Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-02-08
EZRA BAIRD AND MCCONNELL
BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

Mr.. Baird was invited to speak be
fore the committee of the whole in the
legislative Council. The Statesman
reports what he had to say as follows:
"Mr. Baird claimed that the question
had assumed different shape from
what he had expected. The question
of division had been thoroughly can
vas>ed in Nez Perez county and some
$50 persons had signed remons'rance
against division, and he did not think
the people wanted to remove the county
seat. 1t was a needless expense to hold
An election for that purpose. Lewis
ton he claimed was nearer the center
Of the county, and the clamor about
the county seat was on the part of a
few men at Moscow, who expected to
to profit by the removal of the county
seat to that place. Mr.. Baird said he
was not public speaker and would
not detain the Council, but ratler de
sired to say that in his opinion the
people of Nez Perez county did not ask
to have the county seat re located"
After which Mr.. Mcconnell "prc-
cceded to state the question of division
had been settled, but the question of
re location of the county set vas welt
understood by the people of Lewiston,
that he called upon the newspaper men
when he came through that town, and
made his business know !, and they had
ample time to remenstrate, if they so
desired. He explained the character
of the settlements aud the rapid growth
Of the northern portion of the county
and submitted the vote in the different
precincts for several elections to prove
his statements He made several mirtl
provoking hits about the old cour,
house at Lewiston, and the disposition
of the people Of Lewiston to kick, re-
ferring back to the time they kickec
about the removal of the capital. Ir
his remarks he showed how the mem
bers of the Legislature as well as him
self had been maligned by the press i,
that little berg, end the vindictive op
position to so fair proposition ant
claimed only the right of the people o
that county to decide FOR themselves
where the county seat should be 10
Gated"
For good plain truths and CONNER
horse sense it would appear that, not
withstauding Mr.. Baird claimed not tt
be a public speaker, he really mad,
better points than did our friend Nc
Council. Mcdonnell says he informe,
the newspapers Ct his mission when il
Lewiston and if they had been dspos
ed to demonstrate they had time to d
! so. Well the newspapers did remon
trate in their first issue after he was i
town, and they have demonstrated i
every issue since, and it now seems h
: terms their remonstrance malignin
7 him and the members Of the Lesisi
ture He knows that there was Il
I time to have circumstances circulate
. over the body Of the county and ha,
: them signed and forwarded to Boi:
: in time to be of service, and the be,
D we could do was to send q man fro
: Lewiston TO speak with authority f
= the people of Lewiston and this we di
A do in theperson of Mr.. Baird and a
= though he made all possible haste y,
: be did not arrive at Bore till after Il
G bill had been pushed through Il
9 House and was on its last legs in IL
e Council, and yet Mr.. Baird we hin
fairly represented the great majoril
t Of the people Of the county in what
7 said before the committee OF the who
r in the Council Chamber. The actic
e of the House and the majority of Il
e Council was without the authority
!, any large number Of the people of Il
: county, and the movers OF this schen
r. rill SO find in Juna next.