The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1912-07-26
The Daily Star-Mirror carries the Uni
ted Press Associations Service.
FRIDAY, JULY 2e, 1912.
THE COURT. HOUSE.

The Moscow newspapers are bcin
criticised because they are not ragin
over a new court house. Speaking &c
the Star-Mirror we desire to say ths
after doing all that we possibly coult
in campaign of education, that tn
people all over the county might
aroused to the true condition relativ
to their court house, and after the pub
lie was aroused, and after mass meet
ings were held, and after hundreds G
farmers from every part of the coun
ty had personally inspected the cour
house, and after the people had ever
opportunity to know the truth; afte
the true condition of the county rec
ords were admitted; after the Jail wa
ordered closed, and there was no dis
agreement as to its unfitness, ant
after it was agreed by all that some
thing must be done, this paper be
lieved it had done all that newspaper
should do, for the newspaper that is
true to the public is first and last &
medium of education. 1t is the bust
ness of the newspaper to keep the pub
lie informed
While the Star-Mirror was making
an earnest and consciencoius effort to
do the taxpayers of the county a real
service, for the people certainly want
4
lie records, their county Jail and their
public buildings, there were those who
had nothing but abuse for the Star
Mirror. They said the court house
fight was Moscow fight; that it was
wholly selfish, and that the statements
relative to the court house, the Jail
and the public records were all false.
Edward Bachman, a farmer living
north of Troy a few miles, reader
of the Star-Mlrror and one Of the
grand jurors TIC investigate the court
house, expressed the case when he
said. Until | came to Moscow and
personally Investigated the court
house | was certain the Star-Mjrror
was misrepresenting the facts. |
thought the paper was deceiving the
people. But l found that the Star
Mirror had not told half the truth.
1t had not deceived the people. Things
were worse than the paper had ever
made out"
After the people had every oppor
tupity to learn the truth, and it be- |
came only a question of how best to |
meet the emergency, the Star-Mirror |
believed it had done it's full duty, and |
since then has had little to say. Now |
comes T. w. BARLEY and others who |
because the Moscow papers
have seen fit to permit the taxpayers
to settle the bond issue without any
effort from the papers to influence
them one way or the other.
There are, however, few facts rel
ltive to the court house that it may
lot be out of place at this time to
mention, and the people Of every cor
Ter of the county are urged to lay
side their prejudices and consider
hem in a cool, business-like manner.
leep this fact in mind. The Star
1irror asks but one thing-an unpre-
ldiced consideration. Take them for
What they are worth, for they are
iven in no spirit of unselfishness.
his paper believes the average cit
zen of the county wants to do the {
ght thing; wants to vote intelligent G
:, and wants the county commission
70 to solve the court house question 8
the best possible way, at the least a
3sisble expense to the taxpayers. t
The admitted facts are: That the p
IL is unsanitary and unfit for use. p
Il agree on this. That the public rec p
Ids, worth several hundred thou p
nd dollars, much of which could u
yer be replaced, once destroyed, are al
day unprotected, and in case Of fire p'
)uld be ruined. For, understand, II
at even though the fire might not de q
10y the building; and that it might
put out, the records would be ia
actically ruined if it were necessary ar
drown out fire. The damage from al
ter would ruin the records. So it vi
agreed that the records are exposed eli
certain ruin, in case of fire, and ma
It they should be protected So far en-
are agreed. Fl
t is also agreed by everybody that ar
present court house is far too "
Ill, and that 1t would not be wise FL
economical to remodel It, da
hen comes the question of how an
! to meet the situation. And here tai
o IL conflicting opinion There
those, and it il believed large ed
ority, who believe the best and SKI