The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-05-22
CONGRESSMAN PLUMB.

following communication from hon
Ralph Plumb
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE |, s.,
WAsHINGToN. ID. G., May Is, 1896. !
J. II. ECKEI.s, EsQ,-Dear Str-UpOr
reading sundry editorial paragraphs in the
Ottawa FREE TRADER, of the 9Th inst, re.
latng to myself, and which were deroga
tory Ia high degree to my character,
supposed, was responsible for whatever
might be published In the paper alluded
to, and in reply was Informed that the pc.
sition of editor had been assumed by
yourself, hence this communication.
write you on the presumption that had
you known all of the facts as shown by the
evidence furnished to the Senate Commit
tee on Post Offices and Post Roads re.
speeding the alleged completely of NJ. j.
Finlen In obtaining unlawfully public
lands in Nebraska, you wonld not have
published the offensive article TO which al
fusion is made, and now desiring as do to
avoid If possible all personal conflict, |
conclude that 1t is but fair to furnish you
copies of such evidence, with a request
that you give the same careful and can
did examination. This done, If you are
satisfied that have acted honorably In the
premises, and that you have done me in
justice, you will, am sure, be glad to say
so as publicly as you have assailed me.
If, however, you are not convinced, l ask
you TO publish in the FRBE TRADER the
atlidavits furnished you herewith, so that
your readers may have an opportunity to
Judge for themselves
Ayuuittn,r ha orStpu toka
Very respectfully,
RALPH PLUMB.
Prior TO the receipt Of this communica-
tloR we had learned through other sources
that our editorial of the Sth Inst was re.
garded as doing Dir. Plumb injustice in
respect to the Streator postofiice oontro.
versy. We should exceedingly regret to
be considered unjust to any public officer
and none the less SO because he is mem.
Der of the opposite political party, and
shall always be found ready and willing to
correct any misstatements, when their
inaccuracy Is called to our attention.
We a-e glad, therefore, to do Mr.
Plumb the justice to say that 30 far as his
conduct of the case against Mr.. Finlen be.
fore the committee is concerned, there is
nothing Of which just complaint could be
made, and SO fur as the Objectionable arti-
Gle could be construed as criticising him
in that respect, 1t would do him injustice
As we are informed both by Mr. Heenaa
and by Mr.. Harmon, who argued the case
before the committee, and whose views
are expressed In an interview published in
another column, all the statements made
by Mr.. Plumb to the committee of matters
within his own personal knowledge, were
straightforward and correct Though OPP
posing the confirmation of Mr. Finlen, he,
nevertheless, in answering questions pro.
pounded to him before the committee,
and through volunteer statements, testified
to the good character and standing of Mr..
Finlen, Mr.. Heenan, and all the members
OF the frm of ID. Heenan Il Co., and of all
their clerks who could In any wise have
been concerned in or Cognizant of the al
legged fraudulent land transaction, and
whose atfidavits were before the commit
tee to rebut the charge of fraudulent con
duct made against Mr. FTnlen. In this
respect, then, his conduct was comme nda-
BILE.
But there are other circum stances to be
taken into account aside from Mr.. Plumb's
mere presentation of the case TO the com.
mittee. The charge made against Mr.
Finlen was a serious one, one that involv
ed his character and reputation, and one in
which an adverse decision even by a par
tisan tribunal, would have done him an IT.
reparable Injury. The charge also involv
ed the character and reputation Of the
other members OF the fra of ID. Heenan
Il Co, and had it been sustained, would
have injHriously affected them. Under
these circumstances, while il would have
been proper for Mr. Plumb TO have prose.
cuted the charge against Mr. Finlen, II
known to him TO be well founded, il was
not his duty TO do SO upon the strength of
aifidavits made by irresponsible parties,
unless he was unaware of the character of
those parties or believed the evidence to
be sufficient to warrant Its presentation
to the committee. 1t Is undoubtedly the
duty of a member OF Congress to present a
case made against an appointee, but In do
Ing 30, he owes 1t to the party as well as To
the public to exercise caution agaIns, in.
justice.