Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1903-02-06

WE would suggest to The Boss and
his followers that, whenever anything
of>an unusual nature happens in coun-
ty affairs, they should takc the public
into their confidence; There are two
reasons why this. should be done: One
is that the people who pay the taxes
have right to know whether their
servants are honest Or whether they
steal when they geta chance. The
other reason is that it's always better
to have the facts known, because,
when they are not known, the run1ors
and reports are exaggerated uutil they
exceed the truth. Every newspaper
will aim to stick to certainty in such
matters, for publishers are subject to
trouble with the law Of libel if they
go very far astray. 1t has always
been the policy of the Record to give
any official news that was thought to
be of general interest, regardless as
to who was pleased or displeased. or
course it is much easier and more
pleasant for a country editor to pat
everyone on the back and be a sort
Of general toady to everybody in pub
lie position and to the public itself.
But such course is unfair to subscrib-
ers, and doesn't tend to make pub
Usher feel that he has kept faith with
them. To be sure, the rural scribe
who takes the open and straightfor-
ward course will make enemies Of
crooks and hypocrites who have sue
ceeded in getting into office; but that
should make ne difference.
***
During the last few months there
have been ugly rumors to the effect
that 4 certain county officer was short
in his accounts; but, if there was
truth in the rumors, it was evident
that 2 mighty effort was being made
by the politicians and oMce-h holders in
Isympathy with the derelict to keep
his malfeasance from becoming known.
| ~
It is only since the last meeting Of
the county board that the Record has
heard definite statements regarding
the matter, and such statements are
not by any means uniform. 1t is said
| that Auditor Herholz has known all
about the matter right along
previous to the last election; but, as
| the editor of the Record is persona.
non grata to the great and good man
| who runs things as he pleases at the
county building, and who is hardly
second to Boss Horton himself in the
| lnugwumpo demo republican, combi-
| nation that has charge Of the politics
Of the county, we could hardly be ex-
pected to be able to get any informa.
tion from the auditor regarding any
! thing of public nature in which the
people sinners as well as saints-who
1 pay his salary are interested.
~.
To cut long story short, the re-
ports are to the effect that a certain
officer Of this county had, previous to
] the January meeting Of the board, for
several months been defaulter; that
at one time he was delinquent in his
fees to the amount of nearly $500;
that at the January meeting the
board insisted on the money being
paid, right away quick; that for a
time The Boss refused to- cough up
for his man, and the latter couldn't;
that the commissioners wouldn't
d wait, and finally, after the delinquent
had given property security, The Boss
put up the money. It isstated, also
lthat $500 or such a matter had beer
loaned BY the OFFICIAL to his father al