The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-09-26
As In a Looking Glass

| If you weer to ask us we should say
! that he is not quite SO tall as Russell
Smith and not quite so betty as J. M.
Thompson. He is Of about the size
and constituency OF Dan Campbell
and he wears whiskers too. If you
are looking for solid, substantial
subject to pursue we commend him
| to you. He is man OF substance IN
more ways than one. In politics he is
| Republican and that goes back to 1870
when there was on an average OF
three Republicans to every township
in the state OF Idaho. In business he
is a merchant and that goes back to
| 1882 when merchants were scarcer
than Republicans were IA years later.
He is not blgoted as merchant as
he has incidentally gathered in little
real estate, a few shares OF bank stock,
and other forms OF collateral. In re-
liglon, we pass.
Hon. A. b. Moss arrived in the
Payette valley in 1881. For want OF
something better to do he took little
contract from the Oregon Short Line
railroad which involved getting out
a quarter of million ties. In order
to get out the ties which were located
in Long Valley he had to construct
roads and build bridges. He did this
preliminary work in short time but
1t required nearly thousand men to
do it promptly. Not able to get a
thousand men he employed 81 and
was a few days later in getting his
preparatory work done than he fig
ured on. The ties were floated down
the river in 1882. Fearful lest he
should be out Of job in the fall, in
the spring OF 1882 he, together with
a brother, started store at Payette
as supply camp for Short Line ma
terlal and by the end of the year was
employing something over a hundred
men. Deciding that there were OPP
portunities for young man at Pay
cite Mr.. Moss remained consigning
the Oregon Short Line to its own
destinies. Today one of the largest
mercantile establishments in the west
| is located at Payette and it is owned
and operated by Hon. A. B. Moss.
While building up an immense mer-
camille establishment, interesting him
I self in banks, fostering horticulture
and promoting the welfare of Payette
Canyon county and Idaho, Mr.. Mos:
has found some little time to devote tt
politics. He has attended Republican
state conventions without number. IL
1898 the Republican nomination fo
governor was wished upon him. While
he had no chance to win against thu
Popo-Demo-Silver Republican comb
nation he made a remarkable cam
paign and was defeated by less thar
1900 votes in a state which had gon'
hogwild two years before. The tick
ct headed by Mr.. Moss and the cam
paign he and his associates made paw
ed the way for Republican success
: four wears later In between polite
; and business he has found time t
serve the people of Payette in severa
honorable but non-remuneratlve ca
pacities. He has also served tn
state as a member of the board Q
directors OF the Blackfoot insane asy
lum.
Mr.. Moss is one of those substar
tial, public-spirited citizens OF whoI
town cannot get too many. lie
S always ready to do his full part towar
: the Improvement or development c
{ the community. His time, his none
> and his personal interest are Away
at the disposal of the public. II
e builds high but upon firm foundations
: He does not futter with every pas:
ing wind. He is not easily shaker
!, With firm convictions he can Away
Il wait for things to adjust themselve
: He does not brighten easily and sheo
+ the clamor of the mob and the threat
v of the strong as a duck sheds waite
He was a pioneer in Idaho and he
: still a pioneer in that he is buildin
e for the future. When he started O,
2 it took courage and conviction
r succeed Mr.. Moss succeeded.
, In 1912 he voted for William t
u Taft for president just the same {
I he did for William Mckinley in 18o
n He is a standpat Republican an
r don't give boot who knows it. II
will live to see the day when sever
: thousand present day Progressive:
will be claiming the honor.
n According to Jake Horn, who hs
e the political history of Idaho dow
= pat, the only time Hon. A. B. Mo:
= lost his nerve was in 1892 when h
!, was candidate for the Republica
: nomination for governor. His oppt
:. nent for the nomination was Willial
J. Mcconnell who afterwards serve
two terms. Mr.. Moss came within
/, vote or two or landing the nomin;
: ton. 1t is said that Tinker and h
|. proxies did the work. Tinker shout
. Rave been muzzled but Mr. Moss RI
: fused TO resort to violence,