Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-29
A REPLY BY ALBERT D. WOOD,

REPLY BY ALBERT D. WOOD.
EDS. RECORD. UNION: Seeing that you
have permitted Mr.. Kstzenstein to attempt
to poison the minds of your readers as to my
relations with him and his associates, and as
to my history generally, feel sure you will
permit me to offer an honest defense.
In the matter of violating condolences
quoting passages from private letters in such
a manner as to entirely falsify their true
meaning, Mr.. K. of course occupies field in
which no gentleman can return his fire or re-
tsliate in kind.
In the letter he quotes of mine, was as.
surfing him that no friend of mine had any
intention Of at all meddling with him or his
position that his spies, who made him be-
lieve such things, were not truthful, and
from them only he could be in danger and
now Mr.. K. says most falsely that my letter
indicated an intention to "rat him out of his
Office, )" an elegant phrase OF his selection from
the choice titbits of our literature.
My letters referred to did not urge him
to join our side, but implored bin to " be
always on the side that right makes strong"
Those were the exact words and l also re-
|
never led him or the Order sstrsy. l sug-
gested three honest candidates for election,
but said those or amy other judicious selec-
| TONS"
urged him to desist from his active clan
destine partizanship with Robert Thompson,
in his war on Mrs. Stevens, Will D. Gould
and others, because he was sending the paid
employees of the Grand Lodge over the State,
sowing discord and poison among the men,
| hard rs khn Id II al h.
once-by acting honestly-save all parties
from the disaster and mischief which the OBJ.
stinacy, ignorance, folly and incompetence
of himself and his confederates have now
forced upon the Order. 1t was a surprise to
many to hear Mr.. K state in the Grand
! Lodge that she had not taken Sides" when
| he had been an active and principal agent in
forcing the quarrel into that body, and into
publicity
The reports that an attempt was being
made to displace Mr.. K. and the superin-
tendent of Juvenile work. etc, were used to
create prejudice against Mr.. Could but they
were pure inventions of the spy agencies re-
ferred to they deceived many good people.
and did valiant service to bad cause, that
had to employ falsehood to sustain it.
All that was intended by the sdherents and
| friends of Mr.. Gould was to preserve peace,
by droppins Robert Thompson from the Ex-
ecutive Committee. Anything further charged
to them was false. Mr.. Katzenstein's policy
was to retain his ally on the Board, and thus
fortify for life that position of his, and the
darling salary, at all hazards and By any
means.
The pretense Of meddling with the Rescue
to reduce expense is too shallow and absurd to
| need rebuttal. 1t was entirely false pre-
tense, and the report of the Finance Commit.
tee seems to have been dictated by secret
hostile agency, for the previous year they
pronounced everything perfect in the same
line.
THOSE DEFICITS.
My viltuous sssailant is an adept in MAIL
ing figures testify to suit lis case. He shows
the deficit on the publication of the Rescue,
for eleven years previous to my recent con-
nection with it, averaged 81, $50 year. and
under my care it has averaged 81. $50. Now,
let us look at the figures honestly. In nine of
| those eleven years the paper had circulation
averaging not over ,050 with an annual
deficit of $1,000, it cost the Grand Lodge
nearly 81 year per copy. In the other two
years l had it, with a circulation of 1900
| average beginning with 750), and its deficit
was 81. 900, or 81 II per copy, and the price
was reduced from 81 80 to 81 so.
Then, in the last three yesrs-1SS0 to 1888
the circulation. which began with 40 sub
scribers, and l. 100 free copies. went up to
5000 at one time under my care, and aver.
| aged exactly 1878 the three yesrs. And,
although the subscription price was reduced
to one half its previous amount, the annual
deficit was 81 Sol, or 81 II year per copy,
against 81 previously. Had my deficit cor
responded with that of former years. it would
have averaged 81, 430 year, a great differ
ence when the half-price adopted by the Ex-
ecutive Committee is considered.
II * somewhat siDpular that the liTnite1
intellect of Mr.. X. never comprehended that
a paper with a circulation Of 4, $50 and
character, was OF any more value than one
with 400 subscribers and no name whatever
although he and his supporters have declared
it the right arm Of the Order, ETC., as witness
their utteraAces in October. 1888
Report of C. W. c. T. Winchester CThe
Rescue Of its great benefit to the cause and Order
there can be no doubt 1t has been worth
to the Order and cause of Temperance all it has
cost is the opinion Of the most advanced thinkers,
etc.
Report of Mr. Katzensten The good it (the
Rescue has done its influence in the years gone
by cannot be computed by dollars and cents. Its
usefulness has far outweighed its cost it
has been recognized as Of the ablest opponents
of total abstinence and prohibition published.
1t ID not true that 1 petitioned for tt g
Rescue in 1880 or ever peti,ioned anything in
my life, beyond signing a pc ition to the
Legislature to arrest the liquor traffic. |
would much prefer to be the central figure at
Coronec's inquest, than TO appear before TIE
Grand Lodge, or anywhere else, az sup
plant or mendicsnt, pleading my self
sacrificing eminent services" as deserving of
an enormous salary, and shedding tears over
the melting prospect Of being turned out
possibly in poverty, in old age, as somebody
did at our last session.
| made an offer in 1880 to publish the pa
per on certain terms, all of which were hon.
est Never asked one person to favor the
proposal or vote for it never once. Never
insisted on three years; that was the term
that had just been concluded. But for the
secret opposition Of Il. Thompson and the g.
w. S., who have discharged from the service
every lecturer who has worked to increase the
circulation of the Rescue, it is fair to believe
there would have been no deficit by this time.
l never asked to have my contract amended
offered 20 fill it out. The change was gener-
ously offered by the Executive Committee.
after [ had served a year for nothing and
found myself.
By confusion of figures Mr. K. made
showing OF large deficit in the four last
weeks publication. which included a $1,000
edition and some other unusual EXPENSE. but
the deficit of the last quarter, including those
four weeks, was at the rate of 81, 200 a year,
with a prospect of reducing that by more
than 81 200 on subscriptions already due and
additional advertisements easily procured.
With so good show for success it was then
the time to remove the Manager and claim
the credit If his lGbors.
PIETY.
The religious scruples of Mr.. X. and hs
associates, touching the Rescue are entitled
to profound admiration. Tney were not
satisfied with its evangelical status. A tidal
wave of spiritual activity had awakened them
all at once to the needs of having their organ
q graudly religious Journal. That was COM
1neudsble; but the G. w. S. had assented,
on May Z, 1888. to the following resolutions
unanimously adopted by the Executive Com
mittee:
Resoired, That the assault on the Rescue has been
unchristian and deserves the rebuke Of every Good
Teupar and Of every person who in faith, hope and
charity makes sacrifice for God and home and native
land
Rescued, That the Rescue, edited by Christian
patriot founded, established,
loved and upheld by the ablest and parest men Of
our land the friend Of everything that is honest,
pure and good, nobly teaching has never
made any attack upon any church, but has simply
proclaimed the truth in alleging that all persons
who vote responsible for the laws
RsS0ired, That the increase of the circulation Of
the Rescue is the most efficient means at com
mand Tor the Advancement Of the cause, etc.
The Executive Committee had then just set
t1e1 u ith IN advartEipo solicitor aronIoved bv