davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
COUNTY PRINTING

Never in the history of any county
has a public official made more un-
warranted and brazen attempt at
deception than did County Commits
sioner Frank Zelenka when he said,
in his signed statement of two weeks
ago: 1--WE had legal right to al
low ten cents a line. See section
1477 of the Revised Code of Idaho.
That section provides what shall be
charged for printing. It provides for
ten cents line and not for mot more
or less than ten cents line. l am
not contending that the county COM
missioners could not let the contract
for LESS than ten cents line.
And the county attorney told Mr..
Zelenka that it was legal to get the
printing fer three cents line. And
after quoting the statute which refers
to legal notices, and not to commits
sioners' proceedings, Mr.. Zelenka ad-
mits that the board had right to use
some common sense, and that there is
no law justifying graft in the matter
6f county printing. But he voted fol
ten cents line for paper owned by
Clearwater county officials, and con.
trolled at the time by the Blakes.
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
ROAD CULVERT

Tammany always had an excuse for
it rotten graft. Here in Clearwater
county Frank Zelenka, who has impos-
ed Tammany methods of business on
the people, is fully as apt at finding
an excuse. The facts are that Clear
water county did not let this business
in open competition. The business
was gwen to Beale & Co. at their own
price. There was no competition.
But in the adjoining county of La
tab, the same business was let in COM
petition, ard fifteen different firms
submitted bids, among them Beale &
Co. And Latah county had Ingot iron
culvert, and all the other culvert, an
alysized by competent chemist, and
Beale & Co. admitted that their
claims of superior culvert, of better
material, was nonsense. There was
no way to escape the truth. Latah
county had the culverts tested, and ir
the face of fact, already proven by
the Clearwater Republican, and moi
denied by any competent authority
and with the records on file at Moe
cow, Frank Zelenka comes out ant
poses as an authority on culvert; tell
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09

Moscow, Idaho, Oct. 6. Parties
from Orofino this morning report that
big timber companies are considering
the feasibility and advisability of log
ging and manufacturing the timber
from the burned area of the white
pine timber section of Washington
creek and North Fork of the Clear
water river which was burned over
this summer by forest fires. Lumber
men now visiting the large tracts of
valuable white pine timber are John
P. Weyerhaeuser, Thomas J. Humbird,
George l. Schofield and Ole Pearson,
with corps of cruisers.
1t is estimated that there are about
ten sections burned over, which be-
long to individuals, timber companies
and the state.
The above appeared in the Star
Mirror of Moscow. The timbermen
referred to passed through Orofino the
first of the week enroute to Spokane
after a personal inspection of the
burned areas in Clearwater county.
It is reported that these men held a
conference but what was determined
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
COUNTY
VERY BADLY MANAGED

