Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-05-24
TO THE VOTERS OF NEE rHRCE
COUNTY.

OuSAPcctcuiy u w! i'i =" l'
of the citizens of this county, and more
especially to thase Of the northern and
southern districts, the question OF the re-
location of the county scat, was forced
upon the people at the instance of the
people of Moscow, through the reprtscn-
tatiyes chosen iroM that immediate dis
trict to represent the county IN the Lesi.-
lature of last winter When these men
were chosen, but few, if any, outside Of
the men who concocted the scheme, had
any knowledge or iutimation that any
such measure would be proposed in the
Legislature. Before the election some
few things had been said about the pro-
priety of division Of the county. But
it was not made an issue before the clcc
tors by the candidates, publicly, exccft
in the case of Councilman w. ). Taylor
who, in the canvass, published the follow
ing card prompted, as We suppose, becau'a
someone had circulated report that he
entertained. different views. This card
was freely circulated in Lewiston BY him
self in person. The card read as follows
"TayIor is opposed to amy division un-
til after annexation and is pledged to
work against it. Taxes are high enough
without dividing W. s. TAYLOR"
This was printed circular, upon this
he wrote with his own hand the follow
ing 10 addition. ~ rant no chanye in
the county until after anne.rotion.
Mr.. Taylor was elected upon these dec
larations. No other member elect pub
lished his opinions upon the question.
But were supposed, both in the northern
districts as well as in the southern dis
tricts Of the county, to entertain similar
views, as nothing was known to the con-
trary, and thair election was made easy.
The question of removal of the county
seat and of division both, We supposed,
had been settled for the present, as no
one, to our knowledge, had publicly sought
or asked our Representatives, to secure
either, up to the time that Councilman
Taylor left On the steamer for Boise. But
while en- route down the river and be-
fore reaching Allnota, Mr.. Taylor dis
closed to passengers, including some mem
bers from Idaho county purpose and
plan, formed in Moscow to have him
work for division of the county, and
that money had been provided to carry
the measure and gave them to understand
that he should support the measure. This
>ruonuon,,nu< of hi. ,,r,,,co waa NJ onea
tclegraphed from AImota to Lewiston,
with the recommendation that rclnons-
trance be drawn up against such move
and circulated in all the precincts of the
county, for the signatures Of the citizens
It was 80 done and between 500 and 800
voters out of the 100 voters signed sid
rcmonstrancc and the same was forwarded
to the Legislature. The same arguments
urged against division were equally per-
tincnt against relocation of the county
seat, although the word relocation was
not used in the remonstrance, because a
purpose to relocate was not known to the
people generally, outside OF few in
Moscow. These circumstances seemed 70
stall the plotters of division at Moscow.
They then telegraphed to W. J. McCon-
nell, President Of the Senate Of Oregon
70 come up and aid them. He came and
n he said himself ON learning that the
people had 30 generally demonstrated
against division he would not undertake
70 divide the county But if they would
pay him, he would go to Boise and use
his inA fence with the Legislature to have
bill passed submitting the question OF
the relocation of the county seat to a
vote Of the people at special election.
The Moscow men accepted his proposition
and they furnished him the money as
much ~ he demanded and he started
suddcnly, in the dead Of winter, for Boise.
No one in this or the northern portion
Of the county knew Of this movement
until Mcconnell announced the purpose
here 10 Lewiston to some acquaintance,
~ he was en- route. Most people here
when informed Of what he said when
here, were reluctant to believe that he
would lend himsllf to SO clandcsiine
movement against the outside precincts
OF the county, aud many regarded the
whole declaration Of Mcconnell as mere
attempt to intimidate and nothing more.
Shortly after he had left, reports came
from Moscow Of such character ~ to
confirm the statement Of Mcconnell rs to |
his purpose in going To Boise. A meet
irfg Of the citizens Of Lewiston was held
to take steps to counteract the movements
Of Mcconnell. But so little confidence
did the people generally have in the truth
OF his avowed purpose, that out Of the
$50 who had signed the remonstrance
against the division Of the county, AID
who were equally opposed to relocation
Of county seat, that only 30 persons were
present at said meeting. These empow-
cred Mr.. Baird, the Sheriff, who was
about to proceed to Boise, in charge Of a
prisoner sentenced to the penitentiary, to
DO what he could to counteract the pas
sage Of any such bill for relocation.
When he arrived there the bill had been
introduced and passed one house aud was
IN such state Of progr>ss in the other,
that all he could do was to secure the
which provides that the place
winning in case Of removal shall deposit
The value Of the present buildings aud the
expenses Of removal, before anything
rx...II H..