The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-10-18
STILL KNOCKING THEMSELVES
OUT OF REASON

A good many people are comment
ing on what we published last issue
under the heading, Editor and Nom
partisan Scrap" The Non-partisian
took the view as do many Of the
members, that because the farmers
constitute the larger part of our sub
scription list, they and their doings
should be, immune from criticism,
and the paper should be operated
just the way they want it, disregard
ing the wishes of others.
That is exactly the principle which
they claim to be working against.
They claim that there has been a
kept press" kept by those in power
and working against the interests
of the farmers and In favor of those
who kept the press or supported it.
They have said that this was wrong,
and they propose to right these
wrongs, yet they propose to force the
newspaper man to do their exact bid
ding or put him off the earth.
Would Hurt Farmers and All.
Such course would not be for
their own best interests. If the To-
cal papers should make it rule to
remain silent about every movement
that was sprung, purporting to be in
the interest of the farmer. it would
leave the farmers to cope with all
sarts of grafters without any aid
from the press. But by the free ex-
change of ideas and warnings from
one locality to another, not only
farmers, but bankers and all kinds
OF trades people have been able to
avoid sweeping losses from uhscru-
pnlous men.
Have Had Examples.
we had an example two or three |
years ago, of the press keeping still |
when they might have been advising
one, way or the other and did not.
1t was when some smooth men came
TO Blackfoot to promote a canning
company. The editor of this paper
met one of them, and on learning
what he was doing, asked for full in
formation on the subject, saying that
If 1t appeared to be good thing. in
formation about it would be given
the readers thru the paper.
The promoter asked that little or
nothing be said about it, and gave
the very reasonable explanation that
establishing a canning factory was
such peculiar proposition to handle,
1t was better for the well informed
committee to go to each individual
whose help or money was wanted,
and talk it all over carefully to-
gether. He said that published
articles on the subject usually con-
fused the public and did more harm
than good. Ii
Silenced the Newspaper. II
The editor of this paper "fell" for t
that excuse, and remained silent. A
great many of the local men were
talked into taking Jumps of stock II
In the concern, and as is well known, Ii
they made clean and absolute loss. G
The promoters got away with their t
part and the purchasers of stock \
lost all. Besides that they contracted a
20 raise beans and peas and perhaps a
other produce for canning and lost t
hat too, for the canning never ma v
,erialized. q
We have come to the conclusion o
hat any proposition that will not t
pear the light Of day and the light of n
ne press in an open discussion, is a
dangerous thing to engage in. And
my movement, political partisan, y
wet, dry or moral that s.
insists upon everybody doing 1t their Il
way or getting off Of the earth, is a
'ery likely to have something unrea- Il
enable and unfair about it. "
We Uttered q Note Of Warning u
One year ago this paper published o
note of warning about the Nom +;
artisan league, saying that it might n
ccomplish a great deal Of good, as O.
re believed 1t had done in North tt
,akota, but that it smacked Of high g
anded methods, and that the con- a.
itions in Idaho were not the same "
nat had existed in North Dakota al
nd the speakers knew 1t or ought Il
know it. In our own state legisla- NJ