The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1917-10-26
Capital Correspondence


This indeed has been notable
week in Boise-notable because of
the many ''big men" congregated
here. First or last-he will fit at
either. end Of the list-there was
B0TTah and French and John L.
Woody and Elder, the distributor of
post offices in Idaho, and Ailshie
who also ran, and Arney at one
time an Idaho man but now of
Spokane. In q town Of this size the
strain was easily felt but Boise
is generous and threw in Richard
Pearson Hobson for good measure.
Captain Hobson delivered an ad-
dress in Boise. He was introduced
by ex-Congressman McCracken. The
introduction might have been better.
Still every one who didn't know it
before, learned that he was in the
presence of the hero of Santiago
bay-the man who tried to bottle
up Admiral Cevera's fleet by sink
ing the Merrimac in the straight
leading into the bay.
The Captains audience was not
large compared with the capacity
of the church but it was apprecia-
tive as any audience must be who
hears this magnificent address. Of
course the speaker was a prohibi-
zionist but not one of the rampant
sort. He didn't antagonize his
hearers by abusing the saloon keeper
and the distiller. Everyone who
heard him went away in a mood
thoughtfully, sad, because he not
only learned through assertion that
"the United States is a nation of
scrubs" but, much to his regret,
it was proved to him as clearly as
reliable statistics can be made to do
it. The orator believed that the
time has come for the United States
to sober up. (The speaker had no
allusion to Idaho where all the citi-
zenry are sober because they never
have a chance to smile.)
At the close of this world wide
war, problems must be solved and if
right solutions are obtained,
America will continue to lead the
world. Opportunities will be af-
forded as never before, but 1--WE are
not a nation ruled by democracy,
we are a nation ruled by one half
of one per cent of our population,
the whiskey element. The degen.
eracy of nations through the effects
of alcohol on the human system is
truly appalling.
The writer has heard many ad'
dresses on prohibition but none that
equalled Captain Hobson's effort
He didn't succeed in bottling ur
Cevera but if he doesn't succeed
in bottlIng up the whiskey ring nc
one else can succeed.
The drive for the sale of Liberty
Bonds is in full swing. Hobsor
eloquently encouraged it. Every
body is buying. A popcorn vendel
takes $500 worth with the promise
of more. A man sells his auto fol
Two hundred and fifty dollars (prob
ably a Ford) and invests the pro
ceeds in bonds. This. however
must not be called patriotism fol
the investment will net him many
times one hundred per cent. TIL,
"derned" farmers are not coming
across. Why? In answer to thi:
we quote from a letter at hand
"The government has regulated th'
farmer to a stand still, and yet i
expects us to come across with +,
liberal subscription to the Libert,
Loan Bonds. We have a littl,
wheat to sell but the buyers keel
telling us to have a little patience
they will take it after while. Il
the meantime we are paying inter
est and taking all the risks. TIL
farmer ALWAYS did get the worst o
it and probably always will"
In addition to the above literar
treat Boise people were privilege
&o hoor Senator Rorah HE c,,hioc