not because we have any feeling to-
wards any official, but because they
are facts, and relate to public busi-
ness.
Road culvert business, while involv-
ing less, shows the same disregard
for economy. There was no competi-
tion. The business was given to
Beale & Co. of Portland, and it is q
matter Of record that Latah county
bought as good or better culvert,
where bids were asked and where
there was competition, for consider
able less money. In Clearwater coun-
BY competition was conspicuously abb
sent, just as it was in the matter of
the cruise.
Here let US digress moment. We
are opposed to the way the board ham
died the county business in the matter
of road culvert. 1t was not good busi
ness. 1t was waste of county funds.
1t shows extravaganza or lack OF
business ability, or crooked dealing,
for always one of these three will be
found to be the cause or the reason for
bad deals. Mr.. 1elenka is member
of the county board. He voted for
the Nease cruise deal and gave the
culvert business to Beale & Co, with
out asking for bids. But the ques-
tion we digressed to ask is:
Does opposition to the way the
board bought road culvert prove that
we are opposed to road culvert?
Why, then, does opposition to the
way the board handled the cruise con-
tract prove that those opposed to the
Nease deal are timber tools, and OPP
posed to honest taxation Of timber
companies? Don't forget this.
If, when Mr.. Zelenka goes out to
campaign, he starts such fight, or
makes such defense, ask him these
two questions. Have him reduce his
reply to writing, and have him sign
his name to his reply. Then send it
to the Clearwater Republican SO we
can publish it.
If Mr.. Zelenka says that Nease was
the only one the county could trust,
ask him how he knows. If the bond
makes Mr.. Nease honest, wouldn t
the same bond make others honest ?
And if the interests of the people are
being protected by having Mr.. Cor
man recheck the Nease cruise, would
not the same recheck protect the coun-
ty regardless of who does the cruis-
ing? If not what is the use of spend
ing money for the recruise? Why did
Mr.. Zelenka oppose open bidding, and
why did he stand for deal that means
dead and needless loss to the taxpay-
ers of over $1S, 900 if the original con-
tract is carried out? If Mr.. Nease
does cruise 16 townships, or approxi-
, mately 400, 900 acres, figure the loss
to the people at cents an acre.
Remember that county commits.
, sioner is the taxpayers hired business
) manager, employed to run the county.
7 Mr.. Zelenka is your hired man, Mr.,
) Taxpayer. You have right to know
5; why your money is being wasted.
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
Fire Fighting Costs Money

1t cost the government in the
neighborhood of $50, 200 to fight forest
fires in Clearwater county during 1914.
Private companies spent about one
third this sum. Add this to the tax
es, and to the total add six per cent
interest for money invested, and it 10
plain to see why there is now no mar
ket for timber claims in Clearwater
county. We have been offered sew
eral now owned by private citizens,
all democrats, for fifty cents on the
dollar of what they were this ysar
assessed by Pat Blake. We have
special reference to DR.. o. C. Keller
of Lewiston and j. F. Brown Of Ken
drick. Neither Of these men vote Il
Clearwater county and that may make
some difference.
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
LEWISTON EXHIBIT
FINE ADVERTISEMENT

The winning of the sweepstakes at
the Lewiston fair has been a fine ad-
vertisement for Clearwater county,
and while everybody regrets the un-
pleasant squabble on the part of J. F.
Brown, exhibitor from Kendrick, our
county will not lose because of it. In
fact, when judges as competent as
Prof. Thornbur, man of acknowledge
ed ability and experience, trained to
this line Of work, decide that the
Clearwater county exhibit wins, and
then, on complaint, re-judges and
again, by a carefully prepared score,
finds that the original decision is good,
there is something of the ridiculous
in the effort of a defeated contestant
to force the fair association to fire
the judges and have other judges ap-
pointed.
Clearwater county won on merit.
Our exhibit was the best, and Ken
drick was honestly beaten. Mr..
Brown has no right to cry. If he
can't submit to defeat he has no right
to expect others to take defeat grace
fully, and Mr.. Brown should retire to
private life, or at least from competi-
tions where he has any chance to lose.
But Mr.. Brown is entirely too able
an exhibitor, too competent in the
work he so we'll likes, and is doing
too much good to his community to
get peeved and sulk. Defeat, taken
in the right spirit, makes us all
stronger, however hard it is for us to
see and admit it when defeat comes.
John Brown has won against all
competition at Spokane and Moscow
for three years. His speciality was
sheaf grains. His 1914 exhibit con-
tained fifty splendid bundles. It was
work of art. Everybody admired
it, and he swept everything in compe-
tition. But display of sheaf grain,
however fine or large, will require
other products to win in competition
against Clearwater county in con-
test where every product counts.
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
HOLMBERG RESIDENCE is
TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE

the fire indicated as much. The en-
tire top of the stove was gone, leaving
the base and about four inches of the
body wall intact. Had the stove
melted there would have been molten
metal at the base, but pieces of the
stove were picked up in other parts of
the room, indicating an explosion,
which had scattered the fire. 1t is
worth while to mention these things
that others may profit thereby. The
people of Oroino are surely sorry, ard
sympathize with the family over the
loss. Home becomes the depository
of family heirlooms and treasures,
with pictures of departed friends,
much of little commercial value, yet
priceless to the family, and it is the
loss of these things that makes the
heart sad. Fire insurance doesn I
cover love and affection.
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09

