The Ely miner., 1930-10-31
A RECORD THAT DEF|Es UN-
TRUTH AND -SL|NG|NG

Claude Winchell, one of the cam
paign managers for Grant McMahan
has issued statements in an effort to
| attack the candidacy of Commissioner
Pete, who is seeking reelection for an
other term. He has beclouded the
issues of the campaign with mud
singing and lies.
Friends of Commissioner Pete in the
Fourth District do not wish to dignity
Winchell, but the voters of the district
have right to know the facts at issue.
For this reason and this reason only,
the accompanying statement is now
being distributed.
It is also interesting to know that
eight years ago, Winchell saw fit to
attack Mr.. McMahan, then a candid
ate for Commissioner. He reviled him
throughout the campaign and painted
him as the most undesirable citizen,
one unworthy of holding any public
office or trust" 1t was his effort that
helped defeat Mr.. McMahan at that
time. Now, strange as it may seem,
Winchell is leader in the McMahan
campaign. Out of work for the past
four years he has climbed on the Nc
Mahan wagon, seeking favorable seat
for the next four years, at least. He
has suddenly discovered, strange again,
that Mr. McMahan has changed in
eight years to most worthy and de-
serving citizen, one in whom the voters
should repose their trust"
Winchell is now using the same
methods employed against Mr. Nc
Mahan to try and hurt Commissioner
Pete. Lies, mud-slinging and charges
are being thrown out everywhere.
Facts are forgotten in an effort to
deceive the voter.
The records are here and they prove
conclusively that Winchell and his
workers are untruthful. They have
circulated a statement in an attempt
to prove that Commissioner Pete has
sold his own farm, for a municipal
airport at Ely and that he secured an
appropriation from the County Board
of $15,000.00 to purchase same.
Now what are the real facts?
On october 9Th, 1927, Thomas Harri
of Ely, took an option from Commits
sioner Pete for his third interest on
his farm that two years later was pur-
chased by the City of Ely for an
airport site. Commissioner Pete had
no knowledge that his farm would be
purchased for an airport or that it
was considered by the municipality at
that time.
On September 10th, 1928, M j.
Murphy, Mayor of the City of Ely, and
Ray Hoef1er, representative of the
American Legion Post of Ely, came
before the County Board and urged
that an appropriation be made in the
budget for the establishment of an
airport in Ely. During the subsequent
months, committees of Ely citizens,
consisting of the Ely Commercial Club
and the American Legion and the
City Council sought Commissioner
Pete's help in securing an appropriation
for the airport. 1t is to the credit of
Commissioner Pete that he had the
standing and confidence of his asso-
ciates on the County Board to receive
their Endorsement of his request.
On November 14th, 1928, the County
Commissioners made a levy of $4,000
for the purchase of site for an air.
port at Ely On the 23d day of August
1929, almost two years after Mr.. Harri
had the option, the City of Ely pur-
chased the farm from Mr.. Harri and
which was almost year after Mr..
Harri filed the deed in the Register
of Deeds Office. This proves that
Commissioner Pete had nothing to do
with the land at the time the city
purchased it, and THIS is AN ABSO-
Lutte TRUTH. He had no control
over the transaction between the City
of Ely and Mr.. Harri.
Winchell and his cohorts, failing to
win votes in clean and upright cam
paign, now dig up this FAKE AIR
PORT story to becloud the issue.
They are desperate in their fight for.
votes and are STOPPING to the lowest
depths in their mud-slinging efforts.
This statement is issued by friends
of Commissioner Pete that the voters
of the Fourth District may know the
facts. You know of Commissioner