Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-02-13
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
GIVEN TO PRESIDENT
Partisanship Laid Aside
When the international
Situation Is Discussed
Senator Whitcomb Blames
Borah for Failure to
Amend Primary Law.

Sharp criticism of the direct primary
law which was held as having as much
to do with conditions within the Re
publican party us any ono thing else,
reached climax at the annual Lin
coin day banquet last night at the
Owyhce hotel when Senator T.. w.
Whltcomb Of Lcmhi county charged
that the party and men in high places
betrayed the trust Of the people. When
he said he could mention names and
cries came from several parts of the
banquet hall that he do SO, Senator
Whitcomb declared that in face of the
fact the people wanted the law amend
ed, and a new law had been drafted,
there had been interference that stop
ped it's passage. Senator Borah was
named as one who had written let
Ter urging the legislative leaders to
AXE no action.
The speaker was but one of many in
attendance at the annual Republican
conclave who held a mirror before
them and saw many agreeable and
lisagreeablo things.
MANY REPUBLICANS PRESENT.
Jess r. Hawiey, president of the
Lincoln Day Banquet association, pre-
sided as POSTMASTER. There were 800
Republicans from all parts of the state
around the festive board An excel
lent course banquet was well served.
Special music was furnished by the
Boise Glee club and Tompkins' orches-
.ra, Immediately following the speak
ing Shad l.. Hodgin Of Boise was elect
ed president of the ASSOCIATION for the
ensuing year over Colonel Spofford, by
the voting members present, 80 to 49,
The speakers Of the evening were Ed
ward \. Walters, subject, Lincoln;
+. e. McGowan. Republican Party in
Idaho; i. $. Randall, The Way to
Victory. Judge Fremont Wood was
official tmekeper. Five minute talks
n the general discussion that followed
Mr.. McGowan's address were given by
l.. |. Purcell, j. b. Eldridge, |, Il. Rock
we'll Shad l.. iodgin, ID. w. Davis
Peter G. Johnston, f. 5. Johnson, Cap
tain +. G.. Davis, T.. W. Whtcomb, D.
Z. Hubbard.
MANY PER: oNS ASSIGNED.
AS the discussion continued follow
!ng acceptance of the challenge by Mr.
McGowan to point out some Of the
there developed wide variance OF
opinion as to where the trouble was
Not few held it to be the direct pri.
mary, others contended it was lack OF
leadership, there were some who
charged the party had lost the conf.
dent of the people, while some con.
tended that party leaders had OF beer
frank enough nor had they branded
proper official action when such ac.
zion should Lave been taken,
Judge Walters eulogized Abraham
Lincoln in an excellent address anc
made striking comparison of how
Lincoln had squarely met the troubled
situation If his time with the man,
ner Of dealing with almost as seriou!
problems by others at the present time
Colonel Judson Spofford was callcc
upon for an impromptu address ant
told Of his personal meeting with Lin
coin when the former lay in a hospita
It was believed mort.lly wounded. II,
said he felt as he talked with thu
president as though talking with
brother. Colonel Spofford was with ;
Vermont regiment and had beef
wounded. When he told the presiden
where he was from, the nations chic
executive said, "Ah, a Green Mountain
lad" He then discussed with thu
wounded man the most commonplace
of things, which. the speaker said, ha,
always made him popular.
WOULD TAKE OFF LID.
Introducing Representative Me
Iowan, President Hawley said that tn
open discussion regarding the party
the taking the lid off.-was intend
I'd for the good Of the party. M
longer" said he. should the pussy
footer be abroad in the land Afte
briefly reviewing the fact the part
was out Of power, he said, Il do no
know why, but II comes to me tina
since the advent of the primary we d.
not discuss principles" He cautione'
hose present not TO take reference
made Az personal and urged that
frank discussion OF the party's prob
lems take place.
Representative McGowan opened hi
address with the declaration, "Wher
were YOU all on Nov. last?" Beside
attacking the primary law and holding
Il responsible for part, at least, OF tn
situation within the Republican party
he held leaders had failed in denounc
ing Republicans who had gone wrong
and for not changing selfish leader
shin. He declared for non partisan
altitude toward the state educationa