Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-04-16
1ancastet Es.tei!:genrer.
SATURDAY EVENING. APRIL 10. 1881
Mr.. Gowen'S Libel Suit.

Mr.. Gowen has brought suit for libel
against financial newspaper in New
York, the existence OF which has been
known to very few and his action is SO
unlike his generally contemptuous treat
ment of such assaults as to create much
surprise, especially when the insignifi
cance of the source is considered. The
gist Of the article was the charge that
the originatOrs of Mr.. GOwen's bond
scheme had /" made their money long
ago by selling at the recently prevailing
high prices'' and the statement that
Judge McKennan, of the United States
circuit court, had declared that "he felt
very sore at Mr.. Gowen, feeling that
GOwen had lied and cheated him and that
he would have acted very differently if
he had known what he now Knows
There does not seem to he enough in
these charges to have disturbed Mr..
Gowen's equanimity, or to challenge
him to bring Il libel suit, even though the
editor invited it by a declaration that he
made them with wholesome regard for
the far-reac!,ing arm of the law )" be-
cause Mr.. GOwen is fully aware that his
character for integrity is quite proof
against all such insinuations,. and he
equally knows how absolutely silly to
those who know Judge McKennan will
seem the ascriptiOn to him of such child
isli utterances.
AS Mr.. GOwen has generally sufficient
reason for what he does, it is likely that
he seeks, in the action he has instituted,
to give wide publicity to all the mat
ters in connection with the negotiation
of the proposed Reading loan. lie has
declared that he has no desire to pun
isl this particular editor and seeks only
his own vindicatiOn. 1t is a natural de-
sire, and the ventilation he proposes to
make will he of benefit both to himself
and to his company. Mr.. GOwen is of
that rare class of men whose acts
never need TO shun the day
light. The public have the utmost
confidence in his probity and sincerity,
and it is just this confidence which has
sustained him in their esteem in the face
of what contessedly has been his most
disastrous management Of the affairs OF
his company. One OF Mr.. GOwen's great
est faults and greatest virtues is his
buOyancy and hopefulnesS. There is 4
vast deal of the Mulberry Sellers in him.
This it was that led him to bury his
company under !, load of coal mines, in
which there were and are millions, If
they can be held for the futures value.
But inmunerable men have been wreck
ed by their farsigItedness, in seeing
what the future would have in
store: and. 10y Il near sigitelness
which prevented them from seeing
intervening obstacles to the realization of
their hopes. Mr.. GOwen, though he has
brought the Reading road to the verge
OF ruin, claims the confidence of his
stockholders because they know he has
been honest in his course and will
he energetic in retrieving the errors
he KNOWS he has committed. There
is no mai, in the wide world
VIII" needs less than lie to resort
t. the courts for Il vindicatiOn of his in
t.grity. 1t is known to be founded on 4
rock, and his name has become Il syno-
nym for that rare quality among rail-
Road managers. Mr.. Gowen'S suit is
simply brought, we Judge, because of the
feeling he always has to give the public
the fullest knowledge of the things he
has done the same feeling has prompt
ed him to call the public meeting in
Philadelphia, at which in few days he
will give All account Of his steward
ship.