The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-07-31
STRONG OBJECTION
AGAINST CHANGING
SNAKE NAME FILED
Bingham County Writer
Presents Argument
In Opposition

bingham county Wrlters ana Oe-
scendent of pioneers of the Snake
River valley, has added the influ-
ence of a forceful article in opposi-
ton to the proposal to change the
name of the Snake river. The ar
ticle appeared in last Sundays issue
of the Idaho Statesman and follows:
at would seem that the unim-
portance OF names had been settled
long ago by Shakespeare when he
said, Whats in a name? That which
we call rose by any other name
would smell as sweet. But, not
withstanding his generally accepted
philosophy, much oratory and print
er's ink are being wasted on the
subject of remaining the Snake river.
IA name that has served for sew
eral generations is to be cast into
the scrap heap because 1t is mislead-
ing, crude and meaningless. Instead
of attracting the eastern homeseek-
err, 1t repels him because he imagines
the place is snake infested. If this
be true, many other places should
be renamed Immediately. Los An
geles, for instance, for people UNI
doubtedly go there expecting to find
the population mostly made up OF
angels; and Salt Lake, why people
who live there must all be like Lots
wife, just pillars of salt. Then
there is Buffalo, N. Y, simple mind
ed folks who believe there are
snakes in Snake river valley, would
never dare go there for fear wild
animals tear down the streets at all
hours of the day and night.
ut might be good plan for some
of these would-be benefactors to try
remaining something of their own
before they bother with our Snake
river. There is that oldest girl, Jane,
named for the grandmother who died
year ago. Change her name to
Lucille, 1t is much more euphonf-
Gus name and grandmother will new
er know. Then there is that dog
you've been calling Shep these many
years; change his name to Orlando.
He'll love it and 1t will add dignity
to his old age. Get something diff
ferent. Be progressive.
Here is the state historian OF
Oregon strongly advising us that we
need a better name for our river.
He means we'll, but how would he
like a suggestion from the historian
of Idaho to the effect that he re-
name the Columbia, not exactly re-
name it, but go back few genera
lions to the time when 1t was called
the Oregon river, just as ours wasl
at the same time called the Sho-
shone river.
"And while we are on the sub
ject of changing names, why not
discuss changing the name of Ameri-
ca? Let's do something big while
we are about it. Most everyone will
concede that it, too, was wrongly
named in the first place. 1t should
by all that is right and just have
been called the United States OF CO.
lumbia, or something of that sort.
Certainly the man who braved those
unknown seas won the right to have
this country called for him, but even
believing this, we like 1t just the
way it is. We like It because it has
been that so long.
ITO people lately arrived from
Great Britain, it might sound bet
ter to call it 1.-THE United States OF
Great Britain" to people lately ar
rived from Germany 1t might sound
better to call 1t 1.-THE United States
of Germany" but to US, who have
lived for it, fought for it, bled for
1t, it must ever be the United States
of America.
"They say it takes long time for
the truth to catch up to lie. The
same will be true of a new name |
up to and plotting out the
old one. The first step, in the event
that congress sees fit to make this
change, will be to condemn several
million text books now in use and
supply every child in this country |
with a new one. That one step Will
incur another expense bill second
only to the bonus bill. Millions OF
dollars for the sake of q within. a
name that was not pleasing to the
ear.
s'It has been said that after the
historic names are all changed to
suit the newly arrived, they will be-
Ein to erect monuments to the pio-'
ueers. Monuments? Yes, some
thing to place in the city parks for
the eastern tourists to view. Save
your meaningless marble. Don't
try to commemorate with a chisel
the heroic efforts of those people
that blazed the trails. They hated
show and fuss, but they would en-
10y knowing, If knowing is possible
10 them, that we revere their men,
,ries enough to keep the names that
hey left US.
"The man who followed the scrap
sr day after day, month after month,
% build this system OF irrigation