The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-01-08
What's the Matter With the City Of
Caldwell?
EVOLUTION AND CIVIC PROSPERITY.
Scientists, Doctors, Merchants, Law
yers, Blacksmiths, Farmers, Drug
gists, PesSimists and Gamblers Take
Shy at Local Conditions.

On the street corner is, perhaps, not
the best place to diagnose social and
civic diseases, but is where one
can, now and then, discover some
leading symptoms. 1t is where one
can get fellow-alas, the fellow
ship-citizen's opinion of other fellow
citizens. and of the social and civic |
order generally. A scientist like the
evolutionist Cooper, for example, might
determine. from these street symptoms
and opinions, "what is the matter with
Caldwell" To the unevoluted they are
as unintelligible as Cooper himself, i.e.,
perfectly understood.
On New Years day 1 stood with a
number of gentlemen in front of the
posJoffice Mr.. Cowden had just de-
parted for Alaska, and comment
thereat, business Rprospects there and
here, was freely INDUCED. All appeared
to agree that Caldwell was going to
the dogs, and any man that held a
contrary opinion was candidate for
Blackfoot. One advanced thinker and
keen analyst in whose intellectual
nav are daily trituFated, at public ex-
hibitiOn on the streets, shylocks, jews,
Octopuses, etc. Gd i1!1fnttuna, gave IL
as his opinion that the two old parties
and "Mr. Whites" establishment on
the corner were sucking the life blood
out of the people and causing blight
TO settle on the town. Strange to say,
this opinion was applauded, and the
question settled. In the group were
leading business men, some of them,
no doubt, under obligations to "Mr.
Whites" establishment, the First
National. Not word was heard in
defence of this most successful and
farthest famed Of CaldwelTs instttu-
tons. The symptom worried me.
Strangely enough the next evidence of
disease was shown by q doctor of
medicine. He is man of fine learn
ing and excellent skill, and particularly
successful in civic therapeutics. He
told me that there was hen on, and
talked of medicine and doctors. prin.
cipally of doctors. learned that Cald-
we'll is bad place to practice medicine
that a man has to degrade himself to
meet the unprofessional conduct OF
other doctors; that they, the other doc,
tors are lot of unprincipled quacks
caring neither for honor nor science
wondered if it was healthful to have
this puissant bile disgorged on the pub
lie highway.
On Monday dropped in at one Of
our stores to make purchase. Tit
proprietor was courteous, even grac
ious. He showed me his wares and ex
tolled their quality and utility, bu
could not refrain from some odioui
comparisons with reference to com
petitors goods and methods. made {
hesitating purchase and went gu
feeling disagreeable, and as though
was gettilg an attack of jealousy.
felt that 1 had been exposed. Thei
the thought came, Is jealousy what j
wrong with Caldwell. Let us follow
the symptoms.
In the afternoon dropped INTO
lawyers office on a little business. Tn
Willingly pressed the button and tn
attoprney did the rest. Business
There is no business. The COMPOUNDED
country is gone to -. The othe
fellows are cutting rates, and it's go
down to two-bit charges. If any lit
cation of Importance comes up, we'v
got to compete with lot of Bois
pettifoggers who will come down for
mess of hash at a Chinese restaurant
If / had the cash I'd get out. TIL
practice is all mixed, the courts and th
people are against me, and there is n
professional courtesy among the a
torneys' With that made my escap
At the corner I ran up against
blacksmith and farmer in disput
over some hay. "You town peop'