The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-11-11

sixteen western states have thirty
two senators. yet you do not leave
your imprint largely on national at
fairs, and there are reasons for this
which ]. believe you western men
should be interested in learning.
First let me say that you have
never elected president Of the
United States from among your num-
Der. 1t Is true you had candidate
on different occasions and always a
repeater candidate and strange to
say these western states repeatedly
supported this repeater who always
lost the election. In other words you
were ready and willing to give your
support to losing proposition. Since
the year 1855 there have only been
three presidents that did not come
from Ohio, Indiana or Illinois and
then they were elected from other
states than your western states and
in those same campaigns the vice
president was always supplied by
Ohio, Indiana or. Illinois.
When we look over the history of
the United States senators who have
made their mark as statsmen and
have been supported Loyalty BY the
western states, we do not find them
Even If you develop promising
statesman, you rise up in a fight
against yourselves and elect some
lesser. man to take his place. Look
over the history of the senator's and
governors and the other men who
became prominent in your western
states and you always find fights de-
veloping at home that pull them
down and put less capable men. in
their places.
Il once addressed 5000 people, at
Lincoln, Nebr., when Governor Cap
per sat on the platform and in clos
ing referred to these matters and
said l hoped that the people of
Nebraska would have sense enough
to make an exception of Governor
Capper and send him to the United
States senate. Sometime afterwards
when he made that race and was
elected l was again introduced to an
audience at Lincoln and the speaker
referred to that incident and said
the people of Nebraska had paid
some attention to it and acted on my
suggestion.
''If you western people have cap
able men you lack the ambition and
loyalty. When a0man begins to forge
ahead of his fellows and use his in
fluence and political power you put
him down. When he begins to show
capabilities for leading, in community
affairs or municipal affairs you pull
him down. When he gets to winning
success in business you pull him
down. Not only do the leading men,
but the rank and file of society array
themselves against a"man because he
is showing signs of success and
leadership in his line. If he is sue
ceeding better than most men are he
is considered fair target for the
rest CT you.
Western people need to revise
themselves in these practices and it
can be put into effect in many ways
outside of politics. 1t applies to bust
ness and the development of cities.
For instance here is Salt Lake City.
BY it's geographical position it is en-
titled to be the metropolis Of the
western country. You people here in
PocatellO have to look to some larger
city for much of your wholesale and
other business. Why divide your
trade among many cities more dis
tant that can not serve you any bet
ter? If Salt Lake can supply you
as well as Denver, Omaha or Chicago,
natronize Salt Lake. If you can not
build your own city with certain
kind of trade build the city that is
closest to you.
"The same thing applies to that
relation existing between Pocatello
and your smaller towns. Blackfoot
for instance has to look to some
larger town for certain things which
they do not themselves have. In
such matters Blackfoot should pat
ronize Pocatello if Pocatello can sup