The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-10-30

dulged, that Plumb owned and controlled
the independent was correct, and that 1t was
published under the guse of independence
and by David Leroy, defeated candidate
for the postmastership supported by Col
Plumb, solely to assist Plumb and the
party with which he Is connected Into re-
gaining ascendancy Ia La Sale county
Le Roy's democracy Was heralded FORTH
and his newspaper utterances given Gre
dence by republican and Plumb organs as
emanating from ademocratic source, In or
der that the scheme might work better ofce
ceiving the voters and to furnish campaign
material for republican and Plumb news
papers. He believed the scheme 10 be ex'
actly such a one as was worked some years
ago by the republican national mmittee,
who maintained newspaper In Missis-
sppi known US the Ok0loHa States, which
proclaimed itself democratic and gave
f rth ultra rebel utterances, which were
copied by republican newspapers In the
North AS the democratic opinion In the
South. His visit TO Streator convinced him
OF the correctness Of his surmise.
The fncts which he desires to herewith
state he obtained directly from Il republi'
can source. He did not seek nor did he
obtain them from democratic one. lie
obtained them from a republican who has
been and Is now a supporter of Col Plumb,
but who has waged vigorous war upon his
establishing Independent newspapers in
the district in direct competition with old
line republican ones. The information
given the editor of THE FREE TRADER
came directly from Col. Plumb TO the
informer who gave it TO him direct. No
third party figured in it, and Col. Plumb
cannot, without committing the most un.
blushing and willful violation of truth,
gsinsay or deny the following statements:
Fira-That the independent Is a paper
owned by stock company.
Soc0nd-That II was started in the spring
of 1885 for the purpose of assisting Col
Plumb in his postoffce controversy at
Streator, and to defeat the appointment and
confirmation of Miles j. Finlen, democrat
as postmaster of Streator, and to prevent
the removal OF the post.o office from its 10
cation in Dr. Edwin Evans's republican,
building. Further, that the object In view
was to assist in building Col. Plumb up In
Streator and breaking the democratic orga-
nization down.
7Hird-That the stockholders are all,
with the exception Of David Leroy, the
paid agent of Col. Plumb, active, working
members of the republican party of Strea-
tor and staunch supporters of Col. Ralph
Plumb.
Four.h-That these republican stock,
holders put into the concern over $500
FJM-That the republicans interested
In the paper and stockholders are:
Frank NJ. Ryon, ex-republican postmas-
ter, succeeded by Finlen, democrat. This
same Rysn offered to resign in favor of Le-
Roy, and with his resignation, the arrange
ment being satisfactory to Plumb, LeRoy
went to Washington, but was refused rec
ignition as democratic applicant for the
office.
Ralph Plumb,republican member OF con-
gress and present republican candidate for
reelection.
Fawcett Plumb, a repu blican and ne
phew of Ralph Plumb,
DR. w l.. smith, a.republican, nephew by
marriage of Ralph Plumb.
DR.. Evans, a republican, and the strong
est supporter of Ralph Plumb In treato r.
In his building the post-office Is now loca-
ted, three doors from Col. Plumb's opera
house, and has been throughout the past
ten years.
John Arthur arepublican.
James Wilson, an active republican and
a banker.
James Williams, proprietor of the bus
line, an active working republican.
Henry Baker, republican, keeps gro
Gerry store opposite Col. Plumbs opera
house.
Dr. ID. l., Woods, repub,i an; practices
medicine; an active party worker.
There are, besides these, several other
republicans who hold stock in the concern,
and David LeRoy, the agent of Plumb, |
who was refused recognition by the demo,
Gratis at Washington.
Strh-That Ralph Plumb put into the
Mdepeadent at the outset 5000 and Fawcett
Plumb 5000, and this stock, together with
additional money put into the paper by
Plumb, is controlled by John H. Shay, who
is managing Ralph Plumbs campaign in
Streator.
Secenh-That there is every reason TO
believe that the indspeHdeat will cease to
exist when the present campaign is brought
to close.
EtghM-That no democrat owns any
stock in the paper.
These are the plain, unvarnished facts
relating to the Streator Hdependea. 1t is
the creation of Ralph Plum and its editor |