The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-04-09
| low the City Govern
ment Went Wrong
Chapter One


II Just as the little pig becomes hog"
II 1t of time and growth and grows by what
feeds The little pig does realize that getting to be
hog neither does city council realize that it going wrong but
the does for he furnishes the feed and results
II There is period between pig life and hoghood when the
animal known shoa and the only to prevent him from
becoming hog shut off his feed stop his commission
Graft has developed in Backfoot did in New York
City and ST. Louis but Backfoot is old large
those places But graft and the protection of graft began
Backfoot at much earlier than the cities mentoned and
has been following similar lines with rapid and more glarng
development "Tweed Days in ST. Louis into such wealth
and depravy that boiled and brought itself grief An
humble blacksmith who began with small grating to be the
king of grars such short time that he would sell outright
for cash such permits issued For example, permit for
warehouse $780, while permit for switch to the
house $780, cash down and telling He tried to graft
the lighting company for immense and they brought matters
by shutting off the lights When the city had been in
couple of nights committee OF citizens went to the
grating old Dutchman to protest against conditions and the
spokesman referred the light plant deness and the city in
darkness His depavity shown in his reply WELL damn it
Idey haf the amt it ~
Comparing Blackfoot with ST. Louis
The Backoot council does sell permits; does graft
the individual the city for the benefit of themselves their
friends but they do protect their friends against loss when there
lis doubt as to the bills being right when there doubt
Ito the officials having done their full duty way protect
the city, When the doubt has been coupled with neglect lack
of business the part of the officials they have quietly
allowed the bill b thus throwing the loss upon the
and placing premium dishonesty and slick methods OF deal
ing has been about 80 years St Louis at the same
stage of its material and municipal development Backfoot
present. and will relate of the municipal weakness and
municipal crookedness of the officials and then ask the reader to
how long would take them the they have been going
reach the bazen condition of the heeer general in St. Louis
when he said the of citizens "V dey ha the moon
amt it?"
Hooo Ciques are Formed
Every community that is rich graft
we'll honest oafers we'll the Industrious quar-
resome well the ydposed and in such communities
they develop and Cities there is usually vena set
of the there the overcoming election when the hon
est citizens try place the honest hands The news
paper fight adjusts itself by paper going into the hands of the
element and the other the hand of the other element
Both papers all the power of the press show that they
the only anonted and honest friend of the people, and the pat
that supports the papers, lines according to the wishes
of the people for peace and order and industry and economy
public affairs their willingness for contenon graft deception
scandal and general disturbance and ust Most of the people
for and order but large percentage of them de-
ceved to which paper really stands for such conditions and
closing their much information they line for what they
opposed and stay with endorsing shadow sppong
is the reality
Useless Fight Betsueen Editors
Such condition has been developing Blakfoot since the
year 1907 and editor has done all he could such
public calamity while the other did all he could develop
Nearly years ago reached such Of determined hos
Utility and malice that close observers began doubt the wisdom
o editor longer working for peace and the who had
been the less aggressive decided that he and those he represented
had been taking the wrong win in such community and
h spent months securing information and getting into
position fight entertaining intention of doing anything else
until side the other acknowledged defeat One Of the papers
has changed editors but its policy has been improved
Newspaper Fight Disgrace to Tom
During these years of the development of the present dis
agreeable newspaper fight which the past years has brought
Bacoo into the leght for Improbable notoey than
any other city the except Boise the city council have done
more promote the dsgraceu condition than any other body
not connected with the BY of the vested
them they have had many opportunities discourage the
ton and the conditions forsterng it, but has not
suited their purposes do they have possessed the lofty
minds which would lead them if they dscemed what
brewing.
CITY Council He'd the PosVer
In the year Iooo Backfoot organized into city of the
second class and election called Two of officers
nominated and the very spirited The newspapers took
sides according their wishes and understood that the win
Continued on page eight
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