The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1905-03-03
HOW It WAS DONE.
Brief History of the Division
of Kootenai.
IAN INFAMOUS OUTRAGE.
Questionable Means Used by
Divisionists.

AuV uucApcSUcu has UAppcutu. duu
the infamous bill for the division OF
kootenai county, introduced b,
Spaulding In the house of representa-
t'ves, has become law. 1t aboiishps
old Kootenai county and creates out
OF It's territory the counties Of Levi
and Clark. Lewis c. unity is situated
IN he north with Sahdloins as it.
County seat, and Clark county is stu
ated Ia the south with Occur d'Alene
as It's county seat. KOotenai county
and Rathdrum, as its county seat, are
onIiterated.
These who are opposed to the dis
memberment Of the county made a
gallant and long fight, and,
up to two weeks ago, every point was
won by them. II. ii. Taylor, the
state senator from Standpoint, at the
beginning OF the session Of the legis-
lature, introduced bill for the
creation Of Clark county 10 the north
with Standpoint as its county seat.
This bill was successfully opposed,
and. although Taylor was a member
Ut the senate committee on counties,
. majority Of the committee reported
against his bill and he was unable to
carry it through the senate. Before
this the Spaulding bill was introduc ed
Ia the house, and The house commit
tee, after full investigation, reported
against this bill, and this report was
adopted by the lower house on Febru-
AIRY 10th, by u vote OF 20 to 10. This
greatly encouraged those who opposed
division, and it was generally cOnced-
"a ut that time that there would be no
division. Two days later, the matter
came up In the house for final dispos-
ition, and by a vote OF % to q the
bill passed the house. What in.
fiuences were brought to bear, causing
This change. are known only TO an all
wise God and the people participating
In this sudden and unexpected change
VI 'front.' Sufilce it to say, however,
That this great wrong to Kootenai
county and To its people was not
brought about solely by the efforts Of
and Occur d'Alcne lobby.
sts. But for the nnwarranted inter.
ference OF certain politicians from
shoshone county, Kootenai county
would still be intact. What motives
prompted the Shoshone politicians?
Aulbach, Of Shoshope
county, made a speech In the house,
when the Spaulding bill was voted
lpon, in which he declared that
Aootenai county was too powerful,
md that by reason Of It's political
trength 1t was menace to the bal
nee OF the state, and II allowed to
70 Into state conventions with its
arYe delegation, it would dictate the
,olitics OF the state. We think IL
xceedingly small business for the
tate legislature to allow itself to be
influenced IN snch an important mat.
er by such an illiberal and jealous
pirit as was manifested by the Sho-
hone politicians relative to this ques-
Ion. II ko0tenai county has grown
0 be powerful political factor, it
fas entitled to enjoy the prestige
which such political prominence and
trength gave to 1t; and we verify be-
Ieve that those who conspired against
will not profit thereby in the man.
er and to the extent they anticipate. |
The validity of the law imposing
his great outrage upon the people |
ill be thoroughly tested In the |
ourts, and 1t is to be hoped that the |
lpreme court Of this state will see
IS way clear to right this gfeat wrong
nd declare the law invalid.