by phone on the evening
! of March Is to inform me of the meet
ing. One of the principal instigators
of the secret meeting informed me
within the past As hours that said
statement is absolutely untrue; that it
was expressly understood that the
meeting should be kept secret from
me.
Not a Legal Meeting.
These are the facts as nearly as
! can gather them, relative to the meet
4 ing which Mr.. Kicks now says revoked
my authority to fill vacancies on the
| county committee. Following the meet
ing of March 16. word was telegraphed
over the state that the Ada county
committee had met and called a pri-
mary and had revoked the authority
previously given the county chairman.
| At the meeting of the committee on
last Saturday not one member of the
committee undertook to defend the
meeting of March 16; none contended
| that 1t was legal meeting; none con-
4 tended that 1t was regularly and valid
4 ~ called: none commended that it was
not called secretly; one of those pre-
| sent admitted that 1T was simply a
caucus, and not a meeting of the COM
mittee. At least FIVE committeeman
who were present at said meeting
either in person or by proxy, voted
with the majority last Saturday after
noon.
| "Mr. Kicks further states that the
action of the committee on last Sat-
urday was brought about by reason of
the appointments made by myself.
| The published accounts of Saturdays
meeting are sufficient refutation of
| this statement. Prior to the meeting
Of March Is, had filed four vacancies
on the county committee. OF these APP
pointees, two voted with the majority
and two with the minority. Suisse
quent to the meeting of March lie I
! filled seven vacancies on the commit
! tee. OF these appointees, six voted
with the majority and one with the
minority. II these appointments were
made Illegally. as commended by Mr..
Kicks, and they should not have been
permitted to vote, it would in nowise
| have affected the action of the COM
mittee. The only difference would
have been that the roll calls would
have shown vote of 20 to III, instead
Of rs to IL.
The further statement is made that
men were appointed to fill vacancies on
the committee who are not members of
the Democratic party. He cites Mora
and Owyhee precincts. The appointee
from Mora precinct voted on every
roll call with Mr.. Kicks and the nil
nority. He is Democrat, comes. of a
Democratic family, stands we'll in his
community, and | am at loss TO I'M
derstand why the men with whom he
voted are now questioning his party
affiliations. The committeeman for
Owyhee precinct is lifelong Demo-
\ crat, native of the state Of South
! Carolina, an ex-confederate soldier,
and proud of his Democracy. Mention
also is made of the appointee for High
land precinct, Mr.. g. A. Percy. This
/ gentleman, 1t is claimed, is Republic
can. l do not know the basis of the
claim. This appointee told ]. T.
Pence, in the presence of Guy Graham.
state horticultural inspector, that his
brothers were Republicans, but that he
did not view things that way, and was
/ a Democrat.
4 No Interior Motive.
There is bit one other statement
in Mr.. Kicks interview to which / de-
sire to take exception. He states, in
substance, that he knows had favored
, a primary in Ada county, but for some
reason had experienced a change of
heart. Doubtless he wishes the infer
ence to be drawn that l was influ-
enced by some Interior motive. 1 do
not believe he would make such a
charge direct. That / ever favored a
primary for the election of delegates
to the Poeatello convention is abso-
lutely untrue. / believe Mr.. Kicks
himself will admit that as long ago as
last January, in q conversation with
Senator Macbeth and Harry u Day, al
which Mr.. Kicks was present, made
Ithe statement that 1t would be inn
practicable and almost impossible to
hold primary In Ada county. On the
other hand. 1t is absolutely true that ]
believe In the principle of the direct
primary. A primary regulated by law
wherein the members of a political
party may express their wishes on
matters of party organization would
receive my hearty approval. In maxi
ing this statement ] know that 1 ex-
press the sentiments of others who
have been the object of attacks in con-
nection with the action of the county
committee last Saturday. No men or
group OF men In the state Of Idaho
have worked harder, In season and
out. for the principles Of direct leg
islation, progressive democracy and
broader powers in the hands OF the
people. than the men who stood with
the majority OF the county committee
last Saturday. Il there LIS one man
in this state who has iabored un-