The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-05-06
JOSEPH T, SCOTT, Editor
TUE COUNTY PRINTING.


report of the North Idaho News on
the letting of the county printing
contract. From this item and a
labored editorial Of a column 3
length, which appeared in the same
issue of the News, it is evident that
its editor believes absolutely in graft
as a part of the spoils which officials
are bound to give to their party
papers regardless Of their oath Of
office or the interests OF the people.
The News demands its pound of flesh
aud because the board OF county
commissioners refused to be made
the tools for its delivery, they are
frankly notified by the News editor
that they must stand the GAIT for
the next two years at the hands Of
the disappointed spoilsmen. So far
as the Press is concerned in the
matter, we had in the best bid, aud
two Of the board Of commissioners
thought enough of the peoples
interests to award rs the contract in
the face of the strong efforts put
forth to give it to the higher bidders
The people may judge whether the
board did right
In its editorial, the News makes a
vicious attack upon c. L. Hoffman,
and says that the printing matter
was a part Of the county division
fight and that the News was opposed
because Of its fight for division So
far as that Is concerned. we do not
believe that the county division fight
had anything 10 do with the printing
contract We do not believe that
Mr.. Heitman took a very active part
IN the matter further than the fact
that he probably favored the Journal
until he found that its publishers
were attempting to work a graft on
the people because they thought they
had the political influence to knock
the plum, when he took the stand
that the interests of the people we're
first in the matter, and should not be
entirely Ignored in considering the
bids. That vas right, and the News
is unjust to Mr.. Heitman in its
critics Of him. The Press does
not care much about the family row
in the republican party, neither do
the people. sho approve OF the action
of the hIaei IN their interest, but it
does at seem just for the News to
attemp' to lay the responsibility for
the col rael going to q democratic
paper entirely GA Mr Heituau >
Shoulders, TOR We believe be will i9
as NUN for loyal republican
paper ss aa7 gne Ia his party when it
comes % public patronage but we
have never yst. ia an acquaintance
Of thirteen years, heard Mr. Hoffman
char2 With being a CRATER, even
by his enemies me News believes
in graft ami is frank enough to say
so in the following language
The News feels that if the two
republican county commissioners
Christensen aud Dart, who voted to
give the printing to a democratic
BabEAs a4A III AAe1bLLhus BhL SlduA
the gait for the next two years that
the republican papers Of this county
can we'll afford to lose the contract,
even though the reason for its not
going to the lowest republican bidder
was because that bidder had been a
paper which hai labored to secure
the passage of the county division
bill. -
This quotation also contains a
threat against th5 commissioners.
They are to be given tbs gait the
next two years by a least one rerub,
Acao paper. Mr. Heitman is also
70 feel the sfiul because they would
not submit to The graft OF either the