The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1911-12-22
DISCUSSES COUNTY
CLASSIFICATION
FORMER COUNTY SUPERINTEND-
ENT TELLS HOW CLASS OF
COUNTY WAS RAISED.

N. D. Showalter, principal OF the
State Normal school at Cheney and
former superintendent of schools in
Whitman county, makes the follow
ing statement in regard to raising the
classification of Whitman county dur
ing his term of office:
Much has been said through the
press concerning the motives which
caused Whitman County to be raised
to the seventh class, and the individ-
uals who were presumed to be di-
rectly responsible for carrying it in
to effect In noting carefully the
statements made concerning this af-
fair, / nave been somewhat at loss
to know how those interested could
believe it is such an easy matter to
raise the class of county; that one
man is largely responsible; that one
affidavit is all sufficient On the 9TH
er hand, it may be said that those
same individuals are rather charit-
able if they are willing to attach the
whole interest to one man only. l
mean by this that the raising of the
county was talked quite generally by
both business men and farmers, and
several articles were published in the
paper relative to it before the matter
was brought up to the commission
ers for consideration.
Il have no desire to answer for
others, nor shall l attempt to reply
to certain statements made concern
ing myself in this connection. These
statements have shown clearly that
they were either inspired by preju-
AZ, S,s,,
formed as to the exact facts. | ac-
cept the latter as the real explanation
in the majority of cases, and for this
reason do | offer the following for
the consideration of the general pub
lie.
81 do not wish in any way to deny
my interest in the matter at the
time, but l resent with the strength
of my whole manhood any statement
or accusuations of dishonesty in con-
nection with this proceeding To find
fault and to blame is very easy mat
ter, but reason, judgment, and truth
sometimes give us new point of
view.
''In raising Whitman County to the
seventh class, the commissioners
were advised by John Pattison, form
erly of Colfax, whose reputation as an
attorney is unquestioned. They were
told that in the absence of an exact
counting as to the census of the coun-
ty, the school population could be
used as basis the same as has been
done in other counties under such
circumstances l remember that in
stances were cited in the presence of
a number of county officers and citi-
Zens and the process of obtaining this
information was explained. Since
the knowledge upon which this basis
was cited was to be found in the rec
ords of the County Superintendent
office, ], as officer in that department,
was called upon to produce these rec
ords and to make an affidavit cover
ing the exact facts contained therein.
which were pertinent in this particu-
lar case. / gathered the information
asked for, all of which was taken
from the records of the office, and
verified the same by affidavits before
the County Commissioners at the
time the question was called up for
hearing.
"Aat the time of the regular bear
Hoo NuOoIiOhCd NOhCCI i1lH9 LnS
records and also concerning the COM
parison drawn between the number of
children who were enumerated in the
county during different years All
questions were answered upon oath
and the basis for the same was then
and still may be found in the official
books of the county.
THE commissioners were advised
by Mr.. rattison that the basis as
shown by the evidence was sufficient
for raising the county, and that they
had a right under the law to act ac-
cordingly.
The whole matter was carried out
in accordance with the recommends
tions of the council, and I feel quite
certain that all who were connected
with the matter believed everything
to be just and proper. If, however,
the basis was wrong l see no reason
why this cannot be charged to the
facts concerned in making up such a
basis.
''At the time of the hearing there
were several business men and citi-
zens present representing both par
ties, and | am sure that any one Of
them If questioned concerning the
matter will verify the statements I
have made herewith -