Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-08-29
PUBLIC TAKES BUT
SLIGHT INTEREST
IN PRIMARY
MANY PUZZLING CONDITIONS
ARISE, BUT ALL WILL BE
SETTLED NEXT TUESDAY
MANY WANT TOBE GOVERNOR
Three Calculates on Each Ticket for
the office of Chief Executive
of Idaho

With complicated political situation
presented for solution at the primary
election to be held in Idaho next Tues
day, but little interest seems to have
been manifested up to the present time
by the public in any particular candi-
dacies.
Numerous perpIexing situations have
come up, especially on the Democratic
state ticket, since the state supreme
court dismissed the action on the part of
Democratic leaders to prevent candi-
dates of the partisan party from
filing as Democrats. The Republican
state ticket, on the other hand, carries
important contests only for two offices
short term U. S senator and governor.
Seeks Idaho County Support.
That Idaho county is considered an
important field for candidates to court,
has been evidenced from the fact that
the three candidates for governor on
the Democratic ticket have visited
Grangeville, while Frank r. Gooding
and James F. Ailshie, rivals for the
Republican senatorial nomination for
the short term, also have been in
Grangeville during the primary cam
paign, as has James H. Hawley, Demo
cratic senatorial candidate.
Discord has developed in the Demo
cratic ranks over the contest for gov
ernor, Frank Martin of Boise, and L.
A. Van Sicklin, of Weiser, contesting
for the nomination as straight Demo
Gratis, while II. F. Samuels, Non-parti-
san, also wants to be nominated on the
Democratic ticket. Each candidate
claims to have more strength than eth
er Of his opponents.
Van Sicklin Tours North.
Van Sicklin, who recently has toured
northern Idaho, where he everywhere
has received an ovation, seems assured
Of the support of members Of his party
in the northern part of the staIe-in
fact the entire northern congressional
district. which extends south as far as
Weiser Martin s strength, it is said,
lies chiefly in the south, and especially |
n Boise. He is claiming the Mormon
vote, and says he can win over both |
Van Sicklin and Samuels. Samuels de-
bends almost wholly ON the Non-partisan
eague for his votes in the primary.
Another contest of magnitude in the |
Democratic party is that for short term
j. S. senator, in which John F. Nugent
md James H. Hawley are matched
This contest, it is believed, would have
developed into perhaps the most excit-
ng in the primary, had not unusual COM
1lications developed over the guber-
latorial nomination. Each man has a
arge following in the party, and, while
Senator Nugent has what his followers
ERIN an advantage because he at the
PRESENT time occupies seat in the U.
J. senate. Governor Hawley's friends
Ieclare that Hawley. will poll more than
he required number of votes to defeat
Jugent in the primaries.
Idaho county Republicans for the
most part seem to favor James F. Ali
HE. as against Frank R. Gooding, for
he short term senatorial nomination,
nd it is firmly believed that the county
viii give Ailshie a majority, though in
ONE quarters belief is expressed that
Iooding's vote here will be much
eavier than is generally admitted.
Ailshie IS principal plea has been that
e is a north Idaho man, and for that
eason he expects to be practically solid |
Nth the Republicans of northern Idaho.
Whether he can muster sufficient votes
n southern Idaho to defeat Gooding is
onsidered doubtful.
Three for Governorship.
The Republican gubernatorial ticket
, a three-cornered affair, with ID. W.
)avis of American Falls probably the
Continued on page 81