The Teton peak. [volume] (St. Anthony, Idaho) 1899-1904, 1903-10-22
Democratic Campaign Gossip.


rights were at first in dispute. to act as
their representative to secure relinquish- !
ments from the State 1t was charged |
that he claimed to have "stand in
with the writer and with the Land |
Board and had intimated that he would |
use money to secure releases. The |
friendly letters from the Governor and |
myself with which he is said to have
been armed, were merely courteous
acknowledgements of the receipt of
communications from him and the usual
assurance that they would be given
careful attention.
From all accounts, however, he must
have made much capital out of the fact
of his brief acquaintance with me and
of an alleged acquaintance with Gov
ernor Morrison, and displayed the let
ters in a way to convince the settlers
that he was able to secure their re-
linquishments. He is also said to have
warned the settlers against employing
Grangeville lawyers Out of revenge
for this latter piece of impertinence, a
Democratic lawyer of that place had
him arrested on q charge of attempted
bribery of the State Land Board. Some
fifteen or twenty settlers were sub
poenaed, but after examining four or
| five without bringing out any evidence,
the County Attorney dismissed the suit,
The same attorney then had warrants
issued by Jas. De Haven, U. s. Com
missioner at Grangeville, for the arrest
of Goldsmith and Harbaugh for alleged
perjury in making mineral aft
davits. This attorney had no clients
who were in any way affected by the
selections and his activity can be at
tributed merely to the fact that he had
nothing else to do, the insurance agent
| (Harbaugh) having corraled the fees
from settlers that he had been expect
ing to receive. BY the way, Harbaugh' S
fee about $3.50 in money and notes. is a
conditional one, and the money was
placed on deposit with Grangeville
merchant, payable to him on condition
that the relinq quishments were secured
through his efforts and influence So
far as know, the money has not been
handed over to him, and if the terms of
the contract between Harbaugh and the
settlers is as stated it is extremely
doubtful if he ever will receive it.
The grounds for Goldsmith's arrest
were that there were mineral lands
within the townships on which he had
placed blanket filings. The dismissa
Of the cases is certain, it being simply 6
piece of spite work. One Of his selection
lists had to be withdrawn from the
Lewiston land Office for correction after
he had left the city, and being in Boise
, at the time, authorized County Treasur
, er Hastings by wire to act as selecting
[ agent and refile the list. In his search
Q for some one to make the necessary non
: mineral affidavit, he ran across Mr.
l Harbaugh at the land office, who, know
ing the country, as matter of &C
? commodation made the affidavit fol
! which he was afterward arrested. Thi
, furnishes the grounds on which thu
opposition is constantly referring t.
9 him as Estate land selector."
! James DeHaven, who, under his it'll
O of U. S. Commissioner, wrote an oper
letter to Governor Morrison in which
: he attempts to prove that l was part
6 ner of Harbaugh in the latters alleged
), graft and also in an authorized inter
, view says in effect that | stated to hin
n that l used my position to help worl
the graft, is an impecunious individual
q for whom l have much sympathy. HI
;. lives alone and ekes out bare existenc
:, from the small fees that come to him a
g commissioner AS rule the incom
= and Importance of the Office is abou
"a equal to that of a notary public. II
had expected to get a great man
g filings from prospective settlers in thes
# townships, and the disappointment owe
a the States action in selecting the Ian
N has embittered him greatly. To max
~ the matter worse Harbaugh steered a
a his clients to a rival U. S. COMMISSIONS
j., living at Whtebird. and now poor D.
No Haven is venting his spleen by furnisl
ing ammunition to his former Dem
cratic brethren manufactured out
- deliberate and malicious falsehood
~ Politicians who have his record in Idal
. for the past twenty five years, assn
-. me that he is now exhibiting sympteI
=, that presage one of his frequent foI
- l realize that the selections were
imical to the interest of the local new
papers, for whose editors | have t
:. highest regard. If the state had n
N selected the land in these townshi
they would have received over
- homestead and timber and stone motto
"a for publication, equivalent to near
81 900 during the naxt year.
re- Others in Idaho county who h
at planned to file on timber land and WI
o+s forestalled are also endeavoring to