The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-11-04
An Open Letter.

SIR:-4our "Open letter" to me is rather
like sealed book, instead-hinting at some
hidden mystery which is not expressed or
can be implied by mOrtals of ordinary intel
ligence. The OwossO Press has admitted
that it published false statement regarding
me, but instead Uf your acting i'm manly,
straightforward manner, you add insult to
injury by saying that my article in The
TIMES was an unwarranted fabrication and
make the astonishing statement which the
facts in the case will not warrant you in
making, that you have mot authorized and
are not responsible for any statement made
in the OwOssO Press or any other paper on
this or any other subject during this cam
paign." Now this is all very fine talk, but
it will be impossible for you to cram this
sort of stuff down the intelligent voters of
this county.
Do you mean to be understood to say that
an article which you considered of such
vital importance to your campaign as to in
duce you to submit the prOpriety of publish
ing the identical article i'm question to one of
our leading, honorable and upright demo-
Gratis, for his advice regarding said publica-
ton, and whose adv ce was, Don't you do
it," could remain in the Owosso Press, which
Is your official organ, for three successive
issues together with your picture at least
me refresh your memory on that point.
Don't you have faint recollection of using
this same article, and hawking it about
through the county wherever you thought it
would do the most good TO yourself and the
most injury to Inc, until you found it to be a
bOOmrang? For in the rapid unfolding of
this, to yourself, quite an interesting drama,
which has gathered in such importance and
assumed aspects so far different and pOrten-
tious than you had anticipated until the
great absorbing question with yo, now, is
not how much it will hurt me, but how can
you save yourself from the inevitable result
of your new and novel mode of conducting
political campaign in this county. | also
have it on good authority that you caused to
be circulated 800 extra copies of the Press,
and still you know nothing about it. How
did the Argus, neutral paper, happen to
skirmish around and get the article and put
it in its columns? Regarding my statement
as TO my charges l have nothing to say as
you give them practically the same but
when you come to your own charges you
dodge the issue again. You explain the
81 90 but are as silent as a clam on the rest
of the 1924 which | stated that you had had,
rs county clerk. in addition to your regular
salary during one year and sixteen days.
While l was i'm that Office | endeavOred to
conduct it Oh business principles. When |
had done any work for which the statute
allowed NE, | presented my claims to the
board as / went along, covering up and
keeping back nothing until after election.
The board, which has been hitched on to and
dragged into this controversy by your indis-
erection Ito say the least) was composed
of upright, honorable gentlemen, and in
most cases my claims were reported to the
Isx, t. ~.xx.N.
allowed on motion of a democratic super
visor. 1t is but justice to answer the query
of the Press, by saying the reason | was al
lowed 1913. 90 after the adoption of the Hos
man resolution, was that the service was
rendered prior to that date, the resolution
being passed on the last day of the meeting
of the board. The typewriter bill of which
you so darkly hint was not mine at all, but
was presented by Mr.. StOckwell and the ac-
count was referred back to the owner The
$50. 90 Of which you speak in the same mys-
ferrous way, was finally disallOwed by reason
of the HOrsman resolution. Now Mr.. b.,
feel as keenly as anyone the necessity for
again parading our affairs before the public
but in the face of these continued misrepre-
sensations on your part, cannot shrink
from the discharge of what seems to me to
be plain duty, and justice to myself. my
Idinlly anu NY ITltnUS requires me I'D III
trude upon upon the patience of the people
once more, but let me assure you. sir, that
have SAID nothing in this or my former
article, except to defend myself from your
most extraordinary, unprovoked and un-
called for assault through the public press
upon me, private citizen. l am not run
ming for any Office, but was simply attend
ing to my own business, until you called me
into public by what Nasty would character
Inc as pure cussedness. l should he only
too glad to have the taxpayers and voters
investigate, as you say, the affairs of the
clerks Office. Ii is very pleasant for repub-
licans to know that they have a candidate
for county clerk that stands so far above re-
prOach and the range of your mud battery
that you are obliged to train il upon some
disinterested person. Watch Cooper and
Jet outsiders alone, should he the advice of
your friends. or you may possibly cut down
more hay than you can cock up.
Yours, etc.
LESTER j. KENNEY.