Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-03-01
OFFICIAL PAPER OF IDAHO COUNTY.
OUR NEW PROBATEJUD
The County Commission Ap-
pointed Wdiidce ". Scales to
the Position Feb. 2.3.

in special session to appoint sue
cessor to the late John Bower in
the office of probate judge. 1t had
been standing joke in the commu-
nity,in the interval, that every 9TH
er man in the county was a candi-
date; but petitions were only pre-
sented on behalf of j. c. CARRIER, "A.
Maxey, George d. Smith, James
Woodland, l.. 2. Brown, j. c. Gel
bach, republicans; Jacob Vercler,
populist; and Hiram Robbins and
Wallace N. Scales, democrats.
Upon convening the special ses-
sion the board very properly con-
sidered the petitions in private,
and in the afternoon they an
nounced the appointment of Wal
lace N. Scales.
The fact that the commissioners
are all republicans and the APP
pointee is democrat is something
that the professional politicians
profess not to understand. But the
explanation is very simple. The
board considered Mr.. Scales to be
the best qualified applicant for the
position, and they wisely con-
cluded that qualifications and mer-
it in the candidate was of more i'm
portance than his political or re-
ligious opinions. The commission
ers, too, it must be remembered, ARE
not partisans in their official ca
pacity; and as honest men they
are bound to subordinate their po-
litical convictions to the duties
imposed upon them by their official
oath. The mere fact that a board
of commissioners, solidly republi-
can, appointed a democrat to va
cancy within their gift, shows n
high degree of moral courage and
respect for public opinion which all
Taxpayers who are not professional
politicians will appreciate. There
is an unwritten law in this county
which holds our county officials to a
sense of decency and non-partisan-
ship in these matters which does
not prevail elsewhere. That un-
written law demands that vacan-
cies shall be filled by officers of
same political persuasion as the Or
iginal incumbent. This unwritten
law has never yet been violated in
this community and it never should
be. The commissioners did wise
and manly act in appointing Mr..
Scales which undoubtedly meets
with general APPROVAL ON the part of
the taxpayers.
THE ApPoINTEE.
Mr.. Scales is young man and
comparatively new conner in
Idaho county. He arrived here
from North Carolina, his native
state, in September, 1898, as law
partner of Hon. w Reid, of Lew
iston. He has natural aptitude
for law, and during his residence
among us has built up successful
practice in the face of the keenest
competition. Part of his success is
no doubt due to the fact that he
has never affiliated with the rings
ters in this town but however
that may be, he has fine educa-
tion, is a good lawyer and a man of
good moral habits, and will make
a thoroughly competent and trust
worthy officer. He comes from
one Of the best known families in
the south, his uncle having been
governor of North Carolina in re-
cent years. Mr.. Scales is % years
old and graduated in the classical
course at Davidson College, North
Carolina. He qualified on the af-
ternoon of his appointment with
A. +. Parker, James Surridge, w.
H. Sebastian, Henry Wax and Levi
A.agee as bondsmen.
During the week Mr.. Scales re-
moved his Office from Grangeville
to Mt. Idaho, as the law requires
this official to reside at the county
seat. The law in this respect has
been violated by former incum,
bents, and the commissioners, very
properly insisted that the law mus
be strictly lived up to by the pres
ent incumbent. The Grangevill,
branch of the business will be at
tended to by Mr.. Worth, the new
member of the firm OF Reid, Scale,
& Worth.
II Is nrnnpr to saN hnrn Tint III,