Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-04-17
"WHERE ARE WE AT?"
The Elk River Sentinel says:

HO RIOuuu III Slduu uPOu dIlu III
stretched SO far that readers OF the
papers must be firing OF it. Go at
something better"
The Republican would suggest that
the editor of the Sentinel back up and
read the Clearwater Republican. Or
perhaps he has reference only to the
Tribune, in which no effort has been
made to fairly meet single issue.
Let us see.
Suppose we start with the Elk River
ssbooze list" Since the editor of the
Sentinel is on the ground he might
take the time to point out wherein the
record is "morbid insinuatlon," and the
differences drawn by the Republican
not justified. The Republican has said
that similar conditions in New York
were the fruitful source of graft. Isn't
that true? And how are we SO sure
that the Clearwater county gang that
has grated the people to FRAGILE on
every turn, is neglecting the most
fruitful source Of all graft? Does the
Elk River Sentinel deny the "booze
record? Does it believe that Georgia
Madrid, in some ninety days, shipped
in fifty barrels, or 5000 quarts Of beer,
for her own personal use, or that May
Patterson, whose business may be
guessed, has shipped In as much or
more in the same time, and that these
'ladies"(?) have not disposed Of any
Of this liquid bliss? Does the editor Of
the Sentinel consider it morbid insin-
uation" to doubt that either of these
women of questionable character can
drink thirty or forty quarts day, and
if they do, that their means would en-
able them to afford such luxury?
What about that fellow LaDuke? What
about Commissioner Torgerson, sir?
Is it morbid 'insinuation" to object
when even the officers of the law join
in saturnalia Of debauchery that is
demoralizing, illegal and stencil IN
the nostrils Of decent citizens? It is
''morbid insinuation" when the deputy
sheriff is apparently winking at booze
shipments averaging twenty barrels a
day for the summer Of 1918? Is it
''morbid insinuation" when the truth is
proclaimed by a public record, the
Sentinel dare not dispute? Is it smor-
bid insinuation" when things get so
rotten that beer and whiskey can pour
in day after day, in half-car load ship
ments, as much as sixteen barrels in
two days to bawdy house keeper?
Let us mention few other things
briefly, and let the Sentinel show
wherein the Republican is mistaken.
Since the Orofino Tribune can't defend
the court house gang, we have no OBJ
lection to the Elk River Sentinel tack
ling the job.
l. Is it morbid insinuation" to pay
$1,000 for bridge plans that are always
furnished free? Why does the Secur-
ity Bridge Co. charge Clearwater
county for plans and furnish them
free to Latah county? Does the Senti-
mel deny the charge? Either deny or
admit. The records of the county
prove that the Republican is not mis-
taken, and the Orofino Tribune admits
the charge.
2. Is it morbid insinuation" or
cold, admitted fact that County Com
missioner Zelenka has sold lumber in
violation of law to both the county and
to Orofino? The county records again
show that the Republican is not mis-
taken. 1t is matter susceptible Of
proof, and that is why the editor OF the
Republican can make these charges and
these county officials dare not prose-
cute for libel. Yet the Sentinel has
the nerve to say that $50 far nothing
but morbid insinuations have been
cast, which clearly have no ground to
stand upon" But perhaps the editor
CT The Sentinel has not read the Repub-
lican, and refers to the Orofino
tribune. The Sentinels criticism does
not exactly fit the Republican, does ii?
3. What about county printing? Is
it '.morbid iusinuation" when the Re-
publican prints a certified copy Of
county records showing that the Gro
fino Tribune charged and collected
more than one dollar line, or ten
times the highest rate allowed by law?
Is it .'morbid insinuation' when
County Commissioner Torgerson of
Elk River, the fellow whose name APP
pears rather frequently on the "booze
list, and Frank Zelenka, also county
commissioner, after inviting the Repub-
lican to submit a bid, gave the work to
the Tribune at three and one-third
times the price OF the Republican
bid? Is it morbid insinuation" when,
because of this kind of graft, the tax
payers of Clearwater county are
skinned out Of more than $500 annually?
Possibly twice that sum? And this is a
matter OF public record. The bid of
both papers is now of record. Dare
the Sentinel deny this record? Does
the Sentinel approve or disapprove the