American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-07-20
FARMERS OF IDAHO WOULD
CONTROL STATE GOVERNMENT
North Dakota Plan Of Organization
Quietly Taking Plaee-State Con-
ventiOn to Be Held to Select Nom
Partisan Candidates.

IdIuHdn
BOISE, Idaho. July 18-Idaho is
being quietly organized to the cause
Of the farmers national nonpartisan
league, unknown to a great many lead
ers OF the two dominant political par
ties and others interested in political
Developments in this state. If the
non-partisan leaguers are successful
t<ey will bring into Idaho what is
known as the North Dakota plan, or
control Of the state government by
the farmers.
Surprising results have been at
tanned. Farmers locals and unions
have gone over in body to this or
ganization. The organizers. lead by
Ray McKaig, field secretary Of the
league, hope TO be able to control bet
ter than so per cent Of the voting
strength in Idaho.
League workers have organized /
carefully by precincts over a greater
portion Of the state and they are rap
idly combining the force Of the rural
vote.
State Convention to Be Held
Investigation discloses that aside
from the field secretary the nonpar-
tisan league has had a number Of act
i've organizers going over Idaho per-
fecting their organization work. The
tentative plans of the league are not
to work independent of the two dom
inant political parties, but to hold the
balance Of power.
After the organization work has been
perfected there will be state con-
vention called by the league to be held
in Boise prior to the date on which
the political parties will hold their
primary elections TO nominate their
candidates for the general election. At
this convention the league will indorse
the candidates in the Republican and
Democratic parties acceptable to them
and bring out men in the two parties
as candidates already in the field who
are not acceptable.
The vote of the league members is
TO be swung in the primaries TO the
very best advantage for the league
candidates or candidates acceptable
and at the general election that fol-
lows the same plan Will be put into
execution This will, the league mem
bers hope, give them control of the
election and place their men in power
In Interest OF Farmers.
Primarily the league wants men il
control who will look first TO the in
terests OF the farmers and see tha
they not only are given the legisla
ton they want. but that the legis
Aation so secured is put into force ant
effect as laws of the state:
At the present time it is claime'
that the farmers are not given prop
er recognition either in the state gov
ernment or by the legislature and tina
the legislation they stand for is eithe
not passed or when passed by the lee
islature has most of the teeth eN
tracted before this is done.
Farmer control is held to be for tn
hest interests of the state.
The nonpartisan leaguers are elate
over news that has just reached stat
Headquarters here from the Mort
Dakota league to the effect that tn
league candidate for congress in ii
frst district of that state had bee
elected by big majority.
Hubbard for Governor.
Such a man as d. R. Hubbard, one
the most prominent farmers in souu
ern Idaho is mentioned as ofterir
league timber for governor. Huboal
was a member of the house OF repr
sentatives Of the last legislature, ha
ing been elected as a Republican.
was prominently identified previous
with the Progressive party. Hubba
championed all farmers measures III
came before the legislature.
The nonpartisan league expects
Gather in much Of the strength tn
was held by the Progressive par
when it was in its political prime
Idaho. That party cast $4,000 vot
for Roosevelt after it was organic
and since then has cast as high
10000 votes for a state official.