Morristown and McLaughlin Papers "Squeal"

About as disconnected, absolutely silly and much bemuddled an attempt at the discussion of any public question, which it has ever been the writer's experience to observe appeared in the last issue of he Morristown World. Among other things, the World takes exception to the Chief's classification of Morristown and McLaughlin as mere hamlets. This is a matter which does not require any discussion or reiteration on the part of this newspaper. We know whereof we speak and everyone familiar with the importance of the towns in the county will bear us out in the statement-except possibly those whose minds are biased on account of direct or indirect personal interests in either of the two little towns. The World takes it that the Chief's reference to Morristown and McLaughlin as hamlets "would infer that McIntosh is a city, and an unselfish one at that, who are most generously furnishing the county all the necessary buildings in which to conduct the affairs of the county." Right you are, brother. The people of this city realized at the outset that the new settlers would have expenses enough to meet and showed a feeling of public-spiritedness in providing these buildings-which action has caused the people of poor little Morristown to lose considerable sleep, because of the fact that they know the level-headed voters and taxpayers will not vote needless expense upon themselves by creating a new county.
Editor Milliman (the hired man for the townsite boomers) then goes on to say something about "the contributor to The Chief." From the tone of his remarks it is not quite clear to us whether he means that someone other than the writer conducts the editorial policy of The Chief or not. However, this does not make any particular difference and is somewhat foreign to the question involved. There isn't much question as to who conducts the editorial utterances of this newspaper.
Reference is also made to the fact brought out by The Chief that it has been customary to embrace much territory in many new counties in the settlement of the Dakotas. Morton county, North Dakota, is set up as an example, and the World admits that for over twenty years there has been a division sentiment among the residents of the southern part of that county. The county has never been divided. Which goes to show that a majority of the people of that county have followed a policy similar to that which The Chief advocates in the present instance. Perkins County, which was created two years ago by segregation from Butte County, is spoken of by the World. The less said by Morristown people, the better it will be for them. If they will make an investigation, they will discover that Perkins County is in debt to the limit and that its warrants cannot be sold at hardly any price. Conservative voters and taxpayers in this county do not want that condition of affairs to exist among us, and they realize that it can be prevented by being economical for a few years.
The World says something about a block of ground which will be furnished the county if Morristown gets the county seat. This has been done in McIntosh and a fine new courthouse now adorns said block of ground. In this case the "goods are here." In the case of Morristown it is as yet only a promise.
Brother Milliman will not strengthen Morristown's cause by discussing this matter. Every attempt like that of last week will set the people to thinking and will have the effect of inducing them to vote upon the merits of the proposition. Just recall this statement on the 9th day of November.
The McLaughlin Messenger comes at The Chief in a sort of lengthy and laborious "me-too" effusion in which nothing of much importance is presented to the public. Editor Hurlbut has something to say about the additional expense of people from the eastern part of the county who find it necessary to come to the county seat-this additional expense being the expense necessary for car fare between McLaughlin and McIntosh. This is a very small item and it is not necessary for people to come to the county seat to transact all county business. Taxes can always be paid at local banks, an in cases of attending court as witnesses or jurymen the mileage only amounts to a small sum. The Messenger then cites the instance of sheriff's fees and mileage in a case where the bank account of a citizen in that part of the county was garnished as follows; Sheriffs fees and Mileage $11.00 Sheriff's Fees $25.00 for a total of $36.00.
The sheriff's fees in small counties are the same as in large counties; the only difference being 10 cents a mile in mileage. The difference would only by $5.00 if McLaughlin was the county seat and the sheriff lived there. The expense of a separate set of county officials in salary and the maintenance of another county seat would be far greater than these small items of mileage, which are paid by those directly interested in matters of litigation.
The Messenger says that it was the duty of the county commissioners to act upon the petition to divide the county. Be that as it may, the fact remains that Commissioners McGowen and Duncan are considered as being much opposed to McIntosh, and the Chief believes that the opinion is not misdirected. It seems that they have been rather active unofficially in this matter for men who were only performing a statutory duty. The Messenger says that small counties are much more easily governed than larger ones and that there is less chance for graft by county officials in small counties. Graft! Banish the thought! If the Messenger knows of the existence of any graft in this county, it is its duty to make the facts known.
The editor of the Messenger also states that division of large counties is essential at a much shorter time after settlement than formerly. Nevertheless, the fact remains that it requires more time to make final proof on land and get it on a taxable basis than formerly. Eight months used to be necessary, while it is now necessary to reside on land fourteen months before making final proof.
Taken from Corson County Chief August 3, 1910