The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-02-27


states.--F. G. X.
-.r-
REPUBLICANS SHOULD
BACK UP
A number of the leaders of the
Republican party have committed a
mistake. and when convinced of their
error, they should back up and get
right. We refer to q resolution
adopted at the meeting of the state
central committee at Boise in Feb
ruary.
The resolution was that the dele
gates Of the Republican party attend
ng the nominating convention would
not present their claims to the state
for refund of their railroad fare to
and from the convention. as provided
for in the new state law. The resolu-
uon was probably written on the i'm
pulse Of a moment, and adopted in
the same way, without giving sober
consideration to it's effect. Our analy-
sis of the situation is this:
The old convention system of max
ing nominations was more or less
corrupt and for that reason the d.
rect primary was devised. 1t proved
to be more vicious and more expen-
sive in its operations than the con-
| yentiOn system and for that reason
all parties and especially the Repub-
lican party sought remedy by going
back to some form of convention. 1t
was said that it was difficult for the
common people and those having lit
tie money, to have voice in the
nominations, because only the we'll
to-do could afford to go to the NOM
mating conventions. A poor man If
selected as delegate, felt too keenly
the expense of from $40 to 500
expense going to and from the con-
vention, and it naturally followed
that men of means made up the per-
sonnet of the nominating conventions
and gang rule more easily developed
because the same ones generally
went every time.
In writing the provisions of the
that the state should pay the travel
ing expenses of the delegates of all
parties to the nominating conven-
tions, and it was written into the
law and enacted by an administra-
ton where Republicans predomin-
ated. Now comes the state central
committee and decides to ignore that
part of the law and save the state
some tax money, very laudable am
oil IN, nd
they probably were.
Men Exceeded
Their Rights
But the men of the state central
committee have no right to decide
that the delegates selected by the
people to make the nominations shall
pay their travelling expenses out of
their own pockets. The people have
not expressed a desire to do it that
way, and the delegates have not yet
consented to shoulder that burden.
The decision could not yet be made
because the delegates have not been
chosen. Therefore, the state commit
temen are open to the criticism Of do
ing exactly what the old system was
accused of doing-deciding the peo-
pies questions themselves without
consulting the people.
If this reasoning is not correct,
then the other alternative must be
accepted-namely: That the men,
bers of the state central committee
must have decided that they, them
selves are going to be the delegates
to the nominating convention, and
La wing obtained their own co1ser,
to pay their own expenses, they have
paved the way by declaring that the
delegates of their party will not ask
for the refund. II that were their
thought, which we are sure is was
not, then there is not member of
the state central committee who
could get to the first base when it
comes to the selection of delegates,
for we should all be out to see that
ether men were selected.
There isn't hurry about the mat
ter, ana We mention 1t at leisure to
be act ID on in season. The commit
tee held it's sessions wide oIen to
everybody, and as spectator Of their
proceedings, we bear witness that
their intentions seemed righteous
patriotic, but we call upon the Re-
publicans of every precinct of our
own county to see that the caucus
that names the delegates, shall be
held openly after being we'll adver-
tised so all citizens can sit in and
help in making the selections.
In the old days the Republican
central committee of this county held
its meetings behind closed doors and
excluded visitors and press repre-
and in the hour when |
such custom is revived, that is the |
hour when visitors and press will
have a just cause to part company |
with them on the grounds that it is |
1t is not the purpose |
Of the honest newspaper or citizen |
TO break with its party, but it ought |
TO be the purpose to go after the
party with water elm club and beat
It into shape every time it shows a
to depart from the broad
principles of the representative gov
,rn |