The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-01-21
CAPT. {. G. DAVIS VAS
N CALDWELL LAST
EVENING

Ills aOuTCSS was hSlCHGd To Will
ked attention. Captain Davis left a
and everybody who heard his address.
The address was on the subject Of
1.-THE Underlying Causes of Bad Gov
eminent in Idaho" Captain Davis
first stated that he appeared as can
didate for the Republican nomination
for governor. This statement was fol-
lowed by brief sketch of his career.
Captain Davis is the first native
born son of Idaho to be candidate
for the governorship. He was born
at Samaria, Oneida county, Idaho,
February 9. 1873.
Graduate of West Point.
Captain Davis said in part:
after completing my early school
ing taught in the common schools
for two years. I entered West Point
in 1896 and graduated in 1900. Shortly
after my graduation l was ordered to
the Philippines where I served for a
year and half in the latter part of
the work of suppressing the Filipino
instruction, was on duty for time
at Fort Walla Walla. and later was
at West Point from 1908 to 1907 as an
instructor of law and history. While
so engaged | wrote a book on Con-
stitutional Law which is still used as
a text book at the Military Academy
and at other schools in the east. Dur
ing this period of four years l pur-
sued course in law and. in the fall
of 1905. was admitted to the bar of
the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia. While at West Point. dur
ing this period. I met with the acci-
dent which finally led to my retire.
ment from active service. Following
an operation for appendicitis and
while still unconscious from the eff
fects of the anesthetic administered,
the under surface of the heel of my
left foot was literally cooked, through
bag from which the blanket covering
had been accidentally or carlessly re-
moved. After being on crutches off
and on for four years and after three
different operations in an attempt to
restore my foot, | was adjudged dis
qualified for active service and ordered
placed on the retired list of the army.
MY last duty was with the artillery
defenses of San Francisco. where /
was serving at the time of my retire
ment in the fall of 1909. Immediately
following my retirement | returned to
my old home in Oneida county.
"In the fall of 1910. was nominal
ed and elected as a Representative
from Oneida county and served in this
capacity in the regular and extraordin-
airy sessions of the 18th session Of the
legislature. After the adjournment of
the legislature in the spring of 1911, |
established my home in Boise where |
have since lived. In 1913. was priv
ate secretary to Governor Haines, and
in 1914, and until July 3lst, 1915. was
assistant Attorney General and attor-
ney for the Public Utilities Commits
sion. This, in brief, is a sketch of my
career to date.
As a result Of the work and study
have outlined, l feel that l may
Justly lay claim to somewhat init
mate knowledge of our state, its pub.
lie institutions and their needs. and
last, but not least, the political condi
tons with which we must contend If
our struggle for better government.
The Dominant Issue of the Campaign
1.-THE publication of government /!
in nv opinion, the dominant issue o
the coming campaign.
81 am not an alarmist who woul'
create the impression that our who'll
political fabric is about to fall t
pieces, that all Office holders are cor
rupt, and that there is no such thing a
honest government, properly admins
tered in the interests of the people. "
the whole there is more honesty II
public Office than is generally recog
nized, but there is also more incompt
ence and neglect. The time is rite
however, with evidence of politica
trickery and dishonesty of many kinds
and we can no longer refrain fror
making a careful survey OF condition
to see whittier we are drifting. To
often official dishonesty takes the torr
of public defalcation. but this is IA
from being the only evil with whic
we must deal in the task OF pur,fyin
our political and official life. In lag
no public defalcations are dlree'l
traced to even deeper evils IN our pol
teal system, and we have true Vie'
of the situation only when we regar
government These causes occur quit
as impartialiy in one political part
as another: they run back throuR
much OF the history OF the state; an
Il is mere dishonest cant to conten
otherwise. Just now the Republica
party is on the carpet and required
face consequences resulting from u
conduct OF certain of its late official
Our political opponents will attemI
to convert this conduct into politics
capital and to treat il as conclusi,,
evidence of corrupt condition In Il
Republican party which should r
move all its candidates from favorab
consideration In the next general ele
ton; but such an attempt. If made. wi
be unfair and disingenuous, as a mi
ment's reflection will show,
Our Duty As Citizens.
public attention has lately bee
focused upon the fact that certain
our late officials were dishonest in Il
handling of public funds. but viii
this presents a situation which d
mands our most thoughtful consider
ton, we are blind to the extent OF o
duty II we believe that it represen
more than single factor of the pro