The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-03-10
ELDER AND NUGENT ARE
IN CONTROL OF THE
PARTY. MACHINE

At the meeting of the Democratic
state central committee held in Boise
Monday, Mr.. ]. T. Pence, chairman of
the state committee, pulled the string
and the Canyon County member and
the members for II other counties
jumped. In Caldwell Tuesday there
was much talk among prominent Dem
ocrats of insistance that henceforth
members of the state central commit
tee from this county be compelled to
wear canopener on their sleeve. The
object of the canopener is to enable
the friends of the committeeman to
put an idea into the head of the COM
mitteeman in case conditions demand
it.
At the meeting of the state commit
tee Monday Messrs. Pence, Elder. and
Nugent made the rules whereby the
delegates to the next national conven-
ton shall be elected. The preferen-
tial primary, sound and time honored
principle of the Democratic party, was
rejected.
Split on the Primary.
The committee on resolutions sub
mitted two reports, a majority and a
minority report. The majority re-
port, which was adopted by vote of
% to IS, endorsed the administrations
of President Wilson and Governor
Alexander, and provided that each
county be allowed six delegates for
every representative it had in the
house of representatives. 1t continues
"That the aforesaid delegates from
each county of the state of Idaho shall
be selected as follows: the Democratic
central committee of each of said
counties is hereby empowered to Sc
lect the said delegates from such
county, or to provide such means for
the selection Of such delegates as such
county central committee shall in its
discretion see fit"
The majority report was signed BY
J. R. Smead, l.. c. Jones and David l.
Evans The minority report, signed
by Harry l.. Day and J. M. Adams
and which was voted down, endorsed
the administrations of President Viii
son and Governor Alexander and re
commended that counties be allowed
one delegate in the state convention
for every 100 votes cast for Presiden
Wilson. 1t quoted the preferential
primary plank of the Baltimore plat
form followed by provision that tn
delegates be elected.
Mr.. Smead said that it was imprac
teal to hold preferential primaries
Mr.. Nugent was little more candid
He stated in substance that it was i'm
practical to elect Elder delegates at
primary, and in view of the fact tina
Elder was now in the saddle the par
of wisdom was to keep him there. Tn
CANYON member of the committee pip
ed out that he was ready to do as MI
Nugent, in his wisdom, said he ough
to do. He and n others did it.
Day Speaks His Mind.
In reply to the charge made by M
Nugent, that he was against Presider
Wilson in some matters, Harry l
Day of Wallace brother of Jerome
Day. stated that he retained his rigf
of independence of thought in
matters. He would not be bound an
gagged by the President or any on
else, and that he was just as good
Democrat as any osher man.
Senator Macbeth called attention
the machine methods which were b.
ing employed and protested vigorous
Nv. The machine was in good workin
order and the protests of the minorit
members of the committee were un;
vailing.
Elder in the Saddle.
Robert H. Elder clearly demon
strated that he was in the saddle X
the present at least. He made Il
rules by which his successor will
elected. If he cannot win under h
own rules he is indeed sorry po
tician. The Nugent-Pence- Elder ia
t;on exercised full control througho
the festivities. The whip was crack
and the little fellows crawled into lir
The Democrats of Canyon coun
are disguised with the pusilanimo
actions of committeeman they thong
were with them. They are not W
pleased with Committeeman Gritht
although he has always been a lii
of Pence, Elder and Nugent, and pre-
ably thought that he was doing :
best thing for everybody concerned
The Money OF the Days. i,
Mr. John +. Nugent is fearful Il
the money of the Day brothers is
menace to the Democratic party,
is too bad about money. We RENE
Der very distinctly that at one III
Mr.. Nugent boosted that he had sp,,
more money in politics than any OF
Democrat in Idaho. Governor AZ
ander is reported to have spent III
money during the last campaign.
set up cry OF money to justify re
ton is going long way around
aenac;,iiy for Tohn F. Nugent.