The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1895-08-31

oovxAHcR xscoxuELL SCORED
- 1tasrA Land cemmissisns1 erase saA
osels.
Last Saturdays Spokesman Review
contained an interview with Hon. A.
A. Crane In reply to the slanderous
telegram sent out from Boise rejecting
on the commissioners. Gov. McC0n.
nell 10 credited with being the instiga.
tor Of the telegram to which Mr.. Crane
replied ~ follows:
A Spokesman Review reporter met
By accident last evening A. A. Crane, .
member Of the mineral land commits.
sion for Idaho. who was on his way TO
Occur d'Alene, returning from Koote.
nal county. where hs had been engaged
for the past two weeks examining and
classifying lands.
The reporter showed Mr.. Crane q
copy OF the Spokesman Review contain
Ing the telegram from Boise stating
that charges had been preferred against
the commission by IN engineer Of the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company
named llelf. and asked him IL he had
anything to say In regard to such
charges.
Mr.. Crane replied that be did not
know that 1t was necessary for him or
the other members Of the commission
to notice anything emanating from Mr..
kelf, a. he had been relieved from duty
with the commission by the railroad
authorities and discharged from the
service Of the railroad company on &C.
count Of incompetency and drunken,
ness.
Mr.. Crane was asked II that was all
there was invOled In the matter. lie
said It Was not, and asked tho reporter
why 1t was the telegram came from
Boise In regard TO the work OF the com.
mission. which Affects only lands in
kootenzi and Shoshone counties.
The reporter said that he did not
know. and asked Mr.. Crane IL he could
explain it,
After some hesitation Mr.. Crane said
he thought he could. and thought for
the sake Of candor aud fair dealing the
public might ~ well know the origin OF
tho whole business, aud continuing
said:
w. J. Mcconnell. the present cover
nor OF Idaho. II . candidate for the
United States senate. and Is using ev.
cry means To 10 elected. among otherl
throwing mud 1t the friends of Dubois,
especially myself. who was appointed
upon the recommendation OF the sena
tor. Soon after my appointment aud
before the commission Was Organized
the governor undertook 10 get even
With me for supporting Willie Swee,
for the United States senate In the Ida.
ho legislature last winter, by sending q
circular letter through northern Idaho
Rejecting upon my character, and the
object Of which letter was TO disc,-dit
the work OF any commission with
which ! was associated. lie does no,
know the other gentlemen connected
with the commission, but Ia his cifru
lar letter makes use Of the expression
that II they are like Crane, God help
the people
After old man Reif Was discharged
he found a ready listener 10 his tale o!
voc In the governor. who thinks tina,
his election 10 the senate depends upon
Gripping In an undcrhsnd way the sup
por,cn Of Dubois, or those whom he
imagines oppose him. As far Is ths
com mission IL concerned, instead oi
being at It's head. ! occupy . very hum
bic position. being the only republican
member. the other two gentlemen be
In. democrats. one OF whom Is chair
man and the other secretary. do no,
believe any charges have been sent e
Washington. As stated In the Boise tel
egram. but believe the whole thing Wal
gotten up by Mcconnell and crcdite,
by him 10 old man Relf
so far as my opposition TO McCon
nell In kootsnai county 10 concerned
and anything he may aay or do In re
gard 10 myself. think II will inur,
morn 10 my beneG, than otherwise. a,
am confident he could not carry /,
single precinct In the county.
ITO those who know his cxcellcncy
the fact Of his fathcrtng charges re
Gcc,spg upon any mans habits will be 1
mammoth Joke. II the devil ahoulc
attempt 10 father the sermon on III,
mount Il would come With - much
grace a. for Governor Mcconnell I,
read any body = lecture on sobriety."
The Spokesman Review reporter raI
across Commissioner Goode, who 4
chairman Of the board, the next da!
and obtained from him the following
statement:
when asked about 4 telegram from
Boise. Idaho. purportiug to reflect upo.
the work Of the commission Of which
he Ia a member. he pleasantly replies
that he had just been informed tina
Mr.. Relf disclaimed having sent IN!
charges whatever to the department
aud denounced the telegram from Bots'
a Q canart, and that he had written (,
ascertain from what source II emanated
4 a n.