Fruit is just as important as grass
or grain, and while one-third of the
Clearwater exhibit at Lewiston was
fruit, Mr.. Brown displayed only few
plates of deteriorated specimens. His
vegetables were generally the worse
for two weeks of display at Spokane
and Moscow, while the Clearwater
county exhibit was all good, was re-
preventative Of garden, orchard and
field, and won over Kendrick because
of superior merit as whole.
This was evidently the way the
judges viewed our exhibit.
Clearwater county is proud of the
victory. We will do better next
year, because our farmers now realize
that they have not done their best in
preserving products for display at the
home fair, and later at Lewiston or
Spokane. Clearwater county can beat
any county in the northwest if our
people will half try, and there is a
manifest determination, since we won
at Lewiston, to repeat the perform
ance in 1915.
Clearwater county, with all her
vast resources, is practically unknown.
Even as near home as Lewiston and
Moscow, the people of adjoining
counties do not realize what Clear
water county can produce, and people
seeking agricultural investments pass
us by unmindful Of the fact that
Clearwater county offers exceptional
opportunities. We need to advertise.
That is why it will pay to exhibit
our products, and why the victory at
Lewiston will do Clearwater county a
lot Of good.
But if our county is to reap the
greatest good from this work the peo-
pie all over the county must tell their
eastern friends about it. We must
advertise. We must not let folks
forget that Clearwater county is the
place where rich soil, good climate,
and sure crops of the finest products
grow. We must advertise.
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
LOCAL BANK TO DISPLAY
PRIZE-WINNING EXHIBIT

shown visitors. When your friends
come out here from the east it will
be pleasure to take them where they
can see samples Of our products, some
of which you may have grown. AS
far as possible the name of the grow
er will be attached to each article
shown. Corn will form ar important
part of this display. 1t is crop
that ought to be pushed to the front,
because it spells prosperity when the
grower markets it in the form Of pork
or beef.
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
IDAHO STATE LAW DOES NOT
ENCOURAGE EXTRAVAGANCE

the people that he knows that Ingot
iron is 99.84 per cent pure, while the
culvert furnished Latah county is only
70 or 80 per cent pure. How does he
know? Beale & Co., through slick
agent, told Mr.. Zelenka so, an of
course the agent of Ingot iron culvert
knows. John Woody of Kendrick,
county commissioner of Latah couty,
says the Ingot iron fellow told the
same thing, and when the various cul-
verts were analyized the truth was
apparent-ingot iron was not one bit
better than other brands, and Latah
county saved hundreds of dollars over
the price of Ingot Iron.
The Clearwater Republican is not
giving an opinion. We are stating
an established fact, and have the
statement of the Latah county auditor
as proof. Where is Mr.. Zelenka s
proof?
In this connection we are ready
to say that we have the statement of
ex-C County Commissioner F. M. Green
of Troy, Latah county, to the effect
that when he was first elected the mat
ter of road culvert was up. The re-
tiring board had contracted for cul-
vert for the next year. The democrat
ic board, believing the price was too
high, cancelled the contract. Then
what?
The culvert company, the people
who had the contract, instead Of stand
ing for their former deal, came around
and said:
eve have the same kind of con-
tracts with other counties. We will
sell right to Latah county," And
what happened? The culvert company
made Olson & johnson of Troy theil
Latah county agents, and duplicated
their Cancelled contract, reducing the
price to the county 5000, and in addi
tion paid Olson & johnson $500 fol
. handling the business.
! WHAT!
Yes sir. Delivered the same good
for total of $500 less to the compan,
r than their original contract. Remem
: Der we are giving democratic fact
) now. Remainder we are telling wha
a democratic board of county commits
a sioners did for Latah county, and tina
y the Clearwater Republican is askin
t the voters of Clearwater county t
, elect a republican board of commits
: sioners who will do the same thin
for Clearwater county.
8 The democrats Of Clearwatre count
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
Church Meeting a Success

