The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-03-29
ISIT FOR SALE?


legislature just exactly sizes up the
situation Paw Paw is in in the county
seat matter.
Returning to Washington after some
active work in the field in a campaign
several years ago, he was asked 10y
fellow democrat how election was going
"Oh," he replied, we've got 'em sure if
they don't buy u.s."
South Haven, realizing that there can
be absolutely no argument In favor OF
the removal of the county seat to that
place except the argument of dollars,
now virtually says to the people of the
county, IF you won't give us the county
seat because we want it, nor yet because
we ought to have it, neither for the
convenience of the people, won't you
sell it to usY Name your price"
The True Northerner has implicit con-
fdence in the integrity of the voters of
old Van Buren,, and we do not believe
they can be bought with price. South
Haven has sized up the character of the
people at too low level. If voter
would not vote for removal of the county
seat to South Haven without bonus,
his vote is truly sold if he permits the
bonus to change him, and he, in spite of
his better judgment, is willing to vote a
perpetual tax for extra expenses onto
the people for all time to come, in order
to save a few paltry dollars to his own
pocket now.
And then as to the saving" Any man
who knows anything about it knows that
4 thn1Gan nf
more to build suitable buildings on any
available site in South Haven than on
the admirable, centrally located, level
site the county already owns in Paw Paw.
There is a newspaper printed in South
Haven called the Tribune, edited by one
Ira A. Smith, on which South Haven
seems to be relying for the "hot shot of
its campaign. Who is Smith, anyway?
While the name is by no means rare,
with the prefix "Ira A" it has no familiar
sound to Van Buren, county ears. He
is beardless boy from Berrien county,
who has scarcely warmed his editorial
chair in Van Buren, before he sets him
self up to lead the people IN settling the
county seat matter, asking the readers
of his paper to accept as truth all manner
of falsity and misrepresentation, giving
the lie openly to men and newspapers
wellknown to all our people and respected
by them before Ira A. Smith was heard
of-many Of them before he was born.
Ira A. charges that certain newspapers
of the county are in the employ of Paw
Paw, and he charges it in the face of the
fact that he himself tried to subsidize
some of the publications in this county
outside of Paw Paw and South Haven,
by so-called advertising contracts, and
found money powerlesS to procure the
assistance of the papers in a direction
their editors knew to be contrary to the
interests of the people. Van Buren,
county has not venal press. We do
not believe single newspaper in the
county has taken a stand in the county
seat matter contrary to the personal
views of its editor, and the smooth
Establishments and financial offerings of
Ira A. Smith were powerless to corrupt
them.
This Tribune is the paper that now
says Paw Paws bonds are bluff" Now
just a word about bfuflng. Its wonder
fully easy to offer big bonuses when
there is not the slightest prospect of their
ever having to be paid. South Haven
does not expect to have to pay $4,000 to
the county, because it does not expect
the voters will be foolish enough to re-
move the county seat to that place. If
the people of that town did expect it, they
would vote also for the 100000 county
give away money than are other people.
They will not vote the county bonds
They are playing the "baby act" by work
ing tooth and nail against them.
Not SO with Paw Paw. Our people
have voted $4,000 of township bonds,
for use in aid in the construction of
county buildings Our people will vote
for the county bonds also, and believe
that, if this township is willing to pay
$4,000, the county should be willing to
put 100000 with it and build some build
ings that will be a credit to one of the
best counties In the state Paw Paw has
taken its action in absolute good faith
The voters of the county can vote to
keep the county seat in Paw Paw and
vote 100000 for buildings with the db
SOlute assurance that this township
will fully protect the people of the coun-
ty from any further expense, and that
the $4,000 added to the 100000 will make
fund that will make our new county
buildings the pride of every citizen.
Who is blutfing, if anyone? Honest
voter, who does it seem to you is occupy
ing the Straightforward, plain, natural
position in the offer of $4,000?
The Tribune tries to make out that
the action of Paw Paws township board
is illegal because provision is not made
for payment of all the bonds in 20 years.
The Tribune is either ignorant or dis
honest in its position. The bonds of
Paw Paw, by their terms, are all payable
after 10 years at the option of the town
ship. The voters have no fear. Every
action of Paw Paws township board was
taken under competent legal advice, and
our bonds are absolutely good if the act