The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-03-15
IDAHO HAS ALL ELEMENTS TO
MAKE A GREAT STATE.

Now that the Idaho legislature has
died lingering death, and with IT the
homes Of ambitious makers of new
state II is perhaps safe to discuss the
proposed division of Idaho without
being suspected of disloyalty to the
section in which we live. While the
position Of the Miner has been fav-
orable to the creation of new state
of the ten northern counties, 1t has at
M time believed that it could be ac-
complished through the movement
started in the recent legislature, even
if it were backed by the majority OF
the people of the entire state. Con-
.ress would never consent to dividing
a state that has less population than
many eastern cities, particularly since
it would involve the addition of two
senator's from the west. But in spite
OF the certainty OF untaVofaple aclioH
bv congress, the leaders in the divi-
sion scheme pushed it with eagerness
IS II they had evolved new ques-
one that had been threshed out and
fought out for quarter of a century,
beginning with territorial days when
the change in boundary lines present
ed fewer difficulties than are involved
in the division of sovereign state.
The question of division or annexa-
ton has been periodically sprung
since Idaho was admitted as a state,
and always with the same result. With
this record of repeated failures, 1t is
now time for the promoters of divi-
sion to abandon the cause, forget 1t,
building of the state as a whole. 1t
certainly does not inspire confidence
in homeseekers and capital seeking IN
yestment in the state to have contin-
ually advertised to the world that
Idaho is torn by discord that threat
ems to divide the state,
We believe that whatever sentiment
there is in the north in favor of a
new state Is due mainly to a convic-
ton that the north does not get a
square deal from the more populous
south in the administration of state
affairs, that the benefits received by
the north are not in proportion to
the taxes paid for the support of state
government. But this is a matter
that would hardly receive considera
ton at the hands of congress, for If it
Is true the remedy rests in the hands
of tthe people of the state. Much
stress is also laid on the fact that
the state capital is difficult of access
TO the people of the north. hut in this
respect Idaho is different only in de-
gree from many other states.
But the chief argument advanced
by the leaders of the movement for
new state is that the industries which
occupy the attention of the people of
the two sections of Idaho are differ
cnt, the south being largely agrieul-
tural with great irrigation problems
to be solved, while the big problems
in the north involve mining timber
and non irrigated land. Instead OF
being an argument for division, the
Miner believes this is the best argu-
ment for holding the state intact. II
Is the diversity of industry and re-
sources that give the greatest
strength to the state. Instead of
scheming to divide the state because
our interests are not in common, we
should bring ourselves to realize that
we have common interest in every
Industry that contributes to the adj
vancement of the state. Where is
state in which the industries Of the
north and south are more widely diff
ferent than in California? Yet we
hear Of no efforts being made to make
4 two states Of California. and 1t can
hardly be denied that from the stand
point Of territory and population the