Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-03-11
MEASUREMENTS OF THE NEWS

A Washington dispatch of March J
intimates that the people Of North Idah
are everywhere d sirin. that the SeDa,
should suspend action on the annexation
question until Idaho can be heard from
and such action will be taken in the Sen
ate. That kilograms and letters are pour
ing in from the north desiring this delay
Ut course If such be the fact who write
these letters, and what they contain, an,
what reasons are urged for this delay ar
not known to the people of the north ex
ccpt in few instances and the aathor
Of these dispatches and letters are no
made public here in Idaho, and so far "A.
We know they are manufactured if the,
exist at all Tor specific occasion by
few enemies of annexation who are moi
known here, aud up to the present tim,
have never dared to express publicly such
views. 1t is very difficult on any ques
ton of general Importance to the public
to meet stealthy and irresponsible charges
We have been disposed to consider tba,
If these charges have any authenticity
that men would be sufficiently honorabl,
to let their views be known by the peo
pie who are to be affected by their dis
cussion or opposition to the principles ad-
vocated by those who are in favor of the
bill to annex. And we did not suppose
that a few irresponsible persons writing
under cover would be listened to and
would have weight with body like tho
United States Senate, SO as to delay or
defeat measure which has been so long
before congress with the vote of the al
most unanimous people Of all the coun
ties Of North idaho. If there has been
. change Of sentiment this change has
not been produced in any great number OF
the people Of North Idaho generally.
There has been no expression either by
public petition or votes Of the people to
Indicate this, adverse to the last expressi,
given when the people voted for HALEY
and Sinsiser, both Of whom were pledged
unquali6edly to annexation, save the re-
cent action taken by few Moutaniaus
under the Leadership of ex-delegate Clag
get, who had recently come over from
Montana to locate mines in the north
part Of Shoshone county, aud the re
monstrance Of two of the county commits
Aioners Of Idaho county without any vote
or action OF the people Of that county,
which was gotten up by the publisher of
the Nee Perez NeUs, as he said, based
upon some dissatisfaction which had been
murmured in consequence of the dividing
line not taking in all Of Idaho county.
We propose for the first time to notice
some Of the misstatemeuts mentioned as
. part Of the history of this annexation
question Of North idaho, as published in
the Ners. He says the people have
never expressed any intention or design
to be annexed to Washington, except as
q contingency that might be desirable in
the event Of the admission of Washing
ton Territory as state, but there are not
. bakers dozen OF voters in North Idaho
who ever desired to be be switched Of
from one territory and added to another.
Annexation to Washington Territory has
never been contemplated or desired and
had It ever been presented to the people
- An issue they would have promptly
voted i down." How any man claiming
to be journalist and acquainted with
the history Of this question in Northern
Idaho can have the face and brazen eff.
frontery to make such assertions aud pub
lish them to the world to be read by
hundreds in North Idaho who have acted
and voted upon the question, we are un.
able to reconcile with his purpose to tell
the truth. In 1873, long before the
question Of statehood for Washington, a
convention was called at Lewiston for the
purpose of memoralizing congress for
Northern idaho to be annexed to Wash
iugton. Representatives from all the
Of North Idaho were in that
which was largely attended;
and the late Judge John Clark was
chosen chairman. A committee of nine
persons were unanimously chosen by tina,
body to. draft memorial 10 congress to
pc presented, asking for this annexation.
slr. Haley was then in congress, and the
question was presented and referred to
ne committee on territories; Mr.. HALEY ,
icing resident of south Idaho was Cd. I
'osed to it, and went before the commit
- and inserposed his objections. At i
be next election Hon. s. S Fem from a
|onh Idaho was the democratic candi. g
ate for delegate and Hon. Thcs. Bennett |
South Idaho was the republican candi u
lte and was opposed to annexation, a
bile Fem ran and was announced every. n
hera aa an ammo ration man and in III, !