The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-01-13
From the Monroe Gazette, 9th inst.)
The Bellaire and Southwestern
Railroad.

The Bellaire and Southwestern
81 Railroad.
Nh. EDIToR: Inthe SPIRIT OF DRMoc-
RAcr OF the 23d ult., Mr. West in edito.
rial remarks designed as reply to a
communication In a former issue Of the
6azette, over the signature OF Mr.. w
T. Morris andmyseli propounding &C.
ries Of interrogations and asks reply
thereto. These questions are manifestly
intended 10 imply, without asserting 1t,
that there has been some unfairness or
trickery on the part OF Mr.. Morris and
myself, In our conduct with regard to
the road, depot buildings, and other mat
ters pertaining to the management OF its
affairs at the Woodsteld end of the line
And further, these questions, some of
which have been answered time and
again in public meetings, and elsewhere.
are paraded In his paper With the evil
dent intent to make false impression
and mislead the public mind He would
have his readers believe that there was
much dissatisfaction among the stock
holders, and WELL grounded reason for
believing that there Is or has been wrong
done them, and that be Is the especial
champion OF this large class Of our peo-
| pie, all Of which are untrue"
No one will charge or insinuate that
Is. L MooNEY wrote the article to which
bic name Is attached. 1t bears the ear
marks of q Professor. s
We did PROFOUND Sc series OF interro-
cations" to Mr., MoeNEr and Mr.,
MoRRls, ali OF which they have not
land dare not furnish answers to, as We
verify believe. Again. Why does moi
Mr.. MOONEY point out the particular
questions (which have been answered
time and .sgain in public meetings, and
elsewhere and then answer the remain-
der7 Because be dare not come ont
squarely and manfully. 1t suits his pur.
pose better to indulge In bombast. aao'
cit will be observed that Mr.. West
very carefully avoided making simple
direct or specific charge OF any wrong
doing, leaving that to be inferred or moi
| from The msnner and form of his inter
rogatories. It is very easy matter to
ask questions, and 10 style Of insinua
tions and inuendoes calculated to mislead
and deceive the unwaryi bal, II Is quite Q
different matter to make specific charges
misdemeanor and wrong, which when
| met and refuted leave Eo alternative bat
to stand upon the proof, or ignomini-
ously back down. Now so far as any inti-
nations or allegations Of wrong-doing
| are either expressly or implicitly intend,
| ed by the subject matter of these interro-
cations, on the part Of myself or on the
| part OF myself and Mr.. Morris associa.
ted, / hurl them back upon the author az
wholly gratuitous, and false, and do
not hesitate to assert that they have been
! melted and indited, not by spirit OF fair
inquiry in the interests OF the stockhold
ers OF the road, but from motives Of pri.
vate ,pique and revenge. 1t is well
known to those Who are acquainted with
the facts that Mr.. Vests dissatisfaction
with the management OF the railroad al
fairs al this end of the line and his ven-
ON toward me personally dates back
only. so far as my duty ae an officer Of
| the Monroe Bank, 10 obedience to an or
der from its Board Of Directors, made I,
tincumbent on me to bring suit against
him for the collection Of money owed by
| him to the Bank. II he intended these
interrogations in spirit of fair inquiry
and desired them to be answered as be
would have the public believe for the in
formation and satisfaction of complein.
| ing stockholders be would never have
lpIopUunded them Without having in hie
possession evidence that the acts OF cor.
fuption and malfeasance implied therein
had been committed, and instead Of ask
| ing insinuating questions, would have
come out with direct charges and speci'
fioations in an open and manly manner
Let BIN do this 10 his editorial columns
il be expects the people to believe thai
be represents the stockholders, in his un
wsrranted structures, and not his owr
private grievances. Let ne have direc
charges snd specifications. Mr.. West"
II Mr. MoosEr is SO pure aud high
minded IS he would have the public be-
lieye. be certainly does not desire to de
celve any one by so artfully and careful
y keeping hack answers to our interrog
latoriesi There Is danger that be viii
adeceive the unwary" by his course.
.Hurl them back is afavorite expires
sion OF men who have been cornered ant
baked, but had Mr.. MoosEr hurled bacl
proper aud correct answers the stock
holders would have been better pleased
When Mr.. MooxEr ssserts that on
sction IL melted by s'motiyes Of priyat
piqneand revenge" be asserts that whiol
be knows to be wholly false. And It b
and Mr. MosRs can answer 9ur inqul
riss and show that they are without an.
foundation in fact, does he not see tia
be, by SO doing, could show what b
charges he's truth 10 II, and thereby sub
| ject us and what we have written to ridi
cule2 ~. 49,.
Mr.. WEST has never expressed an.
dissatisfaction whatever with she man
agement of the road. Mr.. MooxE
might have added in connection with hi
statement about his suit in Court, tha
Mr.. HoEFFLEe and the writer each re
covered over e42 Of usurious interest i
lAn effort to hsve the Judgment reopene
4 In order 10 have him. Mr.. MoosE,
| placed ON the stand as witness, an
that our motion failed because the ban
consented to lose said usurious interei
rather than have the case reopened.-
/ Again be might have added that we no
have q motion pending in Court to r,
cover, In the came case, nearly $40, Il
| difference between 6per cent and 8 pe
cent. But this is foreign to the matte,
under discussion and Nj. MOONEY ha
only himself to blame for it's appearanc