The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-03-12
SAVE OUR GOOD NAME.

The citizens Of Ceur d'Alene are to b,
confronted with an issue in the comm,
April election involving the honor anC
integrity OF the town. The question t.
be settled involves the honesty of tn.
people in the payment of the towns OBJ
legations. Shal! the board of trustee:
that is to be elected and the treasurer
repudiate the interest on the outatand
ing warrants or pay them in regular or.
der according to date Of issue, the oldes,
warrant first? This, in q measure, in.
wolves the personal honor OF every citi.
zen, and We firmly believe that great
majority OF our people are honest, while
some OF them may be laboring under the
delusion, which seems to have absorbed
the treasurer's thoughts, that it is no
dishonor to repudiate the interest on the
public debt; but We wish to ask all such
il they would consider it dishonorabls to
refuse to pay private obligation? They
will answer in the Affirmative, but say
that Treasurer Clayton does not compel
the warrant holders to accept face value
for their warrants. This is true in one
sense and in another il is not. He offers
n holder and has offered residents of the
town all the way from seventy-fve cents
on the dollar to par for their warrants
and has stated that they wonld receive
no more. His action has already i'm
paired the credit Of the town to such an
extent that the Spokane 4 Eastern
Trust Co., corporation dealing extern
sively in such securities, a few days
since absolutely refused to offer even ten
cents on the dollar for Ceur d'AIene
warrants, stating that they would not
buy them at any price, thanks to Repu-
diation Clayton. This is one instance
showing how he is dishonoring the town
in which he lives.
Here is an instance showing Mr.. Clay
tons lack OF honor in the matter: He
circulated petition and secured sig
natures to it asking Duncan Smith,
who has attended but two meetings of
the board during the whole year, preyi-
GUS to last Saturday night. to come up
from Spokane on account of pressing
public businest that could not be trans
acted without full board being present.
He knew Smith could be moulded to
suit his ideas and his presence was nee.
essary to have reputation endorsed by
the board. Smith arrived last Saturday
evening and the scheme was railroaded
through by the votes OF himself and
FaImeter, Thomson alone standing up
for the honor of his town. Henry Klan-
Penburg was absent, but with Smiths
presence the urgent need for a full
board" disappeared. This shows the in
consistency Of Clsyton's petition and
proves that it was false on is face, a
fraud and deception.
Those who favor the payment of the
public Indebtedness will meet at San
Iler's hall next Wednesday evening for
the purpose of nominating ticket. The
will meet March 2lst for
The same purpose, when Treasurer CLAY. /
ton may deliver himself of another
speech at least equal to the last one
upon which his fame as an orator rests. !
He will see that his ticket is nominated
Ind his ideas endorsed, and that the peo-
pie OF his town are given an opportunity
% support his idea of honesty according
o his views OF economy. The fight will
'oon be on and we do not believe that
he good people Of Ceur d'Alene are 90
ng to further iniure the future prospects
Il their town by fastening upon it the
'lackest infamy of dishoner-repudia-
iona stigma that will stick to it for
he next twenty-five years. Let US save
he good name Of our town before it is
brewer too late.