The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-11-16
WHAT VOTERS MEANT
AT THE POLLS

about the conflict, and to interpret II
possible, the message which the
people recorded in their ballots.
The Republican party in this state
was under fire, particularly the
Davis administration, and whether
Justly blamed or not, the people by
their vote delivered what was mani
testify intended as a rebuke. With
three tickets in the field, receiving
as much support as did the Demo-
Gratis and Progressives, and all run
ming as close together as did the
three candidates for governor, 1t
cannot be honestly interpreted
otherwise but in the light of a re-
buke.
In Bingham county it was no diff
ferent, and as the matters in ques-
ton are closer to the people, it is
easier and simpler to analyze and
appreciate them.
Where there is reaction such as
we had in the recent election, 1t is
against those in power. Where COM
munities reverse their habitual votes
of a decade, it is for some reason,
and the party in power cannot side
step the criticism by blaming some
thing else or somebody else than
themselves.
The people of this county had
placed the administration of public
affairs in the hands Of Republicans,
and they were not satisfied with all
the conditions that followed, and
they believed that those in power
were partly responsible for what did
not suit them.
In the last administration there
was no responsibility. True there
was a central committee and 1t
sometimes met and ate and ad-
journed as the representatives OF
the party and the administration
whose election it had recommended.
But when storm came and there was
occasion to fix the responsibility for
things that were going wrong, and
apply the remedy, that committee
approached the subject and retired.
When asked to 60 on record as to
whether or not it was responsible
body, it stated thru an accepted
spokesman that it was not RESPONSE
BILE and would not become RESPONSE
BILE for the conduct of any officer in
the administration. The declaration
was made that it's only duty was to
operate the election machinery and
then attend to perfunctory duties
such as endorsing or declining to en-
dorse applications for appointments
until it turned it's duties over to sue
cessors chosen by the people at the
end of two years.
In former campaigns the central
committee had given its guarantee
that if the people elected certain
nominees, they would do certain
things. After repudiating their
party guaranty, they approached the
campaign of 1922 with more caution
and avoided making any guarantees
or promises of what the candidates
would do if elected. That brings us
down to the present time, and the
people should face the situation as
it is-officials elected and to be in
Quoted into office with nobody re-
sponsible for what they do or what
they fail to do. The committee
takes the view that as the people
nominated and elected these Of
ficers, if they do not do their duty
it is up to some individual among
the people to take such action as he
may deem fitting, and they reserve
the right to help or hinder as may
suit their inclinations after they
look over the situation. When they
were asked to make a declaration of
policy they declined and said they
would treat each case by itself, by
piecemeal, as it came to hand.
That was the old committee of
192O-22, and for the most part, the
personnel of that body remains the
same and it has made no new
declaration of it's intentions.
Whether this attitude of the COM
mittee is right or wrong is not the
subject of discussion, it is a condi-
ton existing and the people and the
administration should accept it and
plan accordingly.
The board of commissioners have
been reelected by narrow margins,
and that in itself is an expression
of approval with string attached.
The county commissioners are the
county fathers, and will be held re-
sponsible for the county govern
ment for the years 1923-24, and
they may as we'll recognize the fact
and prepare to meet it.
In the past, the chiefs of depart
ments have recommended whom
,~ they wished for deputies and they
have been appointed without regard
to political affiliations and the re.
suit has been that people of all
parties have conducted the work and
business and the Republican party
has been given credit for what hap
pened. In the recent election, the
people singled out two Republicans
to be retired and ordered Democrats
into the positions. Like changes
were ordered for other positions
but thru lack of agreement among a
large enough circle of voters, the
necessary pluralities lacked little
of contamination and changes failed
of accomplishment, but the re-
proach was in the public mind in
this milder form, which, in the Other
instances amounted to rebukes.
Now the commissioners have a
new problem entering into county
Observation-Disclosures at the
head Of some departments, asking