The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-04-10

tions burning question, thong
neither portion had sufficient re
sources and population to form me-
state of themselves.
Those were the days of Mormo
and anti-Mormon, when many of tn
people of the southeast were bitterl
opposed to the ecclesiastical-politic
domination of the Mormon element
and contention and consequent injus
tice was rife. Naturally the anti
Mormon opposed the division of the
territory, preferring to hold the nortf
in the territory as balance of power
against the southeast.
Why Statehood Came
National political conditions made il
possible at this time for Idaho to ac-
quire statehood, and most ambitious
politicians prefer state to territorial
government. Opportunities are not SO
limited. The north would be more
likely to foresake the idea of div
ision if Idaho was recognized as a
state, and many thought segregation
impossible of accomplishment. These
facts were generally, accepted except
from local viewpoint.
| Where the educational state institu-
lions should be located became an
open political question, since state
hood would make them possible of at
tainment and their support both state
and national
Two Counties Lock Horns
Latah and Nez Perez counties were
joined for political purposes but the
two political parties failed in nom
mating candidates in joint convention
because each county sought to name
the councilman, (Senator). That Of
fetal was recognized as holding the
key to legislation having a centralized
lower.
Nez Perce's representatives with
drew from the joint convention of the
two parties and named a fusion ticket
of their own. Four days before the
election Latah county did the same.
Two Schools Planned
At this time some talked university |
and some talked normal school, the |
normal being the Lewiston ideal and |
the university the Moscow ideal, each |
in time being realized
Election day proved that Latah |
county had the larger population. Her
candidate for senator was elected by
about 1000 majority. But the certific-
ate of election must be issued from the
office of the auditor of the county
having the older organization, (Nez
Perce), and because of this the matter
was brought to a contest in the courts.
Where Sweet Came In
Willis Sweet, a Moscow attorney.
and afterwards congressman, was en-
Dloyed to defend the interests of the
citizens of Moscow and
Latah county in the courts, and also
% draft the university bill.
Judge Logan, sitting at Lewiston, is /,
sued a mandate that the certificate of
election should be issued to the Latah
candidate representing both counties.
Frank E. Mix of Moscow, who had
,een overwhelmingly elected, to the :
assembly, unselfishIy withdrew in the I
interest of harmony and made the con-
est for the council seat easier, Nez
'erce man who was not elected taking
is place. Of course this was not
ertainIy conclusive, as legislative
odies are judges of their own men,
ership and are not amendable to the
ourts. :
Hot Times in Boise +
The 18th and last territorial assem-
ly in Idaho had stormy session,
pening in bitter contest over the leg
;lative seats claimed by both Nor
ION and anti-Mormon and resulting in
lie expulsion of two men claiming
eats by virtue of the so-called Nor
on vote. =
But the greater cause for the riot F
is and exciting close was the effort
divide Alturus county Alturus
i'd many political enemies because
lie was large and had more power in
)litical conventions than any other M
,unty, and by alliances with few
Mailer counties, controlled territorial
)litics, especially Republican politics.
lso we were expecting statehood H.
nat meant congressional representa-
On, part of which must be elected by
e legislature. ,Alturus as unit was
rongly republican, but divided to
rm two other counties, it would -
AXE one Democratic, one Republican
i'd the other doubtful. Hence CO. =
ton of both parties to destroy her o
'wer was possible.
Old Alturus Scrap
The power to appoint officers for the
w counties was to be placed in Gov
nor CfoUQp cOn'c hopdc Rooordc