Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01
''The District AttorneysElip. -

the interest of ats particular kind of
reform. We are not surprised,
therefore, that. embarking in the
championship of very bad cause, it
should resort to unfairness Of statement.
support it with mtss-statements Of law
and arrive at, by such course, conclu-
sions ''lame and impotent," as it does
in its last issue in an article headed as
above.
After abiding to the fact that the
Governor has ''seen fit to remove Mr..
Cassidy, and appoint in his place Mr..
Gardner, who, it admits, sis an able
and honest man, the Tribune says it
is "alleged" that Mr.. Gardner has not
resided in the state year, and is there
fore ineligible, and that this (question
Of residence is a question ''for law
yers to bubble over" IF it were an
open question at all, whether or not
Mr. Gardner has resided within this
state for year Immediately preceding
his appointment as District Attorney,
it would be simple question of fact,
which any man, acquainting himself
with the facts could decide but it is
very evident that the persons who make
this assertion do not care for truth.
Mr. Gardner, who certainly knows,
and who IS an ''honest man, says he
came with his family into this state, for
che purpose Of making his permanent
home therein, on the 18th Of December,
1872, and has ever since resided there
in while his appointment as District
Attorney was made on the ooh Of De
Gender, 1873, and he qualified about
the 24th. So much for that "allega-
ton" The Tribune then proceeds to
'allege' that "the people now demand
a special election, and the law makes
it the duty of the Sheriff to call one :;
the law says he shall do So" &c. 1t
took three taitorS to speak for the ''peo-
pie of England :" but it seems that
one, 1.-THE least of them all, when la
boring for reform, F" can speak for the
"people" of Wood Comfy 1t is
best, we suspect, to allow the people
to speak for themselves, as they always
do, when occasion requires. We must
be permitted, most respectfully to doubt
the statement that the ''people" de-
mand that they shall be subjected to
the expense Of a special election, while
there is not only no vacancy" in the
office of District Attorney, but the
temporary one made by the removal Of
Mr. Cassidy has been filed by the APP
pointment of a man who is both cable
and honest. The Sheriff has no poo
or legally to call a special election ex-
cept when there is vacancy in the
office and as there is none in the
office named, the Sheriff will be likely
to edo his duty faithfully" by not call
ing any election, thus saving the peo-
pie the expense" which the Tribune
is very anxious to GUojd Vacancies
have occurred in the same office in this
county at least tcice before tie last
one, which were promptly filed by APP
pointment- in one instance, at
least, more than one person desired the
Office but no one heard on those occa-
sions that the people demanded" a
special election, or that it was the ''du-
ty of the sheriff to call one! Bro.
Brundase resided here, too, but he had
not reformed" at those times
The Tribune then proceeds to have
fun. 1t "spits its sides" over the
fact that the only charge against Cas-
sidy which the Governor found "sus-
tanned by the proofs was the char4
Of ''gross official mismanagement -
and then proceeds to call the reason
for removal chin, and to claim for
the people the right to elect fools to
Office, paying Mr. Cassidy some COM
pliments which we will not repeat.
Why did not the Tribune publish what
Gov. Washburn says on the subject ?
Why not let the people" judge wheth-
er the reasons are shin Z" That all
may judge Of the Justice of this ''fun-
ny criticism, we publish the finding of
the Governor upon the subject in full,
which is in the following words -
THAT charge 1st Of gross and will
fully corrupt conduct, is not sustain
ed by proofs; That charge Ind of
grossly corrupt official conduct, is
not sustained by proofs. That
charge Sd Of corrupt off cial conduct,
and gross official mismanagement," is
sustained so far as official mismanage-
nept was concerned. That in the
.:o,,1or coso In question. the tenden-