Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1918-10-11

been active in politics for over Is
years, but never in all that time
have we found a more determined
malicious and entirely selfish at
tempt on the part of individuals to
defeat worthy public official and
advance themselves than the pres
ent one made by coterie of repub-
licans against Joseph Kaufman,
democratic county auditor. 1t is
beyond our comprehension how any
set of men can concoct such selfish
schemes and expect to succeed.
When we came to Orofino we told
the people we would stand for the
decent things in politics; that we
would support clean democrat be-
fore we would assist in the election
Of an unworthy republican; that il
was not SO much the party brand a
man bore as the sort of man he
is that counted in the choosing Of
county officers. We promised the
people we would fight ring rule, no
Four years ago the Republican,
in accord with this pledge to the
people, espoused the cause of Jos.
Kaufman, democrat, and used all
the influence II our comand to pre-
vent any republican from filing for
county auditor. Mr.. Rogers filed
in spite of all effort to leave the
nomination blank on the republican
ticket, and the republicans of the
county gave their support to Mr..
Kaufman, who was elected by an
overwhelming majority.
During the past four years Mr..
Kaufman has been so thoroughly
efficient. so absolutely honest, so
hard-working, that he has justified
this bi-party endorsement, and when
1t came time to nominate county
officers at the recent primary there
was strong sentiment among repub-
licans for another endorsement of
Mr.. Kaufman. But Mr.. Kaufman
was accused by some republicans
with show of partisanship in that
it was charged he was too active
in behalf of the democratic party;
that he was instrumental in getting
Mr.. Wilmot to file for assessor, and
Tom Reed of Pierce to file ON the
democratic ticket for county COM
missioner, and at meeting OF re-
publicans in Orofino there was a
sentiment favorable to the nomina-
ton of republican candidate in
opposition to Mr.. Kaufman, on the
ground that since he owed his elec-
tion four years previous to republi-
can support, he should not become
unduly active in a partisan spirit
at this time. And as result of
this feeling, whether justified or
not, Mr.. Chas. Abrams of Fraser, a
most worthy citizen and a staunch
republican, was rendered the nomi-
nation. Mr.. Abrams did not seek
the Office. He protested that he
was not able to make the campaign,
and accepted only after leading re-
publicans urged him over and over
and practically drafted him.
At that time the primaries had
not been held, and Mr.. Abrams was
considered particularly strong be-
cause member of the Non-Parti-
san League. No objection was then
raised to his membership In the
League; 1t was an open secret that
It was good policy calculated a tc
j block the combination between The
democrats and Non-Partisan mem.
bers in Clearwater county in behalf
of the democratic county ticket
Later 1t developed that Mr.. Alb.
rams voted democratic ticket In
the primary. and Joe Molloy, who
was. 1t now develops. aspiring fol
the nomination of auditor. went te
Fraser and demanded that Mr.. Alb
rams get off the republican county
ticket because he did not vote the
.republican ticket In the primary
Mr.. Abrams agreed to this. and die
resign. and it is now plain why
Mr.. Molloy was SO active In clear
ing the field. He saw an opportun
ity to get into the game withou
any chance for the rank and file o.
the party to have any say as to ;
candidate.
After Mr.. Abrams withdrew tn,
editor of the Republican made a.
much of a canvas Of the county a,
time permitted and found the lead
ing republicans opposed to an,
nomination against Mr.. Kaufman
we were told on every hand tha
] the nomination Of anyone was no
wanted by republicans. except abou
four in the Clearwater county cour
house, whose determination to GUS
Kaufman was persistent and organ
\ ized.
Il 1t was this rings manipulation
A.