American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-08-09

Win any dfIlddNlt. tnen again, al
affidavit shows but one side of a case,
and that side not always accurately
nor honestly. The affidavits in the
Baum hearing are not the only ones
that have been made here, as the fol-
lowing will show:
Three Or four years ago Ben Adolf
had some dealings with a farmer OF
German descent in this county, in
which a note was issued. The note
was left At the First National Bank,
and was handled by the employees.
Some difference arose over the note,
the details of which were never known
by the writer. but ID. w. Davis was
not involved any more than the man
ager of a store would be over a trans
action between a clerk and a custo-
mer in which he had 10 part.
Now comes the affidavit maker. A
male human being. not a man, came
down from Boise. file got in a car
and accompanied by one or W. local
men went out to see this German farm
err who had differences with Adolf.
The farmer could not read English. it
is said, and could understand the
spoken language very poorly. The
Boise man represented himself to be
a lawyer. and represented to the Ger
man farmer that If he would sign a
ID complaint" he would get him some
money. Whether the Complaint" was
signed in duplicate or not, or wheth-
er certified copies of it were made, is
not known. But this complaint"
turned up in all parts of Idaho as an
affidavit, and directly charged d. w.
Davis with dishonesty. The parties
who carried this affidavit about we're
very careful about showing it. 1t was
an inside pocket affair, and was shown
r"conhdentially" to the select. Care
was taken that il should not become
publicly known that such a document
was in circulation. and 10 leading Re-
publican was permitted to see it. 1t
was used in out of the way places, the
way a coward and a sneak would use
such a thing.
Attorney General Drawn In.
One of the carriers of this false ac-
cusation was the advance agent of At
turney General Walters. When know
ledge came to American Falls that
Walters advance man was using some
charge against Davis, the exact nature
Of which was not known at that time,
a resident of American Falls who
was "A friend and admirer of the at
tOrney general. wrote him about the
matter, telling him of the high stand
ing and integrity of Mr.. Davis, and
protesting against such practices. AL
though nearly two years have passed
no reply to that letter has ever been
received. The affidavit was cOntinu-
ed in use in the campaign until its
close. Because of the actions of T. A.
Walters in this matter the Press places
him with all other character assas-
sins, a class which deserve only con-
tempt.
Davis Has the Facts.
Mr.. Davis has come into all the facts
relating to this matter and knows who
the local parties are who accompan-
led the attorney" out to the farmers
home. The attorney" by the way,
was a leading Democratic state work
er in the last campaign. The Press
is advised that Mr.. Davis would not
be adverse to having all these parties
on a platform with him. before a large
audience. while he told the audience
all the facts in the case. And they
may be invited to share such an hon
or with him before this campaign is
over. provided there are any more af-
hdavits in circulation.
Some Personal History.
One more charge-the highway
charge relating to the building of the
Bannock valley road. This charge
comes very close to the Press office,
and is possibly as much allied with
politics as with a prosecution of Baum.
1t caused a dissolution of partnership
between the writer and John r. Jones,
at a financial loss to the writer OF
somewhere between $1,000 and $1,000
In this connection let it be said that
there are no finer men than John II.
Jones. and there are none more high
ly respected by the writer than he,
Looking back ove the case. in view
OF the affidavits introduced at the
trial, the writer can mentally see
the reasons that brought about the
difference of opinion between Mr.
Jones and the writer and caused his
retirement.
To properly present this matter il
will be necessary to go back some
years. In 1907 the American Falls
Development company bought the
Advertiser. the only local paper here
at that time. and arranged to put in a
modern country plant. Their only
purpose was to secure the printing o.
a good paper to induce the settlement
Of the then can areas stretching il
all directions from American Falls
The settlement of these lands would
naturally create a demand for towr
property. and increase its value. anC
this was their object and purpose. BY
accident they got in communication
with the writer. who was then engag
ed in editorial work at Conconully
Washington. through G.. 5. Ellinger
The writer was induced to come t
American Falls. take the Management.
Of the paper. the name of which haC
been changed to the Press. under {
! lease with the DriVilpge of huying a