Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-10-16
W. F. DUNNINC
is SHERIFF

Tuesday evening of last week the
board of county commissioners APP
pointed w. F. Dunning the sheriff
OF Boundary county to complete the
term of Harry Sawyer, deceased.
Mr. Dunning has ten days time in
which to accept the appointment and
will take his oath of office Saturday
and assume his new duties.
The commissioners considered the
applications of three for the unex-
pired term in the sheriff's office,
VIM. Heathershaw, republican, Thorn
as Mcmahon, democrat and w. f.
Dunning, democrat.
Cunning was the choice Of he
democrat county organization and his
appointment came through the vote
of Commissioners Shively and Lun-
den. Commissioner Fitzpatrick held
that republican should hold the of
flee inasmuch as the people elected
republican to the office at the
last general election and supported
Heathershaw.
While no man in the county could
have a word to say of the honesty
and character of Mr.. Dunning still
it cannot be said that the appoint
ment was popular one from the
taxpayers standpoint.
Those outside the democratic coun-
ty machine view the appointment
as a sacrifice of the best interests
of the taxpayers in order that a
political combination might be
strengthened. 1t was never at any
time greatly suspected that Commits
sioner Shively or Lunden would con-
sent to follow precedent and appoint
republican to succeed a republi-
can in office. Such a precedent was
not established in the democratic
party. The republican party set the
example and even in Boundary coun-
ty the late republican sheriff APP
pointed as one of his deputies a
democrat. Sheriff Sawyer selected
Thomas Mcmahon as his deputy be-
cause Mcmahon was experienced in
the duties of his office and was ca
pable. The question of his politics
was not considered. 1t was a ques-
ton among the republicans of who
was the best man for the place.
The democratic commissioners
could not have conscientiously con-
sidered the best interests of the
county in the appointment of Dunn
ing. If they felt for the safety of
the democratic party that a demo-
crat must be appointed Why did they
turn down the man who has been
deputy sheriff since the county was
organized, who has served efficiently
and well, who is acquainted with
the duties of the office? Was il
because, day or so before the APP
pointment was made when he was
asked if he had voted for any re-
publicans at the last election, he
said he had and would undoubtedly
do so again?
The criticism of the late appoint
ment by the commissioners is Just
and the public will continue to criti-
cize so long as precedent and party
aggrandizement is set ahead of the
best interests of tn people and the
best interests of the people are moi
being considered when a man trained
for the work of a certain office. who
has proved his efficiency, is replaced
for one who is an entire stranger
to the work.
The Dunning appointment is only
another illustration of the stric
partizanship of a political organiza
ton which last fall preached non
partlzanshlp and it is mighty prob
able that Mcmahon with the endorse
ment of many of the leading citizen.
would have had the appointment bu
for the fact that he openly announce,
that he voted a non-partizan ticket
Mrs. Ed Miley and sister, Mis-
Anna Callahan, left last evening TO
Standpoint to visit friends few days