The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-03-07
The Infirmary Controversy

tie with some interest as an armed
neutral. 1t is none of our fight, but
we cannot deny the request of the
writer of the following article and
number of his friends to give him
hearing in his o~n defence through
the columns of the Press:
To THE EDITOR OF THE DEMOCRAT =
1t is with regret that am am drawn
into this Infirmary quarrel, and es-
pecially by those 1 regard as my
friends. 1 am 10th to believe that they
intended to place me in wrong atti-
tude before the public. was warm
personal friend of Mr.. Price. the pres
ent Superintendent of the Infirmary,
q man who stands high in the commu-
nifty where he is known, and who has
given tone and character to the instl-
tuition. When was informed by two
of the Directors that they had resolv-
ed to make change in the Superin-
tendency, whether it be Dickinson or
some other person. and learned the
particulars of his appointment, l did
advocate my neighbor Dickinson's
qualifications and defended his actions
in the premises. Hence, the CONVEX
sation in Dodge's Store. This conVer-
sation between myself and another
person in DIS store the Board of
Trade" understood to be between
Dickinson and myself. / hope when
the spirit of making me the manipu-
lator of the Shalersville ring" shall
have subsidized, they will do me the
Justice to consider one other point in
the case which l will then present,
and then, if they persist in making
me say that the conversation was be-
tween Dickinson and myself, / shall
have to submit, but viii never admit.
The conversation between Dickinson
and myself on Convention day have
previously stated in the Democrat.
call on Mr.. Dickinson to say wheth-
er correct or not.
l now pass to notice some very
strange and inconsistent remarks from
the radiating center of the Republican
party of the county. The Editor who
is the great ring-master who COM
menced the attack in his editorial and
followed it up with such persistency,
has sought to elude the eye of the
public by giving articles as cores
pondence oyer various names, such
as :. Citizen" Board Of Trade,
q Foar Brass Lanterns" &c. The
public understand that those articles
emanate from one and the same head,
if not written by the same pen, 1t is
very near kin. Those articles on the
part of the dictatorial g ring have
been thrown out TO stir up and preju-
dice the extreme portion of the Re-
publican element OF the county in fa-
vor of the interest of Ravenna at the
next election. Hence the attack on
! the citizens of Shalersville.
You lay great stress on the lndig-
nation of the citizens of Ravenna.
Now, how is this {? Have you consult
ed with any considerable number OF
citizens outside of your "ring! Ny
I business of late has called me to Ra-
VIENNA nearly every day. have con-
versed with some of the most promi-
nent citizens, and they have, without
an exception, justified the action of
Mr.. Dickinson, and condemned the
course of those who commenced the
attack on him. Some of those per-
sons stand high before the public as
leaders of the Republican party, and
| have denounced the course you have
taken, as it bids fair TO disrupt the
present Republican organization OF
the county, and bring into the field a
third party. One gentleman who has
done much for the Republican party
in days gone by. said in my hearing,
that it was great pity that the Re-
publican party had not got high
/ toned. and manly organ at its head,
that would not stoop to hur cudgels
at every person that happened to diff
fer with its editor. He said some of
the citizens of nearly every township
in the county had been stabbed by the
columns of the Democrat, and said
that if high and manly toned organ
was once started he believed he could
obtain. before the first of May, two
Thousand subscribers. The public
opinion, as far as am able to learn,
scouts at the idea of its being an un-
precedented case of fraud upon the
people for an officer to resign his po-
sition in order to accept another one.
/ Have not some of our best and most
worthy officers of the county resigned
official positions to accept more lucra-
tive ones? Perhaps you was coun-
selled in the matter, which may ac-
count for your silence at the time.
will now call your readers attention
to the wonderful Inconsistency of this
radiating center. They will notice
that in former article, they denounce
in very bitter terms the action of this
board of directors for taking counsel
even with officials of the county and
stigmatize them as a "Shalersville
ring" being made 'cat's paw" &c
In later article they advise the two
remaining directors to seek foI
themselves "judicious counsel and adj
vice" Thus they will divide great
responsibility. Where will this judi.
cious advice be found? / suppose no.
; where but with this self-constituted
head. After attempting some very
bitter sarcasm at the expense of the
citizens of Shalersville, the writer says
he has yet to meet man outside ol
the properly called Shalersville
ring" who justifies the action of Mr.
Dickinson He also says the institu
+ ton being located in Shalersville, has
been very handy for citizens to fill the
Directory and preside over its desti.
| DioS.s 1Hett iiiay Dc 81. Will lOCdtt
J this institution for the benefit of those
who are not familiar with its situation
They will do we'll TO make note of il
for they may need it in the future
This institution is located about one
half mile from the north line of Ra.
VIENNA, in the south west part of Sha.
lersville. Here is neighborhood
settled near the county Infirmary
with persons who had long resided in
Ravenna, before they crossed over the
line into Shalersville, living nearly as
near to Ravenna village as the busi-
ness center of Shalersville. They re-
tain their attachments to lavenna as
strongly as though they lived on the
Rapenna side of the line. Those pco-
pie are seldom seen at the center OF
Shalersville except on election days
Those persons properly belong to Ra-
| VIENNA in their business and social in
tercouree and are the ones to whom