Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1917-04-20
WHY GOvERN0R ALEXANDER
"yANKED" MR.. SCHOLTL

Dy JOVeTnOT AleHdDueT. gives MS SlO6
of the case. He declares threats
we're made to him, and charges the
governor with attempting to intimidate
him to make him sit down in his fight
for q square deal for the producers of
the state In statement to the pub
lie, just before retiring, Mr. Scholtz
said:
To the people of Idaho Years ago
while struggling to make living,
under adverse conditions, on the i'll
fated King Hill irrigation project,
conceived the idea of state depart
ment to help the farmers in their
marketing and other commercial prob
lens. Later, moved to Boise and
started farm paper with estate aid
in marketing" as the principal slogan
of the publication. After two years
editorial effort, sufficient public SEN
timent was developed to force the bill
for state department of farm mar
kets through the legislature.
Then farmers organizations through
out the state insisted that the COVER
nor remore the Office from partisan
politics by appointing the author of
the law as the organizer of the de-
partment-my activities in the farm
organization having shown me to be
affiliated with neither of the old
parties.
Reluctantly, but as a matter of
political expediency, the governor
complied with these petitions and
offered me the appointment; on the
condition, however, that l sign the
resignation form presented to me,
which was given to understand was
mis- policy in making appointments, in
order that he could remove without
difficulty an appointee for misconduct
in office. Believing this was an es-
tablished policy, and believing also.
as | did at that time, that the COVER
nor would not take advantage of such
undated resignation unfairly, or
without ample cause, accepted the
position under this condition; but
with the express understanding that
be permitted to conduct the office in
a non-partisan manner, independent
Of politics.
Everything went along smoothly
the first Is months of my term-or, in
other words, until the last campaign
was over and the governor found him
self safely reelected.
Since the last election | have con-
Quoted the office in identically the
same manner as before, and have
made the same effort to work harmon
iously with the governor; but have
been forced to realize that l had
served the governor purpose and
was no longer wanted in the admins
tration.
i By threats and intimidations the
governor has attempted to make me
lie down in my fight against the vici-
GUS outside interests that have so long
robbed the producres and consumers in
this state.
] When / had a number of bills
presented in the recent legislature,
for remedying the evils from which
Idaho producers and consumers have
long suffered, Governor Alexander
summoned me to his private office and
demanded that | go to the agricul-
tural committee in the legislature and
Withdraw the measures. | tried to
| Al. 7
these measures had the Endorsement
of the farmers organizations In all
parts of the state. | told him | had
discussed the need of these relief
measures with over fifteen thousand
farmers throughout the state, and
that | should not be expected to be-
tray the trust that these farmers had
placed in me-
The governor finally made the
threat that unless | went to the
Legislature and had these bills with
drawn that | would be out of office
inside of six months.
refused to betray the trust the
farmers had placed il me.
Some of the bills were forced
through the Legislature upon the de-
mands of the farmers organizations.
The farmers demanded that the
measures passed by the legislature
become law. The governor then de
cided to sign them; but also decided
to put in new state market director
to administer the laws.
The governor yesterday carried out
his threat to get me out of office,
when he took from his files the
resignation signed year ago last
April, and dated it for acceptance at
this time.
! | have been fair to the governor, /
have made a sincere effort to work in
harmony with him, but have refused
to be intimidated in what knew to
he my plan duty. l have refused to
trade my conscience and elf-respect
for state house job.