Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1917-01-26

hands full in getting the demo
cratic steam roller" in good
working order. New members
are generally loath to accept
caucus agreements and steam
roller methods, because they
have heard so much about the
abuses of those methods, and the
''steam roller" will never be a
reliable machine during this ses-
sion. But the leaders hope that
they will be able to pass the
strictly party measures before
the machine goes onto the rocks.
The republican machine is the
envy of the democratic leaders.
1t works to perfection, and while
we have had only one or two
demonstrations, enough has been
seen of it to justify the conclu-
sion that they have an up-to-date
1917 eight cylinder model of the
hnston-McGowan-Storey make.
Of course the republicans have
had good machine for years
and all they had to do was to
overhaul it and bring it-up-to-
date. Nevertheless they have
shown a fairness so far that
speaks we'll for the interests of
all the state. This much is very
evident, that they are all ami
mated'by the highest ideals to
serve their respective districts
and the state at large to the best
of their ability and belief. This
applies alike to democrats and re
publicans. But when it comes to
party measures, the line is going
to be drawn very taut, and while
it may not seem right, yet there
can be no doubt that better re-
suits for the interest of the peo-
pie at large obtained in that way.
If the individual office holder
only is held responsible, he will
feel responsible only for his own
conduct, whereas if the whole
party is held responsible, every
member of that party shares in
that responsible. Party measures
generally represent high ideals
of reform for better government
that are generally forgotten soon
after election, but the democratic
leaders a t his time have
placed legislation promised in
pledges at the top list, and no
other legislation will be encour-
aged until this has been disposed
of. Whether they fully succeed
in this will depend largely upon
the efficiency of the "steam
roller" "
Regarding measures in which
people of our county are interest
ed, can say very little at this
time. In fact it is too early to
forecast anything with any de-
gree of certainty. All county di-
vision measures are in danger of
going onto the rocks because of
a measure that is being framed
taking the matter of creating
counties out of the hands of the
the legislature and placing in the
hands of the people along the
lines of an enabling act. Just
what this bill is, do not know,
but leaders from both sides have
been in conference over the mat
ter and all agree that it would be
a good law.
Too much of the time of the
legislature is taken up with these
measures which are really loca'
after all. The worst feature is
that county division measures be.
come the trading stock for any
and everything man not inter.
ested in them may want. The
road question is not party issue
but it is live one and promises
a bitter fight for the apportion
ment of the state and fedora
funds. Everybody wants all the
money and all the roads. There
is some talk of a $4,000, 900 bond
, ifsue, but it is not gathering yer!
much strength. 1t is my opinion
that the final conclusion will b.
, - o,,Ebor;1o h0o1o f0 YooGo On,