Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-10-01
letter from Mr.. McGi1l
SUMNER, Sept. 3Oth, 1875.

letter from Mr.. McGi1l
SUMNER, Sept. 3Oth, 1875.
Ed. BULLETIN.-The Conservative
in it's issue of last week, lays the edi-
torial lash upon the back Of some in
dividual, not named, who, it says, is
working in the interest of Mr.. Laird"
and circulating the story that the ed
itor OF that paper did not support Mr..
Sexton two years ago; also that the
same individual is lying about Mr..
Van Orsdol, stating that he has left
money at the saloons with which to
purchase votes; also that 'thls same
individual has approached saloon
men in independence, promising that
should MIR. Laird be elected he would
not be hard on them, or words to
that effect" Although the Conser-
vative does not give the name of
this ''mdividual," reputed to have cir
culated these reports, | am reliably
informed that Mr. Barnhart, the edi-
tor, has freely stated Oh the street
and elsewhere, that \. McGill was
the man referred to. TO make short
work of this statement, hereby de-
clare it, by whomsoevcr made, to be
a malicious falsehood, and the article
in the Conservative, if intended to
refer to me, II piece of demagogue-
ism characteristic of that paper and
its co-workers in defamation. 1t
looks to me rs if those parties were
paving the way to spring the trap on
Mr.. Laird that one of their number
boasted to me would be sprung on
HIM just before the election, and that
would kill him Off This same man
declared that he and few others
played the same trick on Mr.. Van
Orsdol two years ago, Boosting that
he had $50 votes in Independence
that he and his associates of the
whisky ring could control, &c.
Mr.. Barnhart'> first charge, that |
said he opposed Mr.. Sexton, Nc., is
not true. His conduct, however, in
protesting hi. innocence Of Il charge
of which no one accuses him, would
lead many to think that he did. The
good Book says: "rhe wicked flee
when no man pursueth," and Il guilty
conscience is its own accuScr. If he
persists in trying to make out that
some one is accusing him Of deiec-
ton to Mr.. Sexton, when such is not
the ease, people will begin to think
that it is his guilty conscience that is
giving him diSquietude.
AS to the second charge, that | re-
ported that Mr.. Van Orsdol was leav
ing money at the saloons, it IS equal
" false. had no means of knowing
anything about that. Two years ago
| was strong supporter of Mr.. Van
Orsdol, and | am now personally
friendly to him. supported him
because up till a very few days before
the election, he held himself stcrnly
aloof from the whisky interest, nci-
Their entering the saloons nor court
ing their influence. | am not permit
lN' w iouDt, IoN CNCI, lllsiI III wv
present campaign he has taken the
opposite course, and has managed by
some means to secure the strong and
enthusiastic support OF the saloon
men in all parts of the county This
practical unanimity of the saloon i'll
terest in furthering his election, coup
led with Mr.. Van Orsdol's own sus-
picious actions in INDEPENDENCE, dur
ing the week or two succeeding his
nomination leaves no reasonable
doubt in my mind that he has person
ally sought and secured the services
Of this Vicious class to assist him i'll
his election. think that the voters
Of this county should not fail to heed
the signs in the political 'horizon.-
Two years ago the whisky interest
was solidly against Mr.. Van Orsdol,
and were solely responsible for his
defeat. This year they will go rs
solidlv for him, yet he is running on
the same ticket as before. | know
that these men are not acting at ran
dom, and, us said before, | cannot
resist the conviction that they have
everything to gain by Van Orsdol's
election.
Regarding the third charge, that |
approached saloon men with IN over
ture from Mr. Laird, promising that
they would not be harmed by him if
elected, | unhcsitatingly pronounce
it pure fabrication, come from
whom it may. am not authorized
to speak for Mr.. Laird in this or any
other matter. do favor his election.
and will do all honorably can to Sc
cure his election. In referring to his
candidate, | have uniformly said
that | believed he would do his
whole duty toward every interest
without fear or favor or hope of re-
ward, and conduct his Office solely in
the interests of law and Justice. If
| did not believe this, certainly
should not vote for him nor ask any
body else to do so. In conclusion,
let me say that in no way is Mr.
Lard Responsible iOr me, nor L for
him. | have sought no authority to
speak for him, nor has he rendered
it.
And now, Mr.. Editor, my only ex-
cusc for thus coming before the pub
lie in this matter, is the action of the
editor of the Gtnserratiye in making
sneaklng, anonymous charges in his
paper, aud in private conversation
naming me us the person referred to-.
This may be honorable according to
his opinion, but it is not appreciated
Is the air about your "milk barn"
by Yours, truly, A. McGILI.
The Judgment of His Friends.