The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-03-17
Translated from the NAM towoc Zetnng. a7=s
State Treasurer Betz in the Railroad
- Affair.

The following letter, received last Tues
day is hereby published, because We con
slider it our duty, to give to those pub
licly attacked, an opportunity for pub
| lie defence: I'll IA
/ MADISON, MARCH, 4th 1870.
The assertion of JOS Villas that worked against
that Railroad Charter is void of every foundation in
fact did not work against that Railroad Bill either
the when he wrote and forwarded to Manito
wocthe dispatch of that assertion, nor before or after
that time. hat did, was limited Simply TO the ob
| Seryance and consequent carrying ont OF purely
passicc position in the whole matter OF dispute
1 1 induced do 50 by the opinion. that it IL
Incompatible with my position as State Officer II
NEEDLE with Legislative qnarres, aud have the un-
disputable privla to act according this convic
ton. Had [ taken any other way should have made
untenable my position as State Treasurer. have
here unprejudiced man yet III either party
who did not agree with on this point Had IN
deed orked against the affair, Mr.. Villas would have
received much better more positive proef OF my
activity, than the one on which be bases ms
Not a single member can stand up and say, that
have tried to make Irot3isardl IN this matter an;
tried to influence his vote TO charge me even with
corruption, Is SO coWardly and ridiculous, icittl
overlook such accusation with quiet diSiain i
have never sold my honest conviction or been IN
luenccd by improper motives to commits N act that
was not to be brought in correspondence with HE
principle of strong honesty Neither have become
a traitor to the Railroad interests OF Manitowoc.-
desires sincerely the early construction OF the
Lake Shore Road and of that from Aanitowoc to
Menaslra than do. I have always expressed my
self in favor of both roads and taken ilvry interest
in them while certain gent ridcued the build
ing of a Western road and were quite willing tolet
the whole project fall to the ground, and to go the
stronger for the sovcalIed Lake Shore Road. 1t is
nv conviction that the Menasha road will be bulit,
even if is done by Easton. For the rest leave 1T
10 Mr. Reed himself to give to the people of MantoWoc
the realsite light the arrangements by him made
The only charge which can perhaps be made
against me is. that would not Work Tor the III
as faras it had Western line for its object that
| did not consider it best, to join crusade against
Reed and to confirm the partly very unjust and nm
true accusations against him. l carry on no war
AGAINST members OF the Legislature, am not tie
paid agent of any person or corporation, / am not
sent here to increase the ''Loby, but am elected by
the people of this State, to carry out the aaIstra-
ton Of the finances honestly and consccnuously, ana
that shall do For my private opinion am reSpo-
THAT an those who voted against the Charter in
the Legislature should be corrupt and venal subjects
might lie doubted very strongly such a matter iE's
10 sides may differ, and there are many among
them who above the suspicion OF corruption IN
I ro!neff an intelligent public opinion, and am
willing graptit every consideration. i'Tt aNoce OF
the people founded upon Misrepresentation, cal
limitations and lies, has no terrors for me.
To day: Uosiannal To morrow: Cruelty hInl
Thus the world goes. Yours. IT,,
The above answer only confirms our
conviction that Mr.. Baetz was and very
probably is now against or Railroad
Charter, we mean the Charter so much
opposed by MIR. Reed and defeated by
him and bis coadjutors. All we cannot
conceive is, that man like Henry Baetz,
knowing Reed as he does, can still rely
on that mans promises and representa-
tions. SIr. Betz was not observing and
consequently carrying out a purely pass
i've position in the whole matter for he
was pledged to Mr.. Reed, by having been
appointed by him one of the Directors
in the Land Grant Road, has his money
invested in that scheme. and was Of
course bound to do the best he coUtd In
favor Of that road. Mr. Joseph Villas
viii probably answer to the accusation Of
falsehood himself. We hn010 that tIr.
B@tz was not impartial in the NATTER
nor could he be under the existing cir
cumstances.
''IIE THAT IS NOT FOR Us IS AGAINST
Us"