The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-01-17
.ere and Dhere


All of the officers at the cour
house were reelected save the com
missioners. There has been only 6
change or two in the selection of as
sistants, therefore the personnel re-
mains about the same. Last week
made the newly elected commission.
efs the subject of my little weekly
address, and think L honored them
somewhat in doing so. And now
have some matters / should like tc
present to those of longer standing
in an official capacity.
When we reelected you, we moi
only made you our choice for an.
other term, but we found you had
proven good officers, or the choice
Of all who were presented to us for
selection. l should thing this was
quite a generous compliment to pay
you on either count. and especially
the first for in that you had been
tested and found not wanting, in the
| abstract anyway.
There is criticism of your work of
course; you know that better than
any one else, but the work of any
person serving the public is censured
severely by them and If his or her
work be worthy, sincere, Just and
true the record thus made will be q
proof sheet of promotion to greater
and higher service. b, 4
So now / would have each of you
turn the search light Of truth upon
your deeds, that you may know how
your record appears in your own
mind. do not want to do this for
you; it must be instigated of your
own volition, without excuses or
camouflage, however, there are some
serious thoughts, reflections and con-
illusions of my own that want you
to know.
am one Of your constituents
you may place me among the average
If you wish, therefore, what l think
and conclude may also be the founda-
tion for opinion held by many others.
l live in the atmosphere of the court
house and for this reason more or
less of its life and activities drift
across my way.
Lest this little writing should seem
too personal shall address you as
one body; you are all more or less
administrative anyway.
our laws Of government are made
by our national and state executives
with which you have no more to do
than l or any other voter. We do
not place you there to make laws or
perfom your duty in any other way
than as the law dictates to you. You
are to administer the letter and spirit
of the law as it is furnished you,
with an Interpretation of its mean
ing worthy of sound judgment. l
find this individual Interpretation of
law is often stumbling block Of pre-
vention to secure justice. 1t seems
to me that If less plumbers were made |
with meaning of laws, there would |
be fewer cases continued in courts |
and therefore more money left to |
promote business and home indust- |
ries, less annoying controversy of |
long standing and more thought for |
the higher ideals of life. Therefore
would have you study the meaning |
Of our laws more carefully and adj
minister them with greater conf
dence and sincerity, for the benefit of
your own standing and the welfare
Of your constituents. ~
You are selected to judge the con-
duct Of each individual as the law /
says you shall; you have no right to
Apply your personal opinion or. to
punish a man because he is your ad-
or to shield him because he
IS your friend. Your business Is to
apply the letter and spirit of the law
With the Interpretation of righteous
hess, but not to go one jot beyond
'airness for or against the individual.
No citizen should obiect to an honest
ind fair analysis of any charge made
against him, but your record should
'e such that he may approach trial
With feeling of security that no
charges or accusations are
o be made; that no witnesses of i'll
'epute are to be admitted to sway the
opinions of the public and jury.
Once upon a time Congressman
T. Smith and some friends
we're discussing the Cook artic ex-
,edition and requst for second
Investigation. During the conversa-
ion Mr.. Smith said, II am in favor
# investigating everything, going
'ver 1t the second time is necessary
or satisfaction" And so / would
AVE you investigate more carefully
ach matter presented to you for the
purpose of probing. This l would
make In the form of request to be
.pplied to each department, educa-
ion, assessor, collector, recorder,
heriff, war and legal. Then act
pom unbiased impressions and facts
aimed by SO doing.
I hear great deal of gossip that
always sift in, your favor. There
re law breakers who claim they are
nder the protection of county Of
cials, especially is this true of the
o-called "bootleggers. Now there
> no doubt in my mind but that they
ell their friends, who admonish
hem to stop, that they stand in
nth the 'higher-ups' too we'll to get
ulled." And too it does seem some
ines that, in the language of the
'olish Jew, learning to speak Eng
Ish, II shall soon have to begin to