The Fremont County record. [volume] (Canon City, Colo.) 1877-18??, 1881-10-22
NEWSPAPER PERSECUTION.

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From the Denver Republican Of Oct, u.s.
II. T.. Blake, of the Fremont Coun-
ty RECORD, is in a fight in which he
deserves the moral support of the
press of the state. He was heartily
in favor of Canon City for the capital
and is still so inclined. Yet he is in
trouble. The local committee decd-
ed upon a plan of action that Mr..
Blake could not approve. Because
he would not prostitute his ideas to
meet theirs he was threatened with
social and busincs ostracism. He
was made the subject of petty per-
secution that is absolutely disgrace
ftii. Efforts were made to ruin his
business, by systematic Withholding
OF patronage, and other equally dis
graceful means were employed to
force him to adopt and advocate the
committees plans. They had, how
ever, mistaken their man. Instead
of doing so, he gives complete his
tory of the campaign, shows his lib
erality in the cause, and to any fair
minded man establishes beyond any
cavil his loyalty to the interests of
the city. Iii conclusion he says:
Some think that because l imagine
Canon's ci,an ces are very slim unless
considerable work is done, that have
no faith in our town. | have more
confidence in Canon without the cap
ital than some of the enthusiasts have
with it. l have increased nv Office
with new material and stock until IL
would take $4,000 to buy it. and to-
day have fitted up public hall that
VIII cost me over $1 900 and have re-
newed my lease at S75 per month for
three more years. These facts alone
ought to convince the people OF this
place that have unbounded faith in
his city and feel that we will have a
large town. here whether we get the
capital or not. Now that the com
mitice have settled down 10 work
and nave decided to do just what
first claimed would be the only prac-
tical way TO accomplish the purpose,
they can count on me 10 help them 10
my utmost in cash and through the
columns OF the RECORD. There is no
such thing possible as forcing me
judgment. More than one prom
inent citizen knows this to be a fact.
The RECORD intends to continue its
Independence. No man can say in
truth that lie runs my paper, no
clique, however strong, can say, 1--WE
own that paper" AS long as man
does his duty | expect TO give him
credit for it, but wheu find him in
the wrong l expect 10 denounce him,
no matter how many friendly thing,
| have previously said about him.
The effort male by one or two indi-
vidnals who had petty spite 10
crafty. 10 persuade our business mel,
to withdraw their advertisements
from the RECORD, met with the re-
buke it deserved. The result was an
increase OF advertisements and none
Withdrawn. Ny printers, who have
been with me SO many years, declare
thai they will stand by me and do
what they have never been asked TO
do-wait for their money until the
cruel war is over, before they will
see me run over by any one. Besides
1 have good bank account, a large
numoer oi friends and enough stock
on hand to last Die for many months,
and could run my paper without the
advertisements of those who would
Try to drive me TO their way of THINK
ing.
Brave words, well spoken. Mr..
Blake's stand deserves the praise OF
and the hearticst support from tie
state press. The RECORD ha. done
good work for Canon, and has said
many uakind things of Denver, but
III such fight all other interests
should be forgotten and tie freedom
OF the press upheld BY every possible
encouragement. The business men,
and people generally, of Canon, have
done themselves honor by declining
to assist in the persecution inangur-
ated by few hot-tempercd and
thoughticss men.