Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1902-10-16
UNFAIR POLITICS.

In political campaigns it is ex-
pected that all kinds of ''roorbacks"
will be sprung for the purpose of
misleading the people and making
votes for the opposition. But we
respectfully submit that the glaring
misrepresentation of which the
the republican organ in
this county, is guilty IN persist
emily claiming that the county
debt of Idaho county is $50, 200
goes far beyond the bounds Of the
ordinary campaign yarn, and is
not only direct falsehood, but is
detrimental to the best interests Of
the county in many ways.
Idaho county is now in q transi-
ton state, with new people coming
in every day and investing in
lands. The surest way to impair
and nullify the present conditions
is to misrepresent and exaggerate
matters connected with the finan-
cial condition of the county, and
scare people away by creating the
impression that they will be taxed
to death.
Instead of county debt Of $780,
600, as the Standard claims, the
total outstanding warrant indebt-
edness on July IL, 1902, was
S4S, SSS.17.
On the same date there was cash
in the county treasury to the
amount of $2O,574.1S.
These figures are taken from the
quarterly report of the county aud
itor and treasurer filed with the
county commissioners on July -,
1902, and published in the FREE
PRESS as a part of the commission
ers' proceedings.
AS matter of fact, Idaho county
is in better financial condition
than any other county in the state.
Idaho is the only county in the
state which has no bonded indebt-
edness. Its total warrant indebt-
edness-with s2O,574.1S in the
treasury-shows a far less per cap.
ita Indebtedness than any other
county in the state, notwithstand-
ing that we have about the largest
county in the Union, and a larger
tax levy for road and bridge pur-
poses than any other county in the
entire state.
On April 6, 1895, the total debt
of Idaho county was $73,141.6S,
with cash in the treasury of s76O. "a.
The three commissioners and the
county treasurer were republicans.
On July -, 1902, the total out
standing warrant Indebtedness of
the county was s4S, Sss.17, with
cash in the treasury of s2O,574.1S.
In 1895 and prior thereto the
boards of county commissioners
were in the hands of the republi-
cans. Since that time the demo-
Gratis have controlled the boards
and they have succeeded in redu,
cling the Indebtedness from s73,-
l4l.6S to the present amount, with
more than $4,000 in the county
treasury to the credit of the sew
eral funds.
The democratic party can well
afford to have the Standard and
the republicans make an issue of
the county affairs. The people
know the facts, and no amount of
misrepresentation on the part of
republican organs and spellbind-
ers can change the frozen facts.
Ordinarily, it is immaterial what
the Standard, with it's limited cir
culation, may say or do; but as
the republican campaign commit
tee have increased its circulation
for the remainder of the campaign
to nearly 1000 copies, it's persist
emit publication of a gross falsehood
may create false impressions, which
we desire to correct.
Either the Standard is wilfully
misrepresenting the financial situa-
ton, or it has not taken pains to
look up the official records. In the
one case they are guilty of false
hood in the vain hope of making
votes for the republican candidates,
and in the other they are doing in
justice to the county at large by
creating false impressions that
Idaho county is deeply involved in
debt, and that high taxes are the
necessary consequence.
Let the Standard be fair with it's
readers. Let it go to the records
and ascertain the facts before it
rushes into print with wild state
nents which are a thousand miles
from the truth, and which are det-
to the best interests of
Idaho. "Knock" the democratic
party all you want, but don't
knock" old Idaho county.