Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-10-12
The Gate 0rt0n Letters.


has got down to business, and is en-
deavoring to wipe out the odium at
taching to himself by contemplate ac-
ton in the McDill matter two years
ago. 10 this end he hob-nobs with
Mr.. Orion, the twain kiss and hug and
fall into one another arms, and each
makes confession, agreeing to be polit-
] zeal Siamese twins in the future, while
they mend the broken china under the
political bedstead in the eighth Dis
trict
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 2S.-It has
transpired that during the presence
here at the state fair of Harlow S, Or
ton, democratic candidate for congress
in the Second district and George w
Cate democratic candidate for congress
in the Eighth district, a somewhat
bitter personal quarrel and feud be.
tween them was eaded IN d very hear
Fly reconciliation. In 1874 the con-
test III the Eighth district was very
close between Cate and the late Dr..
McDill, the latter commencing pro-
ceedings to contest the seat of the
former, which were afterward aban-
doned Orion was DR.. McDill's attor-
ney, and when the contest was aban-
doned made some remark to Cate, to
the effect that he. Cate, was probably
honestly elected. Subsequently Cate
was violently assailed in the republican
newspapers, charged with being IA
usurper,7 and with acting dishonesty
IN holding the seat. IN reply Cate
published letter, in which he said
that Orton, who was the attorney of
his opponent, had admitted that he,
Gate, had the only valid title to the
seat. After this Orion wrote furious
letter. denying that he had ever admit
ted that McDill was not elected, accu-
sing Cate of violation of profession
al confidence and gentlemanly usages
in repeating what he said, OF in repre-
sentlng that he had said anything on
the subject, and which was generally
very severe on Cate This letter he
did not publish, but confded to friend
Charles Nj. Webb. republican, and
United States district attorney for the
West district Of Wisconsin. Webb
immediatel y caused the letter to be
printed, and copies OF it were procured
as soon as Orion and Cate both became
candidates fer congress on the same
ticket, for republication as a campaign
document. Care heard of this and
was on the anxious seat, as was Orion,
for the affair would greatly hurt both
in the campaign While they were
both here at the state fair, friends in
tervened and brought them together.
They talked matters over, found that
the differences between them had been
magnifed Orion admitted that his
letter was hasty and inconsidoratc, and
that it was in part unjust, and he pro-
posed to make it right. Orion there
fore proposed to go to Gates district
and make a speech in which he would
rectify all errors, and it was decided
that the speech shall be at Chippewa
Falls, at an early day. Cate will also
make one or two speeches in Orion s
district
In this extract from the Times it
seems that Mr.. Orion 's0dmlIed" that
''his letter 1ods hasty and incoasider-
ate." Now we are prepared to show
that Mr.. 0rton's letter was not ''hasty
and inconsiderate, but rather the
production Of calm deliberation and in
dited at the suggestion of Mr.. Webb
who knows the circumstances and that
the allegations made by Mr.. Cate were
false, and that Mr. Orion so consider
ed them, and so expressed himself to
Mr.. Webb in emphatic language. In
view Of the fact that Mr.. Orion has
| (according to the extract published)
consented to eXonerate Mr.. Cate and
give him a coat of political varnish
we re-publish the letter which con-
dennis Mr. Cate in Mr.. Orton's char
acteristic and most emphatic language.
The extract from the Times speaks
of Mr.. Orton's letter as not published
by himself, ':but as confded to q
friend, Mr.. Webb uho Immediately
caused the letter to be printed. This
is absolutely misstatement as will be
seen by the closing paragraph of Mr..
Orton's letter in which he says ~
do not vish you to publish THIS letter,
unless for some reason, Of achich 1 an,
not opprised, you deem 1t absolutely
necessary,'' and again, IF an yo,sr
opinion circumstances regnire the pub,
location of this letter, I trust at may
be published as an entirety" showing
that it was his expectation that the
letter was 20 be given to the people
| through the press, if Mr.. Webb deem