Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1909-11-11
A Communication

Free fress, Grangeville, Idaho.
Dear. Sir: / do not butt into tn,
CORE. pondence business often. woul,
like to make few remarks, however
regarding the interview with Mr.
Gltsome in your last issue. This il
not statement from the people, bu,
just the bare facts that have come unde,
my observations with this party.
A few days after Mr.. Clitsome took
charge of the stage business here. !,
was necessary for him to visit our fai,
county seat and take out his naturali.
zatlon papers. His troubles commenc.
ed from this date.
A committee, of what he termed
prominent business men) of the hub
city Of Idaho County, took him in tow
wned and dined him and told him he
looked good to them, for the first time
they thought they had chance to
turn the line of travel into the mines.
These men tried to show him where
he had made the mistake of his life in
locating at a town like Sites, there
was nothing there for a live man and
never would be.
Upon his return to Sites, he pro-
ceeded to inject into the people here
the fact that Grangeville was very
anxious that he transfer his business
up there.
In consideration Of his doing this,
they were willing to make up all de-
linquencies that might occur in trans
fering and running stage from Grange
vile to Elk City.
We are only too glad to see new
blood and capital come into our midst
Most Of us have been raised as YOU
might say, with this community, have
gone deep into our pockets when oc-
casion demanded it, and as you Mr..
Editor, have had occasion in the past
to point to the fact, that Sites has al
ways pulled as one man to make things
a success.
We do feel that Mr.. Clitsome has
no right as stranger to come in
among us and continually throw out
the fact that, simply because he put
his money into business which he
knows nothing about, previous to his
coming here, that he should be con-
sidered above those who have, and are
putting their every dollar and time to
make this and the surrounding section
little better place to live in and
better country to invest capital than
other sections that have not got the
advantages that we have in this great
section of ours.
Mr.. Clitsome has admitted that the
Elk City country is prosperous, that
there are lots of people that have to
travel back and forth. In spite of
this fact, he simply says the travelling
public and the express business can 90
on the "hog" for the present. will
show the suckers that they will have
to patronize me when the time comes.
| consider that Mr.. Clitsome has
the same right as any other business
man to conduct his business as he sees
fit, when however, this same man is
conducting business which is of vital
interest to this great mountain district
undoing work which has taken years
to build, we naturally take issue with
him.
Simply because the business men in
small towns, such as Sites, kooskia,
etc, cannot get in and put up thous-
ands of dollars for boosting purposes,
does it mean that they have not got
the business sense to push good
thing along? :,
Sites business men are not bucking
each other nor boycotting legitimate
enterprises. We do however, buck
such things as mail order houses, ped
dlers and all these cases where we
think they are detriment to our sec
ton.
You will find the people here al
ways ready to push a good thing
along
We do not think that there are
many s'business men" in the hustling
city Of Grangeville, who are anxious
to tear down this section of the county
simply to boost up the county seat
Mr.. Editor, think | have made no
that will not stand the test.
think his conduct toward the people
Of the great Clearwater and Elk City,
Dixie and Orogrande Mining Districts
will speak for itself.
Thank you for your courtesy in this
matter.
Yours very truly,
Percy E. Ellis.