Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-01-16
ABUSE NOT PROOF

ABUSE NOT PROOF
One of these days, the Orofino Trib-
une, defender Of Blake gang cor
Eruption, will wake up to the fact that in
abusing ''Windy Pete" they are not
clearing their official records Of the
idium that rests upon them. Suppose,
after they do their worst, these political
vultures succeed, and satisfy the voters
Of Clearwater county that the, editor of
the Republican is as crooked as snake,
in an oyster can, what Of it? Suppose
they prove that "Windy Pete. is a
horsethief, four-ply iiar, and a fake,
what Of it? Suppose they. prove that
WINDY Pete" did all the things they
claim, what Of it? And the only motive
or reason on earth for resorting to such
methods is to defect public attention,
fearing to discuss such questions as. are
pertinent, and in which the taxpayers
Of Clearwater county are vitality inter-
ested.
The people are interested in the mat
ter Of taxation, and do want to know
whether or not there is any truth In
the numerous charges made by the
Republican. Proclaiming undying
fealty to the people, and charging that
the election Of the Blake gang was the
only way on earth for the people to get
q square deal as between the people
and the timber companies, the facts, as
shown by the public records at the
'4ourt house, disclose a condition that
should cause every honest taxpayer in
the county to demand sane, plain,
honest answer. Personal abuse of
''Windy Pete" will not do. The tax
payers demand an explanation that will
justify the apparent favortism in favor
Of the Potlatch Lumber company, and
the more the issue is evaded the more
insistent will that demand become, and
the more curious will the people be as
to the inability Of the Tribune and the
gang to explain.
The charge has been made that the
Blake gang has squandered county
funds In the purchase Of typewriters.
That Pat Blake, and his board paid, out
Of the peoples money, 500 per ma
chine, when the actual price Of the
identical machines was but half that
sum. Personal abuse Of no man will
relieve those guilty Of this plundering
Of the people for such rascality, nor
convince the people that such trans
action = honest, II the gang organ can
but prove that 'sWindy Pete" is windy,
or At some time stole a horse. The
Question that interests the taxpayer is
whether or not one Patrick Blake and
his board paid two prices for type
writer's for which Jim Blake or some
other member Of the gang WIS agent.
Why evade It? Why dodge the issue?
II the Republican is wrong it is an easy
matter to show it from the records Of
Clearwater county. And that question
win stare the gang in the face even if
s'Windy Pete" should pack his grip and
move out Of the county.
The Republican has charged graft in
thu matter Of county printing. It is
either true or it is not. The taxpayers
have right to know all the facts, and
no amount Of evasion will convince
them that the Republican is WRONG.
The Republican has charged County
Treasurer Hoar, and County Commits
sioners Zelenka and Torgerson with
violating the law, and their oath Of
office, and thereby defrauding the tax
payers out Of >225, which sum they paid
to Blair Hoar, county treasurer, az ex-
ralfees for doing clerical work in his
own office. The law is plain. It's
violation is wrong, and the taxpayers
expect these officials to clear their
skitts Of any charge of wrong doing.
II the Republican is wrong it is an easy
matter to prove it. And il the Repub-
lican is wrong the people can rest as
sured these fellows will make ''Windy
Pete" look like thirty cents. If this
paper is fooling the people and be-
smirching the character Of honest men
It \ worthy Of public contempt, and the
citizens Of Clearwater county will not
be slow to show their contempt and
disapproval. The Republican fully un-
derstands the feelings Of honest tax
payers In a matter Of this kind, and
realizes fully the folly Of misrepresen-
tation. The Republican asks the peo-
pie to take nothing for granted. Ac-
cept nothing that is not positively
proven.
And lastly, without going further into
charges Of misconduct at this time,
keep in mind the fact that the Repub-
lican has made these charges, not dur