Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1921-01-06

sane are a reproach to the state of
Idaho. Responsibility for the over
wded and dangerous conditions that
abide need not be placed, but it is our
duty to see that they are terminated.
/ recommend that the legislature Sc
lect member from each house and
ask the governor to designate some
state official to act with them, to re-
port to your body. at the earliest pos
sible moment, a plan of building and
organization, covering a period OF six
years, that viii secure the improve
ments demanded and so distribute their
cost that it will not add unneces-
sarily to our present burdens.
There are incarcerated in our state
penal institution group of men whose
ayeraga age is surprisingly young.
Many of them are first offenders.
Moral degeneracy sthrough the acquire
ment of vicious habits and additional
criminal tendencies, is difficult to
avoid unless these youths are segre-
gated from hardened, habitual crimi-
mails.
First offenders should have such
housing facilities as will make segre-
cation possible, and be provided with
mental and physical activities that will
tend toward their betterment. Our
laws now required Che State Board of
Education to "prepare courses of study |
for all grades and make provision for J
the giving of university extension work I
to all prisoners held under the juris-
diction of the warden of the peniten-
tiarv. - Means should be provided by
which these courses can be given. By
so doing the mental and moral atti
tude of a great percentage of those
will be improved and it
viii be made possible for them to leave
The institution better than when they
entered.
DIFFERENTIATION
American ideals are more potent
han statutes in shaping our destiny
IS a nartion. 1t is a patriotic duty to
preserve and exalt them. Can we hope
hat those who neither speak nor read
ur language will adopt our ideals or
ppreciate our institutions. They can
ardly do other than remain foreign
rs in thought and ideal, and too often
ecome a disturbing factor in our civil
cation. Tt is important, for their
afety as well as our own, that such
ersons be required to gain a work
lg knowledge of our language and
leans should be provided therefor.
Free speech is the cornerstone of
rec government and must be pre-
rived. Malice, SANDER and vilifca-
on, however, should not find immun-
v behind this bulwark of liberty Free
1eech may be either a shield of lib
'tv or the dagger of an assassin. I
lvor the coupling of free speech with
,sponsibility for its use. | believe s
is high time that we should have an a
fective criminal libel law which will
i'll the tongue of SANDER and sheath !
he danger of character assassination.
! favor the enactment of legislation
to citizens of the United
.ates, or to those who have initiated
cps to become citizens, the right to
vn real estate in Idaho. We should q
1t make possible the ownership or !
,lonization of our lands by an element o
Their foreign in fact or in spirit, !
hch either does not wish to or can q
IF be assimilated and become Amer
ans in sympathy and ideals 6
ER-GovERNED t
1t is said that the United States is {
e most over-governed nation in the '
orld, due to the flood of new laws h
lacted at each session of our state o
gisatures There is little doubt but o
at we are too prone to attempt the
ire of small evils by legislation.
ever laws and better ones are highly
be desired. 7 wish to commend the
embers of the fifteenth session for 4
G example they set in reducing the h
Imber of new measures and the de-
ting of its time to the considera
IN of important matters. May I ex
ess the hope that the sixteenth SEES st
IN will surpass the splendid record h
its predecessor in this respect. W
I trust that every bill presented to S;
nts. will be carefully scrutinized and tc