Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1888-11-02
The History OF "a scheme.

reaches it's subscribers the most interest
ng and hardest-fought political battle
he people of the county have yet cxpe.
'ienccd will have been closed. The REC
Ord desires at this last opportunity to
have final word with its readers, ana to
call the attention of the taxpayers once
more to the true motives that prompted
the originators of the campaign for the
immediate and hasty abandonment of the
countys property and the removal of the
seat of government to- Winchester:
We do mot believe that it requires
extended argument to convince intell
gent pcoplc--reading people-that any
movement iu county politics that re-
quires secrecy--anything which demands
the use of Misrepresentation and mis-,
statemcnt--is something which cannot
stand the test of argument and the open
light of day.
Up to the latter part of August last
outside of District Court Clerk Bum
stead and Sheriff Wadc-thcre were prob.
ably not half dozen men in the county
who knew that the question of county.
seat removal was to be sprung upon the
people this fall. Everything was quiet,
and there was no public demand for a re-
opening of the question of removal. But
on August 81 the RECORD was able to an
uounce to its readers that such scheme
existed, and that petition calling for
vote had been circulated. 1t was also
shown that in every section of the county
a story TO suit the locality had been told.
Everything that could be done was done
to prevent the question from coming be-
fore the taxpayers of the county OH its
merits. The leaders IN the scheme
every one of them personally interested
in Winchester property - have ridden
over the county for days and weeks seek
ing out each individual voter whom, with
no one present to refutc their assertions,
they thought they might by false state-
ments win over to their support The
columns of this paper were offered them
to argue the matter, and Mr.. Worst chal-
lenged them to a series of public discus
sions to the end that the taxpayers might
understand the true situation of affairs
and cast their votes for their own best in
terests; but they did not dare to meet the
issue. In their house-to house canvass
the gentlemen In favor Of removal have
made the question of expense one of the
principal war.cries of their campaign.
On the other hand. those opposed to the
removal OF the county seat until it can he
located permanently at some railroad
town have claimed that removal to an.
other non-railroad point simply means a
further expense to the taxpayers for the
erection of another Jail, which, in all
probability, must again he deserted. US
it certainly would he if in the railroad
lottery the new county seat should fail to
secure a prize. Now, which is right?
Messrs. Bumstead, Wade and Parker
are the gentlemen most interested in the
removal of the county seat. 1t is they
who own property there. 1t is they who
expect to have the value Of that property
enhanced by removal. 1t is therefore only
the part of wisdom to carefully scrutinize
their statements before accepting them as
facts.
Time and again the removers have
stated that there would be reduction of
expenses by removal. OF course every
one knows that tile mere location of the
county seat has no bearing on the qucs
tion of expense. "But," say Bumstead
and his partners, 1--WE won't have jail
or jailer at Winchester" But when die
Mr.. Bumstead take charge of the affairs
of the county? Who gave him authority
to speak9 Besides. does amy one sup
pose for an instant that Bumstcad. Wade
and Parker have spent day after day anc
week after week roaming around tho
county seeking votes simply in the inter
est of the taxpayers, or for the empty
honor of comfy seat in name only
No. indeed. Mr.. Bumstead we'll know.
that the law requires all county buildings
to be erected at the county seat. And lie
knows, also, that the county must erec
and maintain a Jail. AS he may have
overlooked 1t, we will, for his benefit
again publish the law:
Section 607. Said board shall have authorit,
and power, under the provisions OF this chapter
n fnr hn inn, s,s~Ss,.
court-houses, jaiis, and other necessary build
ings within and for the county, and to make con
tracts OH behalfo of the county for the building o
repairing of the same, but 10 expenditure fo
the purpose herein named greater than can b
paid ont Of the reutnue Of the county for the cur
rent year shall be made unless the question o
10 vote of the qualified voters of such county
and shall have been approved by a majority o
| the votes so cast ard the board shall deter
mine the amount and rate OF taxes to be sub
mitted to ii vote for such purpose.
Section 1899. There shall be established an,
kept in every county, by authority of the boar,
Of county commissioners and at the expense o
the county, prison for the safe keeping of pris
oners lawfully committed.
There is no question whatever abou
this matter. The law says that ther
SHALL he prison built it is not optiona
at all and herein lies one of the chic
reasons why Mr.. Bumstcad and his part
ncrs are in such desperate hurry to re
movethe county sent--even before there
is a railroad IN the county. AS to the los
by desertng the Jail building at Williams
port--where the county officers are nov
comfortably dxed, and where there is NJ
rent to pay--they care nothing. But il
the people will remove the county seat t
Winchester, Bumstead aud another specu
lator--one Cobb, of Mlnneupolls-.will lei
the officials into the old rattlptran of .