The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-11-02
D|SCRED|T PIERCE
Two Idaho Governors Say Nothing
Wrong in Idaho Land.
BOTH ENDORSE MEREDITH
jealousy Behind Vile Attack o.
Democratic Candidates Business
and Private Life in Iowa
Homestead. .

Two governors of Idaho, one re-
publican, one democrat have writ.
ten letters to e. T. Meredith, demo-
cratic candidate for governor, refut-
ing the charges made by James M.
Pierce, publisher OF the Iowa Home
stead, business rival of Mr.. Mere.
dith's Successful Farming, and as
serting that Mr. Meredith's connec-
ton with the West End Twin Falls
Irrigation Company was honorable and
above board.
| Jealous of the business success OF
MIR. Meredith, anxious to secure tho
state printing for his nOn-union shop
| by a deal with Harding, Pierce has
| attacked the personal and business
, character Of Mr.. Meredith in his week
| ly publication.
Realizing that Harding's public rec
ord is SO wet that it has driven from
him all the drys and church people
in Iowa, Pierce tries to bolster up his
| Jealous hopes in personal attacks up
on Meredith.
But the governors Of Idaho, James
M. Haines, republican, and the pres
ent governor M. Alexander, democrat.
officially refute the Pierce attacks
over their signatures.
Meredith Always Honorable.
Former Governor Haines says:
Boise, Idaho, Oct. 10, 1916-E. +.
Meredith, Des Moines, Iowa.-My dear
Mr.. Mer Notwithstanding to a request
nection With the West End Twin Falls
Irrigation Company, it gives me pleas
ure to state that while l was the re-
publican governor of the state of Ida
no, was by virtue of that office, chair
man Of the land board having charge
Of the irrigation projects of the state.
During the many times matter came
before the board affecting the company
in which you were interested, we found
that You always acted in the utmost
good faith and that you personally
did all that any one could do towards
protecting those who were investors
in the company, and upon many occa-
sions 1T was stated to the board that
you would willingly sacrifice your own
interests If the interests of others
could be protected.
The failure number OF years ago
Of a large Chicago bond house pre-
cipated most of the trouble which de-
else Is responsible for present condi-
tions. However, I am very happy to
state that conditions are now improv-
Ing and it is my judgment that ulti-
mately every investor well as your.
self, will be reimbursed.
All Accounts Correct.
s'DurinE my administration your
company submitted to members of the
state land board all OF it's records and
vouchers covering every expenditure.
and after being checked by the Carey
act commissioner, were found to be
absolutely correct. 1t was also found
hnf vNA1H tn~ vNpu HH~A
Of the company had received 81, either
directly indirectly, but on tho con-
trary, that you had personally ad-
vnnccd many thousands of dollars to
the company. to protect those who Had
made Investments in it's land.
"EXtending to you my kindest per-
sonal regards and wishing you success,
I beg to remain.
Most cordially yours.
JOHN NJ. HAINES.
Warns Meredith Of Attack.
Back in September when Pierce was
urging on his ASSISTANTS to destroy
Meredith's character regardless Of the
truth, Governor M. Alexander of Ida
no, was so disguised with these poll.
tical methods that he wrote letter
to Mr.. Meredith in which he said:
"there is nothing in your connection
with this project that reflects in any
way on your integrity, honesty and
good Intentions" His letter follows:
'Ssate of Idaho, Governors Office.
Boise, Sept. p, 19l6-Hon. E. T. Mere.
iith, Des Moines. Iowa-Dear Sir: 7
understand that the partisan press OF
your state is attacking your personal
character in regard to your connection
with the West End Twin Falls Irriga>
ton company in the state of Idaho
"Since my connection with the state
land board, as chairman, your company
has done what has been required Of
them, giving a new bond for the faith-
full performance of it's contract IN
place of an old one which we believed
to be absolute and not valid in law.
You have also spent money in re-
facilitating the project so that tho
bona fide settlers can live upon the tract
"PFevious to my membership on the
board the attorney general who wac
a member informs me that you acted
in good faith and put your own money
into the project to protect contract
holders and it therefore gives me
pleasure to write these few lines to
you in order that you may protect
yourself and satisfy your constituents
that there is nothing in your connec-
ton with this project that reflects In
any way your integrity, honesty
and good intentions.
"Yours very truly,
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