The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-09-03
GA Fair Hearing"

they were defeated In choice OF candidate FOL
prosecuting attorney, decided TO bolt, and as
is announced In this first number will bend
all their energies to defeat Mr.. Webber the
regular nominee, by aiding In the election
of the Democratic candidate for that office.
We greatly regret that our health and
mechanical facilities will not permit us In
this issue to give such an extended examina'
tion OF the questions involved In this con-
troversy as we desire, but we must content
ourselves with brief statement Of the his
tory of, and our connection with this un-
pleasant controversy.
We also regret that Mr.. Nye who has been
defeated for denomination, and whom we
had desired not To further embarrass by
this controversy has made such statement
in "a Fair Hearing" SO full Of errors and
Misrepresentation as to justify a re.state
ment of the reasons on which the opposition
to his candidacy was based and q review Of
the history OF his connection with the
Hinckley case.
For many months there has been
growing feeling of dissatisfaction
with the administration OF the Grim
inal business of the county. The opin-
ion prevailed that the present prosecutor
had not the intellectual and legal ability,
the independence and force Of character
necessary TO enable him to successfully con-
tend with the older and more experienced
members Of the bar; that failures to convict
were not always on account OF innocence or
want OF evidence; that frequently settle
ments Of cases were effected by the agreeing
to nolle anywhere from one to dozen counts
Of an indictment II the accused would plead
guilty on one, when II was believed that con-
yiction could have been secured on several
counts II not all; that the business OF de-
Tending criminals was being made easy, and
acquittals OF the guilty too frequent, and
finally that In the settlement OF the Hinckley
case, very serious legal and moral offence
was committed, that could not be excused
or defended.
1t is not our purpose to open an argument
at this time in support of these opinions, we
only say they were honestly entertained and
were thought 70 be a sufficient reason for
opposing the denomination Of the present In.
cumbent. The objection on the ground Of
lncompetency alone we're sufficient TO Justify
our opposition and the peculiar methods
resorted TO in the settlement OF the Hinckley
case made II impossible TO give him our
support, and how generally these objections
obtained throughout the county, may be In
ferred from the fact that his competitor re-
ceived 10 majority of the county delegation,
Notwithstanding the long established custom
to give an incumbent second term, and not.
withstanding Mr.. Nye had the support Of the
chairman Of the county committee and the
most complete organization which long years
Of experience and unusual ability could Sc
cure. Nor was the opposition based upon a
personal regard for Mr. Webber, but was out.
side OF and independent OF his candidacy Both
Mr.. johnson and Mr.. Nye were talked
with freely on this subject. The
objections to Mr.. Nye were plainly
and repeatedly stated and they were
assured that under no circumstances would
we Willingly consent TO Mr.. Nye's renomina.
ton, but II he was left out we would support
any other candidate they might select. To
all our entreatles we were answered by Mr..
johnson with ponderous emphasis, that no
other candidate should be nominated but
Mr.. Nye; that owing TO some blind insinua-
tions by Mr.. Metcalf In the "Republlcann
with reference 10 the conduct OF the criminal
business OF the county, he regarded II as abso-
lutely necessary that Nye should be renomi-
mated as vindlcatlon OF his and Of Mr.. Nye's
character against the charges made, and that
II should be done, II he could effect II, II it
broke up the party. And so the fight began.
We had no personal feeling against Mr..
Nye, and II was with great reluctance
that we engaged in controversy that
must inevitably result disastrously TO
him, and It was only after exhaustlng every
possible means TO effect his withdrawal from
the canvas that we felt compelled TO publicly
oppose him. 1t was on account OF the above
and from no desire 10 post
pene action so late that there would be no
for reply, that our first article
was delayed TIL the week before the pri-
maries were held. To the two or three
columns we published, Mr.. johnson
published twelve column reply, Of
which he distributed several thousand in
The county reaching five times as many read
,rs as ours, and yet the dissatisfaction with
Mr.. Nye was so great that In large number
If precincts, Mr.. Webber was the almost
choice, while those giving Nye
delegates were many Of them carried by bare
majority. II true we issued brief reioinder,
vat ithad only limited circulation in this end
u the county, and In towns that were already
'emmitted to Mr.. Webbers interests, and
'ould not have seriously affected the general
esult. The questions In controversy we're
thoroughly discussed In all parts Of the
county, and II cannot be said that Mr.. Nye's
interests were not as thoroughly and effective.
y cared for by his friends Us were MrWebber's
~ his supporters; but true TO the spirit
kr. johnson had manifested from the begin
ng OF the controversy TO rule or ruin, he pro-
Ilded himself with affidayits bearing onthe in.
egrlty and truthfulness OF Mr.. Webber, and
insisted on introducing them into the con.
'ention under rule allowing fifteen minute
peeches for the presentation OF candidates;
nd thus making n narannal attach .yhIch |