The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-11-01

AT the coming NOFeulDeF cicClion
the people of Idaho are again pri-
vileged to cast their votes in the in
terests of government. We are
to vote for certain men who should
stand for certain definite principles
and be the embodiment of certain
ideas and ideals of government.
What we all desire is government
of all the people, by all the people
and for all the people of our state
and nation.
Perhaps never before in the his
tory of Idaho, have political issues
been so confusing as they are at the
present time, and yet men and wo-
men who will do little straight
thinking for themselves and cast
their votes honestly and unselfishly,
will have no difficulty in playing the
part of good Americans. !.
Recently there has come into
Idaho a party or organization calling
itself THE Non-partisan league. :"
This name, to say the least. of it is
a mis-nomer, in other words it is a
lie, the purpose Of which is to mis-
lead and deceive. This party filed
upon the Democratic ticket in this
state, against the protest of the
Democratic party, hoping thereby to
ride into office in the Democratic
saddle. Before the primary election
it published it's ticket under the cap
tion, "Non-partisap Democratic
Ticket" leaving out the names of
straight Democratic candidates. Now
a Democrat is a PARTISAN; for he is
strongly devoted adherent to GER
tain principles of government, zeal
Gus disciple of a party. So the name
NOn-partisan Democrat, means
Non-partisan partisan-a lie on it's
face. One of the principles enunci-
ated and adhered to at West Point
is the following: 1T Does Not Pay to
Educate LIAR" and any boy found
guilty of lie is dismissed in dis
grace from this institution. We
wonder if it would pay to attempt to
educate Townley. OF course, Nom
partisan "by another name would
smell as sweet but this name is
self-adopted and, therefore must
stand as the choice of this party.
We are informed that Mr.. Sam
uels, the Non-partisan candidate for
governor of Idaho, was, before he
became Nonpartisan an ardent and
Jealous Republican. He has never
so far as we know, renowned Re-
publican principles and is therefore
a Non-partisan Republican, that is,
a partisan partisan.
The Idaho Falls Times published
the names of Samuels, Jeppesen and
other Non-partisan candidates, under
the caption Democratic ticket. These
men should sue the Times for libel.
Before the primary election, they
styled themselves Non-partisan Dem
ocrats, they should still sail under
this banner.
AS matter of fact a man who be-
lieves in Non-partisanism has moth
ing in common with either Repub-
lican or a Democrat and is not en-
titled to single Republican or Dem
ocratic vote. Any man tainted with
Non-partisanism should be treated
as political parian alike by Repub-
licans and Democrats.
Much of the confusion in names
would have been avoided had this So
called Non-partisan league taken at
the outset it's true name--Townley-
ties. A. G. Townley is president, vir-
tual owner and director of this vici-
Gus organization. 1t is a one-man
movement. Townley dictates pol
icies, names candidates for office,
and disposes of the leagues finances.
On June rs last, twenty more prom
inent members of the league sent a
protest to President Townley asking
| ;1o Ir IN
cratic instead of autocratic. The
protest was thrown into the waste
basket, but some of the protesting
leaders were given fatter jobs. This
same Townley has refused to show
his connection with the United Stores
company, another concern of his that
has gathered one million dollars from
the farmers. He has refused to give
any correct statement of what he did
with the two million dollars collected
from the legaue members or to show
why he, alone, carries the key to the
ToWnleyite treasury. During one OF
his speeches in Idaho last summer,
he was asked what became of these
vast sums of money. He treated the
question as a stupid joke and an
swered accordingly. We are told, al
Itho we have no accurate information,
that this man Townley is now under
indictment for disloyalty to the
United States charge in these
perilous times closely allied to trea-
son.
We read last summer stenographic
reports of some Of the mans speeches
in Idaho. Not one sentence of con-
structive legislation, not one lofty
thought or high ideal found express