Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-11-01
AN OPEN LETTER.
Centralia, Wis, Oct. 81, 1894.

Centralia, Wis, Oct. 81, 1894.
Mr.. A. L. FoSTAISE, editor Wood
County Reporter SIR:-To my positive
knowledge there have been many
statements made in your paper, since
the opening of this campaign, which
have not been consonant with the truth,
and as many of them have been aimed
| and intended for me, | trust you will
permit me to point out a few instances
of this kind which have come to my
notice, and which were made, presum
ably, for the purpose of creating a
prejudice against the Democratic candi
| dates for county Offices and sentiment
in favor of those on the opposite ticket.
First of all permit me to characterize
as maliciously false the statement
contained in your issue of the 10Th inst,
| that the firm of Jones & Nash owed the
county $4,000 at the close Of NJ. Jones'
term of office as county clerk, and that
| William Hooper, his successor, made
the amount good aud took the JOINT
note of Jones & Nash in lieu thereof
In proof of my statement that the same
is unqualifedIy false, [ here append
the card of Mr.. Hooper himself, which
was published in the last issue of the
Centralia Enterprise.
WIN. Hooper's letter referred to
appears in another column.)
Second: [ deny that my support Of a
candidate for any public office, i'll
convention or at the polls, has ever
been given in return for favors expected
or received, and that all considerations
of nationality or even friendship have
! been secondary to those of fitness for
the office and concern for the public
welfare.
Third: l deny the existence of any
"clique' or ''ring" in the ranks of the
Democratic party in the county, but
assert that all are on an equal footing,
politically and every other way.
Fourth: Ideny the possession of any
my party, and assert that my opinion of
party policy is nearly as often disre-
garded as it is needed.
Fifth: | deny the statement made III
the Marshfield Times and unpublished
in your paper, presumably with your
endorsement, that VIM. Corcoran was
once an employee in our store, and that
that was the reason Of his nomination.
Sixth: I deny u similar aspersion,
similarly published, regarding Peter
McCanley, and state as positive fact
Mr.. McCamlev represented the in
terests of Johnson, Hill & Co., and not
| our own, Wnen he became an employee
Of the Centralia Hardware Co.
In proof of nv sincerity in every
statement herein made, I here attach
my oath that the same is true to the
| best of knowledge and belief:
STATE OF WISCONSIN I &C
WooD COUNTY. 49,
L. NJ. Nash being first duly sworn on
oath deposes and. says, that the above
c+n ,+e IL l.
him are true to the best of his know
ledge and belief.
L. NJ. NASH.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
this 3lst, day of October A. D. 1894.
r. G. WORTIINGTOy,
Notary Public, Wood Co. Wis
Now, Mr.. Fontaine, the above being
the sworn truth, it seems to me and it
must seem to all that the campaign as
conducted by you has been one of cavil
and false pretense from beginning to
end. And permit me to say that | am
surprised and chagrined that you have
allowed your party enthusiasm to lead
you to attempt to besmirch my character
in the manner you have done. |
supposed [ had your confidence to such
a degree as to stand in the way of any
such cause. Being residents Of the
same ward, you have repeatedly
supported me as candidate for super
visor and haye been unsparing in your
praise Of my work ON the county board.
1t was to be expected that my Republic
can friends at Marshfeld, and especially
Mr.. Cady, would adopt such course,
but not you; for in that city the word
"Nash" is made use of by fond parents
to scare their children into obedience
much the same as other people tell
their children Of the "big black bear in
the closet" and if Mr.. Cady could
bring about my political death, it would
be much to his satisfaction, as he is
said to possess q peculiar fondness for
Centralia corpses.
Excuse me for intruding so extensive
ly upon your valuable space.
Yours very truly,
L. NJ. NASH.