The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1922-10-26
Attempt to Club Courier
Reporter Into Suppress
sion of Editorial
THIS is ANSWER TO
PROSSER'S THREAT
Appeal to Voters To Clean
Up Dirty Mess Caused
by County Seat Fight

Since it became assured that the
question of moving the county
county seat to Benton City would
be submitted to the voters at the
November election the editor of
the Courier-Reporter has given
considerable thought to the pro-
position. In considering the ques-
tion he has endeavored to take in
to account the interests of his own
community and the general good
of the county. He has set forth
his conclusions in an editorial on
page two of this issue.
The editorial is his own. 1t was
written without consultation with
or advice from anybody. Whether
or not it represents the sentiment
of this community, whether or not
it will meet the approval of the
readers of this paper, or what eff
feet it may have upon the cam
didacy of any man for office was
not taken into consideration. The
editor has stated his convictions
and intends to stand by those con-
victions when he marks his ballot.
In that editorial the editor said:
'It tthe county seat issue) has
defeated good and worthy men and
put incompetents into office and
because of it no county question,
whether of men or measures, has
ever gone to the people squarely
upon its merits. ****s (until the
county seat question is settled) it
means that candidates for public
office will be fit material for po-
litical barter and trade, just as
candidates today are being traded
and bartered for county seat
votes"
Are these statements facts, or
are they the imaginings of a
rattle-brained editor? The answer
follows:
Two days ago the editor was
assured by Prosser citizens who
were in Kennewick campaigning
for the county seat, that they were
keeping their hands off the COM
missioner contests. They were
willing they said, that the COM
missioner race be run upon its
merits and that the men be select
ed by reason Of their fitness for
office or party affiliations.
Today word was carried to Pros
ser that the ourier-Reporter
would this week print an editorial
favoring the removal of the county
seat to Benton City. No sooner
had the word been received there
than message was telephoned to
Kennewick to the effect that un-
less the Courier-R Reporter SUPPRESS
ed the editorial the republican
voters Of Prosser would refuse to
support r. H. Briggs for commits
sioner.
How about it? Was the editor
wrong when he said candidates
today are being traded and barter
ed for county seat votes and that
until the county seat issue is
settled, candidates will be regard
ed by county seat politicians as
fit material for barter and trade?
The plain facts are that the
Prosser POLITICAL leaders are to-
day, and always have been, will
ing to trade their shirts to retain
the county seat. The plain facts
are that in the present campaign
they. are seeking to carry water
on both shoulders. The plain facts
are that the same representations
of friendship and support they
have made to R. H. Briggs Of Ken
newick, have been made to c. D.
Mitchell, of Richland. If this isn't
political trading and bartering OF
the most damnable sort, what is
it?
Mr.. Briggs, is the very highest
type of American citizen. There
is not a man in the county Of
higher ideals, or of greater honesty
of purpose. He has no political
ambitions. He is no politician nor
the tpye of man who will ever be-
CONTINUED on page four)