American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-10-15

league Republicans in the Democratic
party or league Democrats in the Re-
publican party. The impression left
was that the league would do as il
did in the case of State Treasurer
EaglesOn and a few others, simply en-
dorse them as being worthy and ac-
ceptable, and urge their members in
the respective parties to support
them.
II was such an impression as this,
doubtless. that got S. D. Taylor in
bad. II has been the custom of the
anti-salOon league to get a statement
from candidates as to their position
on prohibition. The league leaders
were not very different in their meth
DDS. Taylor says the Non-partisan
state leaders nirted with him with a
view to endorsing Republican candi-
dates on the Republican platform, and
that he encouraged them. believing
that he was promoting the best inter-
ests OF the party. The ~non-partisan
leaders say the advances were all on
Taylor's part, and that through him
Davis and Gooding sought the en-
dorsement OF the league. The writer
knows what Mr.. Davis did in this
matter. II was to write a letter to
Mr.. Taylor stating in effect, that he
would consider an endorsement of the
league as a compliment to him and
an endorsement of the things he stood
for, which was all right and proper.
Almost Immediately thereafter he
wrote Mr.. Taylor to make no use of
his letter. but to return 1t, which was
done He feared that an improper in
depreciation might be put upon the
letter and wrong differences drawn
from 1t.
Mr.. Taylor says that in his zeal he
signed Gooding's name to a quite sim
liar letter, Gooding denies that he
signed the letter purporting to have
been written by him. But II he did
sign such a letter there was nothing
wrong about it. An endorsement of
Gooding and Davis by the league con-
vention, which had not been held
when Taylor and Scholz we're flirting.
would have been an endorsement not
only of the men but of the platform
they were running on. The only real
~ important thing about the whole
transaction is whether or not Scholz
was flirting with Taylor to have such
letters written with the purpose of
making an improper use of them. An
endorsement of Gooding and Davis by
the league convention could not posi-
bly, be stretched to mean the endorse
ment by Gooding and Davis of a
league platform that had not yet been
written, nor of the league policies
that had not yet been declared. The
furore raised about this matter is 95
per cent caoufage.
But getting back to the main issue.
what effect did the action of the
league leaders have. in entering the
Democratic primaries with almost a
full set OF Republican candidates, and
substituting an entirely new platform,
except to deny to the Democrats a
TO uphold their own principles 1
and their own men? What kind of a
would SchOlz and McKaig have {
put up had Democrats invaded the
league state convention, written a I
platform for the league and selected
candidates for them and outvoted the
delegates?
Would there not have been some talk
about the gangs rough-shod over-rid- +,
ing OF the rights of the people? .
What difference would there have ,
been between this. and what was !
done? Nothing, except it would have
been the other fellows OK that was :
gored. Can there ever he good feel :
Ing so long as such a policy is follow ,
edf
But politics is free. someone may !
say. Yes. and so is religious afflia- {
ion in this country. Out in Pleasant L
there is a strong Lutheran .
whose members represent a !
nigh standard of virtues. In the same u
is a Baptist church. whose |
membership is equally worthy. But '
he Lutherans greatly out-number the y
Suppose the Lutherans I
enter the Baptist fold, rewrite ;
heir creed. select a pastor for the y
who met the peculiar Lu- v
heran views? Would that be right? 5
the Methodists in American v
Ills. should flock into the Catholic q
and rewrite the Catholic creed q
md install a Methodist minister as {
Would that be right? The ;
Comparisons did this for the Dem L
'crats. and the leaders defend the ac- Is
wa ~ HRANN VI Aht A4lA that OuI kON= -
Is founded upon the princi- y
lie Of equal rights and equal freedom ,
That the n~on-partisan leaders en- y
cred the Democrats primaries and U
lot the Republican. is merely an acct
lent Their plans were all made to
the Republican primaries. but a
hange was made the last few DAYS
'efore the convention. But that is y
story. Ut
In subsequent issues the Press will >
20 further into this matter. and pre- u.
cnt some things that all citizens, q
whether non-partisans or not. should y
i've careful consideration. Communi- ="
les are only large families. and states ~
re bu a union OF communities. The -
OF every community have much ~
q common. and there is always a dis i'
IN