Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-03-28
SITUATION
CALLED TO MIND
BYBORAHLETTER
Charged That Federal Pat
ronage Is Manipulated to
the Advantage Of the
Elder Faction.

Democrats ia Idaho begin 20 see a
parallel In Idaho to the south, in the
abuse OF federal patronage 70 control
party machinery. This fact was called
wildly TO their attention by the let
ter of United States Senator w. e.
Borah published In Mondays issue of
the Capital News. A number Of in
stances in which National Committee
man Robert H Elder has used his posi-
ton TO see that friends and relatives
are placed IN positions are cited by
Senator Ravenel Macbeth Il Is also
alleged that abuse OF the federal pat
ronage is being made in the attempt
on the part of the Pence Nugent- Elder
faction to bring about the appointment
of C. w. Within OF Caldwell FOR sur
veyor general, with the proviso that he
tie up to the present national commit
teeman and deliver that county to him,
a demand the Democrats OF Canyon
county are said to have coolly turned
down They take the stand that
Whiffin should be appointed on his
ability and merits or not at all.
Another instance Is recited in Bon
ner county where it is charged that the
Pence Nugent- Elder people gained con-
troll Of an Endorsement for Elder by
tieing up the county organization
through the appointment OF q postna@-
ter. It was agreed that the pOstmaB-
tersfip should only be placed on the
understanding that Elder was to have,
the county delegation in the state con-
vention If he sought reelection for
national committeeman.
Maaba%h ~f&a. OAhau I~nsAm.k.
Regarding further abuse OF federal
patronage on the part OF the national
committeeman Of this state, Senator
Macbeth gave out the following state
ment:
Senator Borah's letter, published in
your paper last night to q southern
Republican, In which he crtticises the
use Of federal patronage for the pur-
pose Of securing political advantages
could be well mentioned in connection
with such use Of federal patronage in
Idaho as shown at the recent meeting
Of the Democratic state central com
mittee. to-wit:
Postmaster Laird Of AmericanfFalIs
was present holding the proxy OF the
committeeman OF Power county.
Postmaster Jaycox OF Jerome was
present from Lincoln county, holding
proxy from that county, and Postmas-
ter Noble Of Shoshone, Lincoln county,
was present an dactive in behalf Of the
Nugent- Pence Elder machine.
Postmaster Marsh Of Rupert, com
mitteeman from Minidoka county, was
present by proxy in behalf or the
machine.
THE disgracefui action OF the com
mittee in unseating W. A. Talkfngton
Of Grangeville. the regularly elected
committeeman from Idaho county, and
seating Elder, who held the proxy Of
Postmaster Wisner Of Grangeviile, who
claimed to be committeeman from Ida
no county, is well known.
George Tannehill, the machine boss
of Nez Perce county, whose half
brother, Lee PennweIl is the poatnas-
ter at Lewiston, saw that the proxy
from Nez Perez county was sent to the
machine.
Postmaster Miller or st. Anthony,
whose brother or uncle is state CEN
tral committeeman, A. d. Miller. OF st
Anthony, saw that the proxy from FIRE.
mont county was held by the machine.
Assistant United States District
Attorney Smead was present holding a
proxy and was chairman OF the com
mittee on resolutions that turned down
the preferential primary plank of the
Baltimore platform.
Elders three brothers are employed
in violation OF the spirit of the anti
nepotism law and who owe their ap-
pointment to Elders influence, are en-
pioyed as follows. to-wit: One IL
county attorney for Benewah county;
another is deputy clerk In the record
er's office of Kootenai County. and the
other is deputy assessor of Boundary
county and his father who lives in
Occur d'Alene Is given all of the odd
Jobs around the county court house
and such work as the district court can
provide him with"