American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-05-25
A REAL LOVE FEAST.

The Democratic state convention at Pocatello last week
was full of thrills. The Pence Nugent-Elder faction won
in the final round, but the victory may be an idle one. AS
one prominent Democrat from north Idaho expressed it,
pointing to a cartoon in the Boise Statesman showing the
Democratic donkey in great pain from having eaten too
freely of elder berries: 'That expresses the situation
exactly. The party is all shot to pieces. After the next
election there will be no Wilson and no Alexander"
1t was a strenuous fight that left much bitterness. The
anti people won the first round by electing M. j.
Kerr temporary chairman by a majority of seven. This
inspired them with a belief that they would dethrone
Elder and gain control of the party machinery, and
throughout the twenty-fqhf hours intervening between
the election of the temporary chairman and national COM
mitteeman, talked freely about what they were going to
do to Elder when the crucial vote came. After about two
hours of heated debate the roll call was made and Elder
won by a clear majority of twenty-eight. The fight on
Elder was the result of charges that he disregarded the
wishes of local Democrats in the matter of appointments,
backing men for positions who had the endorsement of
John Nugent and j. 7. Pence, regardless of whether the
candidate had the support of his home people or not. The
appointment of a postmaster at Caldwell, where the man
appointed was refused the endorsement of the Canyon
County Democrats, and the turning down of the man who
had that endorsement, is but one of many examples. If
Elder were a Republican there is no doubt but that he
would be a "boss." Being a Democrat it is hard to define
his station.
Democratic logic is queer. To read Democratic papers,
there is a boss, in every county, and possibly in every pre-
cinct. When prominent Republicans fail to agree, even
in a minor way, it is always a fight between bosses"
When Democrats disagree, no matter how bitter and per-
sonar tne Hgnt may become, III is only d contest between
patriots seeking to accomplish the same worthy purpose,
but in a different way. More tersely stated, what in the
Republican party would be a fight between bosses" for
"spoils, in the Democratic party is only a contest between
patriots" for principle"
Bearing this in mind, it will be easier to understand the
campaign as it develops. No Democrat, no matter what
he may do, can be a boss" nor can he be so unpatriotic as
to descend to the level of fighting for the "spoils' of office.
Jeffersonian simplicity protects him against such depravi-
ty. The accusations made against Elder on the floor of
the convention, in hotel Hobbies and on the streets of Po-
catelo during the convention, by Democrats who were
opposing the continuance of his benign rule, were only
the result of temporary excitement due to sudden out
bursts of burning patriotism. 1t can not be true that he
was riding rough shode" over the wishes of the people,
nor that he had taken advantage of his position to inflict
himself upon the party for another four years.
1t is really of little Importance whether Elder is ma
lonal committeeman, or whether he SHOULD have been
succeeded by Kerr, Bowen or Ensign. For as the north
ern Democrat expressed il, after the next election there
will be mo Wilson and no Alexander"
According to reports from the border a number of
Mexican bandits have been killed by Cararnza troops.
This is gratifying information, the only disquieting fea-
ture being that bandits killed in like manner before have