The meeting at the M. E. church
Tuesday evening was success. There
was a good crowd, and the program
was interesting. The various speak
ers brought out points of interest and
value to local churches, and the audi
ence manifest much interest. 1t was
worth while for the man in the church
to get the viewpoint of the man out
of the church, and to discover where,
If any, the church is at fault in the
mission it was intended to perform.
Refreshments were served, and some
good accomplished. 1t was decided
to investigate the matter of boy and
girl development, and to see what car
be done to help this valuable asset OF
the community.
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09

The prize winning Clearwater ex-
hibit was shipped up from Lewiston
Tuesday evening, and the grains and
grasses will be display at the Bank of
Orofino. P. L. Orcutt will cooper
ate with Mr.. Thiele in the work, be-
lieving it is important that there be
maintained here in the county per-
manent exhibit of the products of the
county. It is important that there be
preserved and exhibited here in the
county seat something that may be
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09

Governor Haines has designated
October 8 as Fire Prevention day,
and proclamation calling attention
of the people to the observance of this
day has been published. October 8 is
the 43rd anniversary of the great Chi
cago fire. Householders are expected
to observe the day by cleaning up the
premises. If any have not complied
with the suggestion it will pay them
to do SO at any time. See that your
stovepipes are in good condition, and
clean out your flues.
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09

nominated Harry Woods for county
commissioner of the third district.
Remember that Mr.. Woods served
Clearwater two years in this capacity.
He was county commissioner when this
happened, and August johnson of
Troy, SO ex-Commissioner Green of
Latah county says, after getting the
culvert contract in Latah county,
came to Orofino and asked to be per-
mitted to bid on road culvert. He
offered to save Clearwater county fif
teen per cent. He was never permit
ted to bid. He never had look in.
And who was the Clearwater county
board? Pat Blake, Sheriff AL Harper
and Harry Woods, the latter asking
for another two years at the old job.
Mr.. Woods was on the board when
Harper and Pat and himself bought
bridge plans for So, 400, and type
writers at twice their market value,
and blank books at exhorbitant prices,
and an old Jail that was piled on a
vacant lot and left to rust for over
three years.
In closing let the Republican re-
mind Mr.. Zelenka that then, as now,
the board had a legal right to do
most. if not all these rotten things.
Let the taxpayers read Mr.. Zelenka s
signed letter of recent date and note
that Frank Zelenka's is defending q
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09

According to the report of the Sec
retary the receipts from the recent
Latah county fair totaled $1,000,
which about equals the expenditures.
The fair was big success, and had
the weather the last day been good
no doubt the association would have
netted a neat sum. The Lewiston
fair, also of fine character from
the standpoint of the spectator, came
out ahead this year.
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09

One of the meanest things public
official can do is to abuse his official
powers, and to deny to all citizens of
all parties a fair and impartial deal.
But here is sample of Pat Blake s
assessment of Clearwater county prop
erty owners: In section l8, township
40, north, range 5, E B. M, one
quarter section owned by John Lewis
was cruised while an adjoining quarter
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09

