The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-07-07
THE CoEUR d'ALESE CONVENTION


silver republican and populist parties
will meet ia convention at Occur
d'Alene for the purpose Ut placing 10
nomination candidates for the various
county offices and candidates for the
legislature. That the three parties
will again unite their forces Is fore
gone conclusion.
For two years the members Of the
three parties have worked in unison
in all county matters and perfect har-
inuny has prevailed. Every officer
elected two years ago by the fusion
barty has conducted the affairs Of his
office in a manner that has brought
credit to himself and honor to his
party. Every man or woman who
had dealings with Auditor j. @.
Callahan and his etf1cient deputies
has received courteous treatment.
The affairs of the Office are conducted
In business-like manner, and the
cash books, as well as all Others, are
open to inspection. The assertions
made by republicans that none could
be found in the country to take the
place OF Robert S. Bragaw has been
repudiated.
AS the present incumbent was
elected for four years the public can
expect as courteous treatment for the
next two years as it has in the past.
There are few men, irrespective of
party, who are bold enough to deny
that Fred II. Bradbury has made
the most economical sheriff the
county has ever had. Instead OF a
haphaxard method Of collecting
saloon licenses, making returns to
the county when convenient, he has
followed the law to the letter by
making returns to the treasurer on
the trst Monday OF every month.
Many other reforms have been in
augurated In that Office. UnfOrtu-
nately the constitution Of this state
prevents a sheriff from succeeding
himself in Office, or the present in
cumbent would have no opposition In
the convention aud but little at the
election. There are several dspira nts
for this Office, all worthy men, who
will make a record equally as good as
the one made by Mr.. Bradbury.
The assessor like the sheriff is also
prevented by the constitution from
being his successor or Joseph Buckle
would lie renominated and elected by
Il larger vote than he received in 1898
although in that year he received an
overwhelming majority. He has been
ably assisted by II. j. Borthwick, his
deputy, aud the affairs Of the Office
have been well managed.
Treasurer Mcclure has served the
people well, is always at his post Of
duty and has made careful, pains
taking official. He should be renOm-
mated and elected bv an Increased
majority. The Offices of school super
intendent, probate judge, coroner,
surveyor, and county attorney have
each been conducted ia manner that
gives the opposition party no grounds
for criticism.
AS the acts Of board of county
commissioners are always open to
censure, the present board il no ex-
cepLlon " the rule. But before criti-
csing their official acts fair minded
men will examine their records close
" before passing Judgment. When
installed in office on Jan. 8, 1899, the
board found themselves confronted
with bills to the amount of So, 985. "a,
which belonged to the expenditures of
1898 and should have been paid by
the commissioners that year. This
little scheme was worked by Ex-
Auditor Bragaw with design to
make the expenditures Of 1899 appear
much larger than they really were.
The election expenses we're laid over
for the new board for the flrst time
in the history Of the county. Other
bills that should have been paid at
the October meeting were also laid
over for the new board. These bills
were all paid and many substantial
Improvements made in different parts
OF the county, among them being the
Occur d'Alene bridge, wings to the
Priest River bridge, Harrison trestle
and ferry, Santa Mountain road, the
Lane bridge, Murray road. besides
numerous other improvements during
the past year. The county also paid
$1,000 on the bonded debt, and inter
est on the same to the amount OF
$S,777.59. During the same period
the schools of KOOtenal county have