Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-09-18


who should do business, and trading
in public offices with as much indif-
ference to public concern as most men
show in swapping jack knives, was
enough, and did astound the people.
Gradually the Blake grip frightened
on the throat of Clearwater county till
the body of the democratic party grew
tired and ashamed.
The brightest hope of the Clear
water Republican in eventually
breaking the power of gang rule lay
in the fact that there were democrats
who had the manhood to rebel, and to
encourage the Republican in the fight.
1t was evident weeks ago that Blake
/ power and Blake domination in Clear
water county was doomed. AS one
prominent democrat put it:
Better to go down in defeat fight
ing Blake domination than win with
Blake domination.
And herein lies danger against
which the Clearwater Republican
would warn the people. The leopard
cannot change his spots, but it can
cover them for time. The wolf can
masquerade for time in sleeps
clothing
For votes some will rise up to de-
ceive that they may continue in power
and control. For who of us is so
dense of understanding and so simple
of mind that we do not see that the
very foundation of the Blake machine
is based and builded on the ability of
the gang to dispense political pie; to
control the expenditure of Clearwater
county funds; the expenditure of
Clearwater county taxes? Like every
other machine, the Clearwater county
machine lived because the machine
bosses, the gang leaders, through
county board, could deliver the goods.
For four years has the gang had its
hand upon the expenditure of the tax
dollar, and it does not require a wise
person to trace the gang throug it all.
Why did Frank Zelenka and Elmer
Torgerson, at time when the Fidel-
ity bank was in control of the Orofi-
no Tribune, vote away hundreds of
dollars of county funds to the Blake
paper? Why did this county board
close the doors to competition in the
TIMBER cruise and do as Pat Blake told
them to do? Is further detail neces-
sary? Shall the Republican go into
the matter of county appointments?
Shall we relate how and who appoint
ed Roy Leeper deputy sheriff at Elk
River? And shall we remind the peo-
Pile that it has always required the
votes of two members of the county
board to deliver the goods? There
fore if the Blake gang has run Clear
water county it is because two men,
bers of the county board have done
what the gang ordered.
Mr.. Zelenka cannot escape the re-
sponsibility. 1t is not reasonable to
say he has seen new light and made
an eleventh hour reformation. It is
always the game of officials who
have bad public records to reform just
before election. 1t is like sweet,
innocent girl marrying a drunkard to
reform him; for the people to tie up
for another two years to an official
: who has proven SO incompetent and
extravagant as has Frank Zelenka.
For the business manager of county
the people could not find a man more
untitled. In saying this the Clearwat-
er Republican would give Mr.. Zelenka
full credit for every good thing he
has done. We would acknowledge
his enthusiasm over good roads; we
would credit him with being an
agreeable fellow, liked by everybody
| as citizen. He is progressive. His
weakness lies in his inability to say
"NO." He would bankrupt the
county in two years if given his way.
But there is sad. dark side TO the
| lr ire B. 3 d att, Ia -.
! leenka brought Upon himself the so,s-
picion that reflects on his honor and
honesty. People who have been his
friends want to know WHY he has
voted away thousands of dollars of
county funds, denying others the
opportunity to bid, closing contracts
at prices far in excess Of what others
were ready to do the work. Why has
Mr.. Zelena imposed system on the
people of Clearwater county that
proved so profitable to the Tammany
grafters?
/ Why has this county commissioner,
hired to manage the peoples BUSH
ness, been so interested in fat cruis-
ing contract for Mr.. Nease, and ex-
hibited so much concern lest some
other man get the work at a saving of
some $780, 900 to the taxpayers?
II Why has Beall & Co. been favored
with county business in the purchase
of road culvert without competition?
WHY, in short, has Clearwater
I oo,,p<u not opforooJ n cx,,%a,,, Of oman