Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1920-05-06
STORIES
.OF PR0F|TEER
.|NNANYC|T|ES
Tale Similar to That Circulat-
cd Here Is Current in Mos
cow, Lewiston and Pullman
Nav Be Propaganda Malici-
ously Spread Throughout
Idaho to Promote Unrest

Oup@J L
idaho to Promote Unrest
Stories circulated in Idaho county to
! .ho effect that three Grangeville mer-
s oports we're cited for profteering
onS fned on the spot by govern
anu aoent are not without parallel
IN otbeT cities in northern Idaho and
IN to1 Washington. Similar stories
+old of merchants in Lewiston,
Moscow Pullman and Colfax and, ike
those circulated here, are without
q foundation. ao,s bore
II is believed by many persons mere
n that the stories are circulated man
ciouslv as part of propaganda IN lda-
q bo to stimulate unrest and dlssatls,
faction. with view to radical pohtlcal
& changes in the state. mat the stor-
s les are purposely started by agltators'
10 the opinion, and once started, they
are taken up by innocent tongues ana
spread rapidly
4 ANOTHER FORM IN SOUTH
Tn southern Idaho, the propaganda, 1t
8 &c said. takes another form, put Is
q calculated to injure local merchants,
B especially among farmers. 1t Is saiu
that agents of an alleged soclallstlc
8 organization are travelling IN south,
8 ern Idaho, calling upon farmers anu
laboring men, and spreading ProPa-
ganda of unrest.
The agents are renewing mem brships
in political organization, Whlcn
made itself felt in Idaho during the
election two years ago, according TO
the report. Often they run against
snags. when they attempt to re-
new memberships, requiring payment
of SIS dues.
The man soliciting memberships Is
clad N overalls. How much dld
YOU pay for the last pair of overalls
Won bought?v he inquiries, of the farm
er from whom his is soliciting MEMBER
4 ship
To this the farmer replies perhaps t'
the effect that he paid $500 OF
$3.50 for the~overalls, depending upon
time the purchase was made.
ovERAILs AT 30 CENTS
"You see these overalls I am wear
81 ing the solicitor asks. Wen, =.
paid exactelv 90 cents for them II
North Dakota - The agent goes OF
to tell how he bought. the oVerail
81 at so-called consumers cooperatlV'
s store in North Dakota, where mer
81 chandise is purported to be handie'
at cost. He tells the farmer nj
hometown merchants are robbing mn
in the sale of overalls, that ne
81 paying an excessive price for the gar
ment. and that his local merchan
is pocketing an exorbitant profit.
In proof of his statement, he goe
on, he has a supply of overalls VII
s him, which he is selling at 30 Genus
pair, and will be pleased to sell TN
Il farmer a pair of overalls at Una
price. Sign up again with our organ
& ization, the solicitor tells the farme
we will carry the state this fall, COZ
e sumers' stores will be established
s Idaho, and you can buy overalls 1c
90 cents a pair in your home town.
GAME OFTEN WORKS
It is said that frequently this gam
a works, and the solicitor sells meihDe
ship in his organization and one pa
n of overalls for the sum OF $lo.9
Al Overalls at the present time a
& quoted at $37 dozen pairs, whoi
G. sale, in San Francisco.
The Moscow Star Mirror, in q T
cent issue, prints the following stol
VI of blackmail of merchants IN u
81 Palouse country:
ga fantastic tale of a woman dete
tive or faker who is impersonatlng
officer and goes about the count
81 blackmailing merchants is oell
81 widely circulated and the scene
a the alleged operations is now la
81 IN Colfax, in Pullman and IN Lew
Il ton, but the tale never varies.
1t is always about a coat that
woman priced sometimes TINS
changed to bought) for $75 and IN
demanded to see the cost price. I
clerk refused, whereupon the WON
showed her star (don't forget
Is always a star but details as
n whether tin, copper, brass, gold
silver are not given) and announ'
that she is a government detective
secret service agent, whereupon
81 proprietor of the store is called
the woman threatens him with pro
eution for profteering The propr
tor, thoroughly frightened, pays
81 woman a lot Of hush money ana
leaves town.
TOLD BY CLERK
"The story is always told by 6
ISL OF the clerks IN the store but no