Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-09-14
Political Notes
From Boise

Boise, Idaho, September 13. The
fact that is was the closing week of the
primary campaign gave last week its
prominence from a political point of
view. Even, the fact however, that a
primary campaign was just closing was
not sufficient to arouse any great
amount of interest among the people.
The chief contest for political office of
course was in the republican primary.
The four candidates for governor have
campaigned the state from end to end,
most of them going over it from two to
several times each but yet in all of their
efforts not an issue for the campaign
has been raised. Each candidate for
the position has based his claims for
nomination upon his personal boast that
he is the only man who can "beat Alex
ander.' just as the republican nation
ally have as their only issue Anything
to beat WILSON, just so in Idaho, their
only search has been to try to find a
man who can cheat Alexander. - In
both campaign cries, the republicans
are now realizing the admission con
tanned in these battle cries that they
have but little hope of accomplishing
their purpose. The campaign of Hughes
has so far admittedly produced nothing
that gives hope to accomplishing their
purpose of defeating Wilson and the
primary just held this week gives no
more hope that candidate has been
produced who can beat Alexander.
Another body blow was delivered TO
republican hopes of success in Idaho
when the State Board of EQUALIZATION
fixed the tax levy for state purposes
for the year 1916 at 1865 900. The levy
under the second year of the Haine s
administration providing For raising
100000. The total tax levied during
the two years of the Haine s admins
tration for current expense purposes
was 81 100000 as against the total levy
Tor the same purposes under the Alex
ander administration of ST. 256,00O. This
shows a reduction in state taxes under
the Alexander administration of $685.
600. Here is one saving that no
amount of explanation that may be
made by the republicans and no amount
OF opposition which they may urge
against Governor Alexander can brush
aside. 1t represents that sum of money
actually saved and left in the pockets
of the people by reason of Governor
Alexander election two years ago.
ms, however, does not represent the
entire saving of the Alexander admin
lstration. The veto of appropriation
bills saving in addition this $267, 900.
The amount of money raised for state
purposes has also been paid approx
mately $350,000 of what is commonly
known as floating indebtedness; a
floating Indebtedness in Idaho means
that warrants are drawn against the
general fund in payment of expenses
OF administration, whether there is
money on hand to meet these warrants
or not. AT the close of the Haine s. ad-
m1nistration, THERE we're outstanding
approximately $350,000 worth of such
warrants without funds to meet them.
-Aese warrants have been taken up and
paid under the Alexander administers
tion and it is now believed that he will
be able to end the current year without
the issuance of any warrants which
there is not equivalent money in the
treasury to meet. The Alexander ad-
ministration has also paid off more
than $350000 of the bonded debt of
the state.
A movement has been started in the
city looking toward the organization
Independent Woodrow Wilson League.
The League is nationally made up of
some of the most prominent Independent
thinkers and writer's of the nation who
feel that the services rendered to the
country by Woodrow Wilson are such
as to merit the support of the people.
1T is the purpose to institute the or
ganization of a branch of this league in
Boise. A call has been issued and in
Vitations have been sent out to nearly
one hundred men and women who are
not democrats but who have expressed
their determination to vote for and give
their influence to the reelection of the
president 1t is believed that a mem
bership of several hundred will be Sc
cured in this city alone and it is the in
tention as soon as the local organization
is perfected here to extend the organi-
cation over the entire state of Idaho.