Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1917-01-05
DEMOCRATS TAKE OVER
GOVERNMENT OF IDAHO

An almost Democratic admins
traticn for the first time in the III
tory Of the state of Idaho was inaug-
urated Jan. /, 1917. With the incom-
ing administration the official politi-
cal complexion of this state changes
from Republican to Democratic A
week later the legislative branch of
state government will also be turr e |
over to Democrats, who are in control
of both branches of that body.
The Democrats have been nearly
but never before absolutely in con
troll of the legislature and state de-
partments. From 1897 to 1902 they
had control of the governors Office
and several of the other execut We
Offices, through fusion of the Silver
Republicans, Populists and Democrats.
Frank Stuenenberg was elected COVER
nor and served as chief executive
from 1897 to and including 1900. He
was a democrat. Robert Mcfarland
was attorney general during the first
two years of the Stuenenberg admin
istration and S. H. Hays, now mayor
of Boise, was attorney ee leral during
his second administration. Both are
Democrats. Frank Hunt succeeded
Steunenberg as governor and served
from 1901 to and including 1902
Frank Martin of Boise wa attorney
g neral. Both W re Dmoc ats i.
Charles j. Bassett, a Silver epubli-
can, was elected secretary of state.
The Demo rats and Silver Republi-
cans were in control of the legsla-
ture during all three of those admin
istrations. These were the nearest
the Democrats came to controiilr 6
both branches although since then the
margins of control during Sc eral ses-
sions was very small.
Following 1902, as before the in
auguration of the first Steunenberg
administration, the Republicans came
into power ane held the whip hand If
the management of state affairs uE
until last November, when a majority
of them were defeated both for the
gislature and state offices. 81 C
1890 there have been ID executive
heads OF the state George l..
Shroup, the first governor, resignee
in 1890 to go to the Urited States
senate. He was succeeded ny n. Is
Wiley and in turn there followed as
governors, William J. Mcconnell, Re
publican, two terms; Frank Steunsi
terg, Democrat two terms; Fra
w. Hunt, Democrat, one term; Franz
T. Morrison, Republican, one term
Frank R. Cooling, Republican, tw,
terms; James H. Brady, Republican
one term; James H. Hawley, Demo
crat, one term; John. Haines, Re
publican, one term; Moses Alexander
Democrat, one term and reelected
for a second term. While they los
the governor in 19ll-12 in the election
of James H. Hawley, the Republi an
were st ii in control of state affair
and the legislature. This was like
wise true of the administration jus
closed, Governor Alexander being TIN
only Democrat. Of the several gov
errors elected in Idaho, but four ar
deceased, Shroup, Steunenberg, Hun
and Morrison. Governor Steunenber
died the victim of an assassin's bomb
and the man responsible for his death
Harry Orchard, is now serving a lif
sentence in the Idaho state penitent
larry.
The important task of reorganizin
the governing boards of this state will
follow the Inauguration of the stat
officials. These boards include tn
state land, board of prison commits
sioners, board of pardons, board Q
parole, state board of equalization
depository board, Soldiers HON
board, capital building maintenanc
boar. Of these the land ard boar
, of equalization are the two most in
: portant. There are also the board {
horticultural inspection, board {
: health, historical and others, whic
will be in control of Democratic az
pointees.
Retiring state officials who go oil
, of Office Monday plan various voc,
, tions which will take them activel
} out Of political jobs. Secretary {
t State George r. Barker will retur
t to the publication of his newspaper
the Review, of Standpoint: Sta,