The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-04-29

| that morning and told MIN OF my
.uspicions and also told him if such
was the case intended to immediate
" call the land board together and
ask for his dismissal. He at that
time claimed it was a mistake
and he was thinking of resigning
and did not intend to take up any
matters before the board until he had
severed his connection with the same.
To Ask Immediate Action.
81 told him that thought l would
be in possession of some additional
information during the day and that
when l received it l would not hest
tate to communicate it to him and
asked him TO come back in the after
noon and | would further discuss the
matter. He returned Saturday even
ing and | told him that it was with
regret that l found these statements
to be true that his actions were in no
way justified and that l would ask
the board at once to take action.
Church then handed me his writ
ten resignation which he had evil
IDENTIFY prepared after his interview
with me in the morning. He claimed
that he was not a member of the
land board and had no vote in the
meetings l told him that l thought
| &C . ,,oo 1roro CO dicpocod no pOuld
have more power for good or evil in
the position which he held where all
the matters of filing of papers, esti-
mates and minutes of meetings are
under his control than if he were a
member of the board.
Church claimed to me that he had
just as much right to profit from
his position as members of the land
board who had profited by informa-
ton they received as members of
such board, and he made the state
ment that Secretary of State Lans-
don had made large sums of money
out of lands under Carey act projects.
Church seemed to justify his actions
by this statement.
Mr.. Church made the statement
that Mr.. Lansdon had 24O acres of
choice desert entry land near Good
ing selected before the segregation
was made on that canal system, that
he had 100 acres of choice land near
Jerome taken up at the time of the
opening and that he owned a fifth
interest in a splendid piece of land
near Richfield, taken up by friend
under the Carey act, and referred to
certain other matters in which he
claimed Secretary Lansdon was in
terested.
81 told him that l, of course,
personally knew nothing about Mr..
Lansdon's financial interests in these
projects, but that it did not matter on
what standard Mr. Lansdon based his
action, that so far as l was concerned
this kind of business had to stop and
that it had to stop now.
Il believe this is frank statement
of what l know as to this unfortun-
ate occurrence. l regret exceedingly |
that it is necessarw for me to make
this matter public. However, in view
of the statement that you have just
read to me made by Mr.. Shaw 1t
seems to be my simple duty to let
the people know just what my posi-
ton is and what my actions have
been.
81 have investigated Mr.. David's
connection with the matter thorough
ly and I find hat so far as he was
concerned it was a straightforward
business transaction, open and above
board"
At the time the disclosures were
made Register Church was at Occur
d'Alene. A dispatch dated at Spo-
kane, April 26, quotes him as say
ing:
South Idaho Democrats have
either made an extraordinary effort
to attempt to give the State admin
istration a black eye by trying to
use me as scape-goat in making un-
savory allegations regarding my con-
nection with certain Carey act pro-
jects in Idaho and the land board or
petty jealousies have multiplied
among certain members of the board
and caused enemies to attack me-"
said NJ. I. Church, register or secre-
tary of the Idaho land board, this
afternoon. Mr.. Church left Occur
dAlene Immediately after learning
of the rumors set afioat at Boise
that he had resigned under fire be-
cause of the alleged connection with
the Carey act companies and the state
board at the same time.
81 have wired Governor Brady,
who has been a staunch friend, to
hold up my resignation, which was