Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-08-17
HINTS DARK WORK
TO Be PULLED
IN POLITICS
JAMES F. AILsHIE SOUNDS WARN.
ING TO VOTERS TO TAKE NO
TICE OF EVENTS
URGE MEANING IS YELLED
Wheather Judge Ailshie Refers to Plans
OF Old Rulers or Old State Scan
dals, Not Known

Boise, Idaho, August 12.-Dark hints
that political pirates and commercial
bandits seek to control not only state
offices from governor down but are
tenaciously trying to fasten their
grip on the next legislature of Idaho,
as broadly limited at by those who
assert their only purpose is to warn
the hstless electors of the danger has
aroused widespread curiosity if not a
demand for bill of particulars on
which to base such charge. The
primary election in Idaho is in full
sway. In less than a month the vot-
ers of this state will express their pre-
ference at the polls for party candi-
dates. They are entitled to know what
truth there is to those hints and inuendo
charges-whether they are based on fact
or mere prediction scares circulated
for but one purpose to indirectly damage
a candidate or set of candidates to
crafty some within or political grudge.
The first intimation that such an at
tempt was being made came from Judge
James F. Ailshie of Occur d'Alene. 1t
might have passed unnoticed had it not
come from man closely Unidentified
with the political life of the state. a
man who twice was candidate for one
OF the highest offices in the gift OF the
people and for many years sat upon the
supreme bench. Mr.. Ailshie is now en-
Joying large law practice at Occur
d 'Alene. During the early stages of
the primary campaign his name was
linked with the office OF governor as
a possible gubernatoria1 candidate. In
lcL La.
states, had its share of legislative
lobbying. In recent years much of this
has been done away with. Were it not
for statements Mr.. Ailshie has made,
there would be now, as there has been in
the past few years, general feeling
that corporations are mixing less in the
political life now than ever before, due
largely to the fact legislation they have
been interested in has been enacted into
law or disposed of otherwise to the salts,
faction of the people and themselves.
There is more of an inclination to peace
ably regulate in this state than ever be-
fore.
The implied warning of Judge ALL
SHE, former chief justice of the su-
preme court, two and four years ago
a candidate for United States Senator,
in an interview, has aroused great deal
of interest in political circles here and
over the state. Many party leaders are
at loss to grasp just what the former
jurist means, or who his shaft is direct
ed at. He said:
:" If the voters of Idaho do not arouse
themselves and take lively part in
politics and in the primary election to
arrest the hands of political pirates
and commercial bandits, they will wake
up next winter to find legislature and
a governor in the state capital at Boise
ready to do the bidding of these mer-
cenaries. This menace should be i'm.
pressed on the mind of the voters by dis.
interested citizens-by men and women
who are not candidates for office.
have been in Idaho over twenty five
years and | believe | am safe in saying
that at no time in the history of the
state has there been such a concentr ated
effort on the part of big business and
corporations, foreign and domestic, tc
, control office, especially the legisla
ture, as is being put forth at this time
and at no time has the people been tc
all appearances less alert to the situa
ton. The high tide of what has beer
, derisively styled agitation and re
form seems to be subsiding and Will,
, that is transpiring. the gumshoe agents
special representatives and salarieC
attorneys of those interests dominated
by greed who want legislation that vii
give legal sanction to their loot, wan
to control public offices and SOM
appointees from among their retainers-
all these are now busy getting candi
dates out for office.
: ~ know something's of condition
in Idaho and / feel that every vote
in the state ought to be urged to TAX
an active interest in the nomination o
candidates, especially for the Legislature
and governor, and, if after the prima
ries are over, they find that they hav
3 not cleared the ticket o. all the machin
: and corporation candidates, that the,
finish the job at the general election
4 irrespective of the political party t
8. which the candidate may belong. ldah
$ has suffered irreparably in her reputa
ton and commercial welfare alike dur
ing recent years on account of beini
dominated by machine politics tina
! most people feel has been the source o
: corruption in her public business an
3 offices. This has been the condition il
r state politics and unfortunately it ha
8 reached into a number of the countie
l as well. IF men buy their way int
/ office it stands to reason that they ar
going to be reimbursed from som
source.
J, Now that the political situation pre-
( misses to become interesting in Idaho
this state has not been overlooked b.
4 the suffragets. The Woman s part
has turned it's attention to this stat
figuring it a ripe field for convert
70 ;+s causa-the proposed fedora