The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-10-18

Editor MacDowelf Of the Idaho
Leader writes another letter to Trego
in which he brands Trego as being
just the opposite of what he did in
his letter of last week. In his former
letter he said he knew that Trego
had, exposed a great deal Of graft
and that he believed Trego was hon
estly conducting publicity work to
expose whatever was against the
public interests. Now he comes back
with his second letter which we pub
lish so our readers may know just
what kind of duck Trego is. Mac
Dowell speaks like man who knows
and his word should carry consider
able weight. He has met Trego per-
sonally twice and his fine logic on
the question of Tregos character
ought to be accepted by everybody
as final. This is what his letter says:
The Mcdowell Letter to Trego
"Mr. Byrd Trego, Blackfoot, Idaho,
Dear Sir: / am in receipt of your
alleged letter which | must confess
is nothing more nor less than a
diarrhoea of words and constipa-
ton of ideas.
81 knew my exposure was
'beaner all right, all right, but |
didn't think for a moment that 1t
would have such an effect on the old
gang pie-counter politicians as it has
had on you as is evident from the
long drawn-out squawk which you
have emitted.
For some time there has been a
suspicion in my mind that your al
legged exposure of graft in various
institutions in the state was not on
the square; that you had some sin
lister motive in it. You have ex-
pressed YOUR opinion. l now ex-
press MY opinion and if you are so
very anxious to publish letters of
mine, you might pass this on to your
readers.
81 am only astonished that man
of the exceedingly wonderful ability
which you display, in attempting to
nullify most astounding and aston
isning situation incorporating greed,
gouge and graft which has been rum
ming rampant in the state admins
tration Of Idaho for the last two
years, should be forced to hide his
light under bushel and remain a
nonentity as the owner and pub
Usher of hick Cor shall I say
hack?) once-ip-awhile-wea paper.
you deserve a position on the
staff of the publicity bureau of the
Republican party along with Charles
Sumner of the Pocatello Tribune
and others who claim to be news
paper men, but who are merely edi-
torial prostitutes, dabbling their
fingers into the Republicans enorm-
GUS slush fund which has been
poured into Idaho for the purpose OF
making the state safe for grafters.
go to it, old man. That's the
way to get the swag. Just continue
to boost the fellows who have the
money and you will get yours. Once
in a while, when the big fellows don't
advertise enough with you, give 'em
the deuce, and you'll get yours just
like the Boise Statesman is getting
theirs; just like the Nampa Joker
Herald is getting theirs and just like
all the other members of the Repub-
lican state central committees Re-
nocnoioffnn cot.
ting theirs. You know they were
helped a bit in 1918 and they
will be helped some more in 1920
your attempt to becloud the is
sue with a tumble of stereotyped
phrases and an attack upon the
former Democratic state administra-
ton has nothing whatever to do with
the present situation. 1t is of course,
done for publicity purposes, but you
can scarcely fool the people with
such stuff any more. That day is
past. The people are onto the kept
press.
my advice to you is to publish
the Photographic copy of the letter
in question, send copies to the Re-
publican state central committee at
once and l miss my guess If you don't
get nice little revenue from the
sale Of that particular issue. And
perhaps-who knows may have
been the means of your making an
extra revenue for yourself. If SO, ]
am pleased to have been of service to
you.
''Yours very truly,
II. P. MAC DOWELL."