Sites Enterprise Everyone can re-
member that it has been only a few
weeks since a Grangeville paper pub
lished news item saying that the
last of the county debt had been paid
in Lewis county, and mind you this
debt was not one of their own MAX
ing, for Lewis county has been kept
on pay as you go basis from the
start, but was debt which she inher-
tied from another of the big counties
from which she was carved-from old
Nez Perce.
Which if true, is quite a bit
different from the way Clearwater
county has been managed. Laying
aside personal feelings, if one has
any, and looking only at the business
side of Clearwater county which has
in three years been run in debt about
$50, 900. 1t is up to the people to do
little figuring, to stop and take stock
Of the business. The people should
do as a successful merchant does take
stock and balance accounts occasional
ly. There should be general ac-
counting; not only should every penny
be accounted for, but the people should
check up and see how their money has
been expended. Has there been ex-
travagance? Look it up and see.
Has there been poor management by
those entrusted with county business? :?
Find out. Have the officials been
careless or incompetent in the man
agement of county business? Find
out. No county in Idaho has bet
ter opportunity to make good show
ing than Clearwater. No county has
a greater source of revenue and less
of it's territory settled. AS matter
of fact Clearwater county should be
out of debt, ard with any kind of
management be kept on cash basis.
But think of these facts:
The county wanted its timber
cruised. There were a number OF
people anxious to do the work.
They were ready to put up a bono
protecting the county. One party die
submit proposition Offering to dc
the work for u cents an acre. But
the county board ignored it. Th'
board would not permit bidding. Tn,
work, contract involving more thar
$50, 900 possibly $75, 600 of public fund
was given to Mr.. Nease at 12a cent
an acre. Reduced to township thu
difference between u cents an acr,
and 12A cents an acre amounts t,
$1150. Since the contract is for tn,
entire county, or about sixteen town
ships, the waste or loss to the taxpay
ers will, when the cruise is completed
aggregate in the neighborhood of S18
432.
AS matter of fact the people ar
losing much more, for Mr.. Nease get
12a cents an acre straight while tn
other man charged nothing where th'
land cruised less than one million fee
to the section. And the taxpayer ca
verify these statements by going t
the records in the Office of the count
auditor. Do your own figuring. w
are giving these facts without malice
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
Peace Services Held

Special peace services, is response
to the suggestion of President Wilson,
were held in the local churches Sum-
day. The nation generally observed
the day, giving it up to prayer and
meditation on war, gigantic strug-
gle that none can explain. What it
is over the world is not able to deter
mine, That the earth is in the most
horrible war in history, and that even
the United States is an innocent suf'
ferer, is now apparent to all. That
in some way the terrible slaughter
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09

The N. P. company has had its big
outfit here the past week filling and
grading the street along its track on
the spur up to the cement plant. A
large fill has been made and some
good work done.
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09

waste of public funds on the pretext
that it is within the law.
The law said, and may still say,
that the tax collector may contract for
the printing of the delinquent tax list
at 81 per description. That made it
within the law. See what this paper
has on this next issue. We will
show that the county may be robbed
and bankrupt within the law. =
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09

The Clearwater county Sunday
school association will hold its annual
convention in the Methodist church at
Orofino Thursday and Friday, October
Is and 16. Prof. E. C. Knapp, secre-
tary of the Inland Empire Sunday
school association, will give the prin-
cipal addresses. Mrs. Knapp, who is
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
SUNDAY SCHOOLS WILL
HOLD CONVENTION

also an expert in Sunday school work,
will be present and take part in the
programs. Every Sunday school in
the county is urged to send delegates
to this convention. The citizens of
Orofino should not overlook the i'm
portance of this convention, nor neg
lect to attend every session.
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
BLAKE GANG ASSESSMENT
IS RANK AND RAW INJUSTICE

owned by Frank Surprise was not
cruised. Those who are acquainted
with both claims say that there is lit
tie difference in the two claims; that
the Lewis claim is a little the best.
But look at the records and see if
Lewis is not assessed at 1920, while
Surprise is assessed at 1920. Why
the difference? Why is one settler
cruised and his neighbor not cruised?
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09
OUR FARMERS NEED
HOME INDUSTRIES

needs to sell at home. Whatever
discourages or hinders the investment
of outside capital, or the development
of local enterprise is an injury to
every workingman, and to every farm
er in the county. Therefore, why
knock?
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09

The need of the Clearwater county
farmer is bigger home market. We
need home industries, giving employ
ment to home labor, which in turn
will make the needed home demand
for what the local farmer raises and
Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-10-09

may end, and peace come to the war;
ring nations, is devoutly to be hoped.