The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-11-22

who did vote, voted against the pur-
chase. Only 101 persons out Of one
thousand were In favor of the pur-
chase. mere are several reasons
for this condition and people should
consult themselves about II on gen.
eral principles. II people have kid
ded themselves into the idea that
the water system is worthless they
will soon wake up to the fact that
they have kidded themselves into, a
grave mistake. 1t may be that they
simply do not want a municipal water
works, but IL that were the case and
their conclusions were such one
would think that Hlrey would at least
go othe polls and vote against the
bond issue. The fact that some four
or five hundred persons who were
entitled to vote on the bond question
remained away from the polls in
dicates that they could not reach con-
illusions or that they did not care
what became ,of SO vital question
in their home town.
1t must be said that people who
take that course may not be capable
of governing themselves. There are
undoubtedly a great many people
who cannot decide public questions
except thru the direction of their
leaders. The Idaho Republican has
been severely criticised for not hav-
ing the paper show in each and every
issue just where the editor stood on
the bond question. We took the
view that people did not care how
the editor was going to vote and
what the editor believed was for the
best interest of the town. We acted
on the assumption that the people
Of the town were intelligent and
when they were furnished with the
facts they could draw UP their own
conclusions and vote accordingly.
We are now convinced of the fact
that good many of the voters re-
quire conclusions ready-made for
them and If these conclusions are
backed up with reasonable facts they
accept the ready-made conclusions
and act upon them.
A good many people. after reading
practically all that was published on
tho question, went hunting for some
body to give them conclusions, and
tho. person or persons who took the
trouble to talk to them found them
perfectly willing to accept the con-
illusions of who ever they talked
to.
A largo number of people are at
fiicted with the weakness of believ-
ing everything when a moments re-
Election would convince them that it
is not true. This is especially evil
dent whom some scandal breaks out
in town. They believe all the alb
surd stories that anybody tells. They
have shown it in their relation to
the bonding question by believing
everything they heard about the
wretched condition of the city water
plant. We shall probably take oc-
casicn to say on many matters In the
future that people should be careful
to keep down the activities of the
disease Of rumoritis acting upon all
the foolish rumors they hear. Then
there is that other disease ennuitis,
derived from the little word ennui,
which means WEAKNESS, laziness and
in difference, nothing doing. In this
case they were too Indifferent to
Indifferent to make up their minds
make up their mind and get to the
polls to express their decision on the
ballot. s '.l
We are convinced that when a pub
lie question has to be solved people
like those living in the town of
Blackfoot need some leaders to study
the question and give out their Opin-
ion, backed up by some good reasons
for them and leave 1t to the good
people to accept them as given out.
If the bonding question had been
in that way and these lead
ing men had taken the time and
trouble to leave their own work and
go about teaching people the merits
of the q, estion they would have at
least gone to the polls and voted,
as it is they have not even learned
anything.
In answer to the persistent rumors
that the water system was old and
rusted out some pipes were dug up,
cut into sections and put on exhibit
ton near the polling places to show
people that altho the pipes had been
in service nine years they were not
rusted at all. There were no work.
ers at the polls to direct peoples at
tention to these things and the re-
suit was that not many people saw, or
needed. They are still going about |
with the understanding that the old |
water system is rusted out, when in |
TACT 1t is new water system in good |
but with most of the mains |
900 small to furnish the service |
needed for the growing town.
The way the people disposed of |
he question Tuesday it is certain
hat nothing more will be done on the
water question for good while to
,ome land perhaps for ten years the
'eople will be receiving daily proof
hat It Is q good system; that it is
rood enough that they will be paying
good stiff rate for water and be glad
o get it.
ANALYSIS OF FIFTY SPRINGS