Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-07-30

a PhhSoNAb WORD.
For the first time during q news
paper career covering most Of a
period Of twenty years, l am called
upon to make a personal rcfutation.
This is not Of my own volition,
nor because those who have made
IL nccessarybelieve the statements
they have made to be true, but
through Difference to the desire of
friends and in justice to those with
whom have business and social
relations.
1t has been charged that THT
CHIEFTAIN was at some time or
other "sold out to the Downing
party. When it is remembered
that THE CHIrfTAIN inaugurated
a fight upon the National Phillips
administration between six and
seven years ago, and maintained
it persistently and continually until
long after Mayes' election, this ac-
cusation falls fiat. When the fight
was begun there was hardly
enough of the Downing party to
"wad a shot gun, most Of it hav.
ing been absorbed by the Union
party. Asking pardon for the
DEPRESSION, | would suggest that,
coming as il has Of late, from an
institution built by campaign
money and for campaign purposes
only, with no shadow Of hopes for
success by legitimate business
methods, this charge Of "sell out"
is in very poor taste.
Regarding selling out" to l..
b. Bell: Last February, when
the imperative necessity for pur-
chasing a cylinder press developed
itself, and before doing so, THE
CHIEFTAIN, lock, stock and bar.
rel" was offered to l.. b. Bell for
50, 500. He asked for three days
in which to decide, and from that
day to this the matter has never
been mentioned by either side
The Farmers Alliance never
owned or claimed one cents worth
OF interest in THE CHIEFTAiS anC
has always been free to support i
it or not, as it chose.
In regard to the charge that
offered at the spring roundup a
Vinita to see THE CHIEFTAIN
turned over 10 Mayes after July 1
1891, provided that there was
"anything in it," Caio is taker
not to quote w. +. Halsell moi
Sam Mayes with the authority fol
this statement, nor anyone else
The assertion is false from one enc
to the other, and | hardly think
that either of the gentlemen named
will state to the contrary. At that
time it had been practically deter
mined that d. NJ. Mars would as.
sumo editorial control Of the paper
and what course would be pursued
was beyond my knowledge.
And now as to my personal char
acter: have lived in Vinita seven
years and challenge any man here
to say that have wronged him or
anyone else, or that my conduct
has been "disgraceful." D." Previous
to that time lived three years in
Topeka. | challenge any man in
that city to say that my conduct
merited the term "disgraceful" or
that | in any manner wronged him.
Two years preceding this time l
spent at Sac and Fox agency where
| again invite the closest scrutiny of
my conduct, challenging any man
to say if / wronged him or was
guilty of "disgraceful" conduct.
For eight years preceding this
time l was in the employ Of T. B.
Murdock, state senator, at FL Do
rado, Kansas. | challenge any
man in that country to say |
ever wronged him, or that there
was any disgrace" connected with
me in any manner. This carries
me back to the age Of fifteen when
my parents moved to Kansas, and
is, | trust, far enough to satisfy all
parties save my enemies, whom !
do not desire to attempt to justify
myself before.
Begging the pardon of the public
for intruding my personal affairs
upon them, am,
Respectfully,
NJ L. MILFORD.