The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-03-22
THE COUNTY SEAT.
TOPEKA, KANSAS,
tCare General Delivery.)

The Mackay and Custer papers are
engaged in deadly combat as to which
one started the agitation of moving
the county seat to Mackay.
But from a letter we have in our
possession written to this Office by
Ravenel Macbeth on August goth, 1902,
shows plainly that Ravenel has been
an agitator on this question for some
time. It is letter in his own hand
writing-which would be difficult to
counterfeit-signed by himself mot
dictated.) This was about the time
his political asperations were at a
fever heat to be returned to the Idaho
Senate as Senator from Custer county,
but Chalis precinct was not unani-
nous for his nomination or election, as
we all know, nor was any other pre-
cinct in the county except Custer, and
Houston by small majority. This
letter was written to us whipping
Challis over our shoulder" and shows
to what extent he would like to domin-
eer and intimidate people who do not
fall down on bended knees to this
great monarch. But we are free
born American citizen, and his threats
as seen in the letter, did not cause us
to retrieve at the heels of vain Raven
ell. From that time we opposed him
in his political asperations, and the
former golden chord of friendship was
severed. Ravenel is very vain, and
when spoken of in a hattering press
notice he swells up like bullfrog in a
rainstorm. So he owns the Prospec-
tor that he can throw boquets at him
self once in awhile.
Now that few democratic politici-
ans in Cballis want life-lease in office
holding, and this being election year,
and some new person might have the
audacity to ask for Office, they would
like to have Ravenel move his print
shop-consisting of two cases of worn
out 1O-point body type-to Challis, the
place and people he SO dislikes, to rur
a paper especially to continue them in
Office. So Ravenel thinks it is policy
to deny everything he has said abou
moving the county seat to Mackay, and
says in harsh language through hi'
paper that we have lied if we claim h'
ever favored the removal of the county
seat. The following letter speaks fo
itself
CUSTER, Idaho, Aug. Goth, 1902.
DEAR SIR =
*#* "By the way, had l beer
aware of the contemplated attack Il
be made upon me by the Challis dele
CATION, that delegation would have hat
only it's votes and the three from sumo
and Pahsamaroi, as the Clayton vote
would have been mine. PUBLIC SEN
TIMENT HERE Is PRACTICALLY
UNANIMOUS IN THE MATTER OF
MOVING THE COUNTY SEAT, anC
whilst the date upon which it could b.
complished is quite distant, yet bit
terness engendered now will be difi
cult to allay. THE MINERS UNIOl
AT MACKAY STANDS SOLID Fol
THE CHANGE, CARRYING THE Gus
TER UNION WITH IT. THE OPEN
ING GUN WAS FIRED BY CARRY
! ING OUR NEXT CONVENTION II
MACKAY; and John johnson is re
sponsible for that action. Mackay, a
you are aware, will go to any length
: to obtain Clusters support, willis
Challis, it appears, desires TO alienat
Clusters support. Custer has Away
stood by Challis, and it rests, practic
ally with you personally as to futur
conditions. YOU ARE PLA1IN
WITH FIRE! And your Judgment
too keen to not be aware of that fac
/ Why therefore persist
\ Yours truly,
RAVENEL MACBETH.