The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-10-10
STATE LAND FRAUDS

Norman jackson, he who is secre-
tary Of the state land board and who
gained some unenviable notoriety in
connection with the selection of lands
both in this and Idaho counties, is
out in circular letter to the republi-
can editors Of the state defending
himself. To do SO he attacks the
motives of the newspapers published
in the vicinity of the land by saying:
II realize that the selections were
inimical to the interests of the local
newspapers, for whose editors l have
the highest regard. II the State had
not selected the land in these town
ships they would have received over
$50 homestead and timber and stone
notices for publication, equivalent to
nearly 81, 900 during the next year. "
This is mere assertion and simply
places Mr.. Jackson in the position Of
attempting to shield himself by
questioning the motives Of others.
He also says that Mr.. Harbaugh, who
seems to have been the principal in
working the graft on the settlers to
secure the release Of their land by
the state board for ESQ each, Is
denounced by Jackson as Kentucky
democrat. 1t does not matter to
the people what this mans politics
is. II he extorted money from the
settlers while in the employ of the
state land board, the state admins
tTation is responsible for his acts and
it is both bad politics and poor policy
to offer the excuse to the people that
he is a Kentucky democrat 1t
will look strange to the people that a
Kentucky democrat should be employ
ed by republican official to do work
loyal party spoilsmen laying around
looking for such soft jobs. Look at
it any way you will, the state land
board has made a dirty mess of its
selections and the more its secretary
attempts to explain matters the worse
he makes them. In defending him
self against the charges Of Judge De
Haven, who, by the way, is a leading
republican of Idaho county, he says
James DeHaven, who, under hi
title Of U. s. Commissioner, wrote ar
open letter to Governor Morrison il
which he attempts to prove that wa
partner of Harbaugh in the latter
alleged graft, and also in an authOriz
ed interview says in effect that stat
ed to him that used my position t.
help work the graft, is an impecun
iOus individual for whom have mucI
sympathy. He lives alone and exc
not bare existence from the small
fees that come to him as commission
er. As rule the income and i'm
portance Of the office is about equa
to that Of a notary public"
II seems from the above tina
the judge is one of this world . unfor
tonate, ''impecunious" persons, with
out money and who earns a meagre, bu
honest, living from the fees of hi
Office, being unable to perform manue
labor, his statements are not worth
Of belief and he has the sympath
of the more fortunate Jackson. II
our opinion that people who kno'
both men will take the word of Judg
DeHaven first, no matter il Jsckso
does not consider him worthy Of be
lief because he is poor. There seem
to be about as much Tottenness in th
state land department as there is i
the postoffice department and it
evident the state needs Roosevelt
the governors Office to stir thing
up, rather than permit q secretary
issue circular letters defendin
questionable transactions. II is sal
that Mr.. Jackson committed perjur
when he svore to nonmineral affidavit
and filed them in the land office wit
his selections in the Pack river timbe
belt in this county and the evidenc
is on file at the U. s. land office
The state has prior right to thes
lands under certain conditions with
out resorting to fraud and extortio
and il it cannot get them honorabl
1t had better let them alone.
On our first page we publish q