The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-10-05

ands Of Autographs and pieces Of Dem
ocratic literature, and thousands of
Wilson buttons. He billed Governor
Alexander for fourteen speeches in Gus
ter and Lemhi counties during his fish
ladder inspection trip. Jones was close
| ly followed by the chief executive, who
in his speeches made much of savings
i'll state government accomplished by
himself. The governor neglected to
mention the expense entailed upon the
state by Jones useless advance visit.
Davis and Smith Together
Hon. D. w. Davis, candidate for gov
ernor, and Hon. Addison T. Smith, to-
day started into the wilds of Custer
and Lemhi counties, and will end their
tour together OH Wednesday at Salmon
City. At that point they will separate,
Mr.. Davis going to northern Idaho,
where he will make addresses in each
Of the ten northern towns. He will be-
gin his tour of the north at Boomers
Ferry on Friday of this week, and will
close at Orofino on October 18th. Dur
ing this trip Mr.. Davis will be accom-
panied by F. C. MCGOWAN Of Moscow.
Following this trip the Republican
gubernatorial candidate will be in
southern Idaho until the close of the
campaign, and will probably be accom-
panied by State Senator I. E. Rockwell
of Blaine county, and who it is expect
ed will discuss Alexanderism and the
proper methods to be pursued in state
accomtancy. The latter subject will
be included for the reason that Senator
Rockwell is regarded as the most COM
petent man in the state to deal with
the subject of accountancy.
The Coffin Matter Up Again.
The Coffin matter, like the poor, we
!, have always with us. During the past
week the embroglio broke out in es,
pecially virulent form. Governor AL
exander, as usual, took particular pains
in an effort to put his associates in
bad, and succeeded about as well OF
lily as on other occasions.
Coffin, who was the attorney EN-
ployed in the foreclosure proceedings
in connection with the defaulted state
farm loans, had accepted the action OF
the state board Of examiners for an al
lowance of $3.50 for these foreclosures
However, the matter not being properly
, portion Of the work Of the attorney
general, it was felt it was not a prope
charge against the appropriation fo
i, that office. The matter was thel
brought before the land board, and thu
same bill or voucher was presented TO
action, that had already been acted OF
favorably by the board of examiners
Governor Alexander being one membe
y Of the board who had signed thu
;. voucher approvingly. When the voueh
er was presented to the land board, tn
). governor switched his vote, and tn
o bill was ordered paid from the one pc
cent farm loan fund by the remaining
q members of the board.
4 Of course Governor Alexander brok
into print in an effort to show tina
"a something had been done of an illegltl
= mate character, when in fact the az
h ton taken by the land board was l
q. action of the board Of examiners, Q
whom the governor was one of the al
Al proving members.
&. Exploding State Saving Claim.
\. The claim of the governor as to tn
+. enormous saving in state governmer
N brought about through his action
ar being daily exploded. 1t is bein
10 pointed out that savings have been il
,e augurated in every department of til
,, government enrolled by the Republica
W officials, while at the same time d
ts partments under the control of Dem
is cratic appointees of the governor al
e. costing more during the present tv
~ years than ever before.
n. The falsity of the saving claim hi
,ir been made particularly evident by d
he velopments in connection with II
lie. work of the state highway engine
H. and state highway commission. tt
al engineer and the commissioners are a
lie pointees of the governor. Under t
in law where state highways are constr uc
ed, one-third Of the expense is bor1
by the state and the remaining tw
he thirds by highway districts improve
,s. bonds being voted for this purpos
rs Governor Alexander during the la
m session of the legislature in order to a
.ss parently make good in his claim
Vi saving, refused to permit the passa'
90 of bond issues for internal improv
m. ments. Then after the legislature a