The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1908-05-21
A Few Comments.

The above letter is self-explanatory,
but in publishing it the Pioneer wishes
to state that it does not feel that it
should be asked to print Finley cam
paign material, but in this case we
have consented to do so after consult
ing with a number of business men,
who have all expressed a desire to be
fair in the contest for County Seat,
but who felt also that the article
should be commented on as there ap-
pears to be some statements and re-
marks therein that do not seem to us
to represent conditions in the proper
light.
AS to the first part of the article
"Citizen of Finley" defending their
conduct Of Finley's campaign up to
date, we think at least so far as Hope
is concerned this is a waste of time
and literary effort, for in no way that
we recall has the attitude of Finley
been attacked by us, a we have re-
peatedly stated that we had no criti-
cism to make of other towns desiring
the County Seat. We feel at perfect
liberty to make any comparison of
other towns that is warranted by facts,
for in order to judge i%ntelligently the
| yoter is entitled to the facts, and we
| lave asked the voters Of Steele Counz
| " to visit different towns and examine
heir claims that they may judge cor
"ectly; surely there is nothing unfair
n this, and so far as Hope is concern
I'd we think they will conduct their
:amnaign so that none of our citizens
will have that Creepy feeling" when
the "tale is told' and the votes are
counted.
The vote at the last General Election
was a light vote, but ever at that Hope
asst considerably more votes than Fin
ay and Sharon combined, even then
here We're SIS votes less cast than we
lid in the City Election four years
go. 1t is safe to figure on 100 votes
n the county this fall of which it will
take 1874 to locate the county seat. BY
The actual poll Hope can cast at least
1856 votes and we'll informed citizens
say 200, and this is a nice start, be-
ing as stated M fourth of the required
lumber. and in the territory tributary
to Hope there is safe to say at least as
many votes as in Finley territory, and
it would seem to us there should be
more on account of Hope being in the
center of the county east and west
md not being as near other towns
that draw their trade from residents
of the County, Colgate being on the
county line Of course draws a large
portion TO it's trade from Cass and
Barnes counties.
The northeast corner of the cuonty
is Sc miles from Hope. The southeast
corner 81 miles from Finley. The far.
mer living in the N. e. part of the
county would have to drive 6 to 7 miles
farther were the County Seat at Hope
than he would to Finley. The farmer
of the S. E. part of the county would
have to travel IS miles farther to Fin
ley than to Hope. Of course they
could take the train but as the trains
pass this side of Finley. it would take
them two days and one night to make
the trip by train.
The farmers Of the east side and
northeast part of the county do not
trade at Steele county towns, and ex-
cept for attending court or county con.
vention, do not have to go to the coun-
ty seat often, and it does not make the
difference that it did years ago as to 10.
cation. 1t is certainly not fair to Hope
to say that we are trying to confine
our arguments to the southside of the
county alone, as we are appealing to
every voter in the county, and the vot.
ers in the east and northeast are a
fair-minded, thrifty, class of farmers,
and we shall appeal to them, as to
every other voter of the county, upon