The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1905-01-06
OPPOSED TO
THE EXTENSION
Prominent Citizen Does Not Ap
prove of Recent Action of
Commercial Club
January 5, 1905.

thOriZed an unwarranted action OF the
Commercial club governing board clan
destinely convened at the evident in
vitation Of the visitors assisted by an
alleged number of business men, iden-
tity unknown, in secret session. where
at a unanimous endorsement Of the
time extension and probably other spe-
cial legislative privilege for which
the present owners OF state timber land
sales are asking was secured.
AS one humble member of the afore-
said club and resident of Nez Perez
county I desire to express my disap-
prevail of the same and enter vigorous
protest against such a proceeding,
which purposes to commit this COM
munity as championing the cause Of a
corrupt corporate. I am not indi-
vidually nor do believe the citizens of
Lewiston are collectively in favor of
prostituting the principles of govern
ment in exchange for a promised per-
sonal gain Of insignificant and uncer-
tain amount coupled with certain un-
limited or almost incalculable profit ac-
cruing to our monopolistic aceomplice,
as is clearly the case in this instance.
Permit me to cite some of the facts
leading up to this result and the rea-
sons for my very decided dissenting
opinion. The first intination or mixing
that reached me of the present state of
affairs was conveyed by the Hon. John
T. Morrison, then governor, i'll
friendly conversation l mad with that
able official and gentleman. during the
early part of the past summer. in which
fie stated to me and at least one other
reputable citizen of Lewiston, that the
timber people were already quietly at
work endeavoring to create friendly
sentiment and also sounding persons III
official position presumably himself,
as one) on the proposition OF time limit
extension of the state contracts and
well remember his complimentary COM
merit regarding the same tor the effect
that it was wise provision of the
Steunenberg administration In estab-
lishing reasonable time limit, which
had been accepted as precedent for
future sales and continued to- be vital
part of each succeeding contract. The
second time my attention was called
| TO this matter. was by the current re-
ports circulated Immediately following
| the republican state convention in Mos
| cow whereat it was stated delegate
from Nez Perce county was denied rec
| ognition by the element exercising
| complete control when it was known
that this particular delegate sought. to
have embodied in the party's' platform
an amendment in opposition to any
extensions being granted by THE state.
| Next this ghost as it was now declared
to be appeared at the democratic state
convention in Lewiston and there was
| also present in the flesh the person of
Mr. VIM. Deary the agent, manager or
special representative of the timber
Kootenai county introduced into the
companies and when Mr.. MaBee of
convention an amendment to the plat
form covering this particular point and
placing the democracy on record as
being (opposed to any extension at this
time) Mr.. Deary was credited with
having prompted a delegate to- proclaim
III oppOsitioii W duoptlOii Vildl Sucf
a thing as an extension had never even
been dreamed of by these siumberine
souls who had slept on their rights for
. SO hong and had made absolutely nc
, move to date, in preparing to comply
with that condition of their contrac,
Compelling them to remove the timbes
, sold within twenty years. three O,
which have already glided by falling to
do which would forfeit their rights
thereto and the property purchased
> would revert to the state. McBee was
, able to satisfy the convention however
that no possible harm could come
from the proposed safe guard to thu
Z public interest and it was duly adopted
8 and became an issue in the campaign
of such magnitude that the republican
gubernatorial candidate. Mr.. Gooding
: dignihed it by his free and repeated
q promise to oppose any extension /
O elected and that he is now the qualified
and acting governor l hope to learn o
his active opposition while the same /
4 pending before the legislature an,
= should it not be properly smothered b.
= that body that Mr. Gooding, true to hi
II promise on the stump will CALAMITY an
: firmly exercise that exalted executiy
v prerogative by promptly vetoing IAN
n measure the purpose of which is I
10 further enrich those who are alread
Is richer than our struggling young com
D. monwealth and who have dared to as
d for more as inducement for our Sc
te curing them as fellow citizens or per
}. suading them to engage in a legitima,
= business within our borders than hay
re- ever heretofore unheard Of
10 Respectfully.
IL L. L. HAYNES.