Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-05-29
is THERE GRAFT?

is THERE GRAFT?
If the Elk River booze situation is
not source Of graft to the court house
ring, then human nature has under
gone change, and we have. here
something entirely different from the
way similar things work in every other
place in the world. Graft is always
primarily based on violation of law.
The Tammany gang could exact tribute
only when somebody was violating the
law. That Is self-evident. Men do
not pay tribute when they are obeying
the law. At Elk River, under the
administration of Sheriff Harper, a
condition exists that is manifestly rot
ten, and for which thousands and
thousands Of dollars Of graft can be
collected for the benefit of the ring.
There is not violator of the law at
Elk River who will not try to square
himself with the county officials; there
is not bootlegger who will not try to
square himself with the county Of
ficials; there is not bootlegger who
will not try to pay for exemption from
prosecution, and who will not stick
money under the noses of the officials
to insure themselves from inter-
ference. It would be a bone-headed
fool who would doubt this.
Whether or not the court house ring
is taking graft the Republican has
nothing to say. We have our own
private opinion, however, and the
reader may have his or hers. We do
know that the laws are being
shamefully violated, and that the Off
GERS must know it. II not, these Off
Gals are incompetent, and should re-
sign.
Take one case, that Of Georgia Mad
rid, who runs house Of prostitution,
in violation Of law. The public record
shows that in two days last summer,
in July, the record Of which this paper
has published, this woman openly
shipped in and signed for sixteen bar
rels Of beer in two days. And yet
Georgia Madrid is not molested. May
Patterson, according to the public
records, shows as open and rank vio-
lation Of the law, and she is not
bothered by the sheriff, his deputy, or
any other officer Of the law.
Personally this paper has nothing to
say about these officers. Personally
We like Sheriff Harper. But we IRE
frank to say that the conditions in
Clearwater county under his admins
tration are manifestly rotten and re-
voting. Think Of things reaching a
point where newspaper can, by pub
fishing only the public records of one
railroad, get official recognition from
. district judge, who will say from the
bench that the court cannot conceive
that the officers are not aware of condi-
tons, are not responsible for condi-
tons. Sheriff Harper cannot escape
the responsibility. He took an oath to
enforce the law. II he is not doing
his duty it is matter Of concern to
every good citizen, and a disgrace to
the county and the state. How is he
going to square himself? BY laying
all to Deputy Sheriff Leeper? But that
will not do. Sheriff Harper was cleo
tel to serve the people and enforce the
law, and it is his business to see that
the deputies in his department either
do their duty or resign.
There are those who excuse Sheriff
Harper on the ground that he is help
less; that his hands are tied by the
court house ring, and that the Blake
gang inner circle, of which Pat Blake,
democratic county chairman, is the
head, exercises the powar OF appoint
ing deputies, filling vacancies, and rum
ming the county government; that the
inner circle is the power that dictates
the Policy of every official in good
sanding with the ring in Clearwater
COUNTY. The Republican has this upon
IKE word CT very reliable democrats,
friends of Sheriff Harper, who, in ex-
case for the sheriff, declare that his
hands are tied, and that he cannot help
himself. But what are we to say when
we know that the sheriff took solemn
oath to enforce the law? And what
are we to think when law and decency
and the rights of the people are tram
pied under foot, and made joke be-
cause the county is in the hands of
an unscrupulo ing?
How much difference is there in con-
ditions existing today in Clearwater
county and conditions that caused the
people of New York to resort to ex-
IRENE measures to overthrow a corrupt
Tammany ring? What is the difference
between the dens of vice, the GROCER
les, and the houses of prostitution, run
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