The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-08-18
STATE CANDIDATE HERE

George E. Crum, of Lewiston, wa
in town Tuesday in the interest o
his candidacy for the nomination fol
governor. Mr.. Crum said, II have M
promises to make. I might promis.
to save the state a million dollars
or run it for nothing, but the people
know | cannot do it. They wouli
likely ask me to try these expert
ments on my own business first
When / can run my own business
for nothing or conduct an expenseless
campaign, then and not till then will
advocate such policies. II we could
save q million dollars or run the gov.
ernment for nothing, why stop there!
why not continue the process indefi.
|nitely and declare annual dividends!
One promise is as good as another
when impossible of fulfillment. No
l do not believe in promises. Re-
suits are what the people want and
are entitled to-"
mo, / do not believe in promises.
Results are what the people want and
are entitled to. An inventory of the
Affairs of the state would reveal many
things of Importance which should
be done today.
The business of the state land
board should be organized on a
proper business basis. That is of i'm
portance to all the people Of the
state. 1t is run now in haphazard,
lunbusiness-like manner, and neces-
Isarily so under the present ineffici-
ent plan. The system Is wrong. It
must be changed. Thru a constitu-
tional amendment the land board
should be abolished and its business
organized and handled on a par with
lprivate concerns, with responsible
head and those in charge on the job
Jail the time. 1t is far from it today
Each member of the land board is
also member of numerous other
boards, each of which requires con-
siderable time and attention. This
means that only small portion Of
the time, attention and consideration
of the members of the land board can
be devoted to it's increasing and tre-
mendous volume of business. No
hundred million dollar private insti
tuition would run its business that
way. 1t would not survive long if
it did. Why then should the state
handle it's business in such an inef-
ficient and haphazard manner?
"To properly organize the business
of the state as efficiently and econom-
ically as private business would af-
ford immediate relief and be of last
ing benefit to the people. Can any
one give valid reason why the state
should maintain duplicate educa-
tional departments, namely, state
superintendent of public instruction
and commissioner of education? It.
has been doing that very thing for
four years. No private CONCERN
would do that. Why then should
the state? One department is suffi-
cient. The other should be eliminat-
ed and save the taxpayers the expense
of duplication.
handled as it would be if it were
private concern? A glance at other
and commissions of the
state would reveal the samo condi-
tion. If the business of the state
of Idaho were handled by a private
concern would it retain all the de-
partments and commissions the state
now has? 1t would not unless they
were of real service and benefit to
the people.
II cannot distinguish any differ
ence in principle in private and public
business, and there should be none
in the method Of transaction. The
great need of Idaho today is to trans
act the business of the state as econ
omically and efficiently as private
business. To accomplish that would
be achievement worth while and of
permanent benefit to all the people
of the state.'