The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-05-11
THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS.
eAvENNA.wEDNEsDAY. May IL, 1892

Last Wednesday afternoon representative
of the Cleveland Leader came to Ravenna, sent
his card to 1. T. Siddan, and shortly afterwards
appeared in the office of A. E. Seaton, Esq,
Clerk of the County Courts, with G. F. Douth-
lit, Esq, who, by the way, is Siddall's partner.
Having been introduced by Mr.. Douthitt, the
astute visitor commenced inquiring of Mr.. Sea-
ton concerning the Board of Improvements and |
their connection with the industrial history OF
Ravenna. The adroitness of the gentleman
from Cleveland advertised him at every word,
and it was not FIVE minutes ere he made his ex-
it from the room, in no sense any wiser than
when he entered, save perhaps in the realization
that he had caught Tartar.
The next morning two column article ap
peared in the Leader, purporting to be An
Interesting Story of Rayenna's Efforts to Better
Her Industrial Condition"
AS matter of history, some of it was true.
AS matter of news, it had no merit whatever,
for all the truths it contained were reverend with
age and known alb initio by the citizens of Raven
ma, for whose benefit it of course was published,
as the Leader very kindly sent down 100 extra
copies of that edition. oS of which were return
ed as mot wanted"
Several gross errors appeared in the article,
particularly the one that reduced the village tax
Duplicate from s., 100000 to $500, 900, on which
ii was alleged $500, 900 indebtedness existed
another error of figures, and much greater one
of suppressio veri-for in addition to the error,
that gave US a 100000 water works tax, while
the real figures are much less, it (unintentonally
of course) neglected to state that we can at any
time dispose of our water works plant at high
premium, and that it is selfsustaining institu-
ton. No citizen of Ravenna has ever had his
taxes increased one penny by reason of the
water works, although it was solemnly predicted
at the time by the opposition that the increased
burden would be intolerable. All this it very
innocently forgot to state.
Without going further into the details of the
article and the editorial essay following on the
same subject in the next issue of that paper, anc
echoed by the Cleveland World, its tenor wa
very damaging to the town. 1t labored from
beginning to end, and that too, in a contempt
bic, underhanded way,to show disastrous stat'
of affairs in Ravenna as the direct result O
bonding the town. Its natural result could no
fall to advertise the place as dead and bankrupt
thus d,terring manufacturers and people look
ing for city homes from locating here.
The damage such an article will do is incal
culable and irreparable, and the worst featur
of the whole business is that it very cunningl
starts out by an alleged quotation from MI
Seaton, leaving the inference that he furnishes
the material of which it was composed. MI
Seaton is citizen of Ravenna in the true sens
of the word and neither he nor any other friend
of the place ever furnished the writer the fact
and errors composing his article. And righ
here it should be stated that communicate
from Mr.. Seaton, correcting the errors appear
ing in the article, and setting himself right be
fore the people of Ravenna, was refused plae
in the columns of the justice loving Leader.
There was no occasion or justification for sue
an article appearing in any paper 1t has til
ear marks of the obstructionists, and ha
struck blow at our future prosperity that wi
require years of hard work to counteract.
will make the name Ravenna synonymou
with high taxes, "debt burdened," &c.. an
unless the public spirited citizens of the plac
put forth stronger endeavor than ever, tide {
i'll opinion, engendered by that article, will er
gulf US on every side.
The person or persons responsible for the ur
called for article are enemies to Ravenna, an
should be treated as such. No amount of sopf
istry can excuse or palliate the enormity of the
offence, for when the consequences are eve
casually considered, their future bearing will |
lamentably manifest.
Simply because an injunction drove from
an institution worth the entire 100000 to Il
town. and crippled another industry from
start, is no excuse for such a malicious al
cowardly blow at he,very corner stone of ;
- prosperity. individual or public-character al
financial standing.