Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-10-18
Hines as a CowardIy SIanderer.

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another in a small mining village and
then refuses to repeat his words few
evenings later at place where larger
and an expectant audience would hear
them, does he not set himself down as
a cowardly slanderer? In his speech at
Milnesville last week Hon. William II.
Hines charged the editor of the TRIBUNE
with receiving doodle" from Leisenring
to aid in defeating him (Hines) for re-
election. He also insinuated that the
editor was dishonest in his connection
with the W. b. A., which at one time
was a powerful labor organization in
this region. Furthermore, he gave the
editor what is commonly termed "rak-
ing up on general principles"
So far everything went smoothly with
Mr.. Hines Nobody, on behalf of the
editor, disputed his statements. The
TRIBUNE gathered from the most respon-
sibe witnesses present the substance of
his remarks, and then, on Thursday last,
said it would rely upon the congressman
to furnish the details Of this very inter
esting part of the campaign.
In his speech here on Saturday even
ing he referred to the TRIBUNE's attacks
upon him, but his language was exceed
ingly mild and very disappointing to
those who had confidently counted upon
him repeating his Milnesville charges,
as had been reported he would do. The
details of the "boodle" business were
not made public, there was no reference
to dishonesty in the w. B. A., and, in
short, the editor was ''let down" with as
little sensationalism as the speaker could
consistently offer.
Now why was this? If it was good
politics to abuse a man at Milnesville,
why should it not be repeated at Free
land? If it was true that the editor
was 'boodled," that he had been un-
faithful to labor organizations when
miner, that he was, literally, wolf in
sleeps clothing for quarter of CEN
tury in the vicinity of Freeland, if all
this was true, which it was according to
Mr.. Hines at Milnesville, why did he
not enlighten the people here on these
points?
There were no objections, no requests,
no intimidation from the editor or any
of his friends to cause this sudden
change of front or to keep from the
Freeland people all that was told the
Milnesvile citizens. Mr.. Hines had the
same liberty, the same opportunity, and
was under no restraint that the TRIBUNE
knows of to express himself on Satur-
day evening as he did on the preceding
Tuesday. His reason for not doing so is
his own business, nevertheless but one
excuse can be offered for the congress-
mans refusal to make the charges here
that he did elsewhere He was too
cowardly to repeat his accusations at
the editors home, or he learned that he
lied in making them and then did not
have the manhood to tender a public
apology.
Whether Mr. Hines made the state
ments upon his own responsibility or
whether they were the result of ill-ad-
vice given him by some of his local bene-
ficiaries, are questions of no consequence
at present. They were untruthful in
every respect, and, so far as his accusa-
tions in reference to "boodle" go, no
one should know better than Mr. Hines
that the support of the TRIBUNE in poll
tics cannot be purchased. His friends
have reason to know the truth of this
statement, for it has been tried in Hines
interest in this campaign and it failed.
The trouble with Little Billy" is that
the TRIBUNE has driven him to the wall
by exposing him as traitor to Demo-
cracy, dishonest congressman and a
man who worked with all his strength
to defeat the aims of the party which
elected him. In despair, he attempted
to retaliate, not by a denial of those
charges, as an honorable and innocent
man would do, but by accusing the edi-
tor of making these facts known for
Leisenring's money. The cowardly
slanderer, who is now delivering Demo-
cratic speeches after spending his time
in congress as lobbyist for Republican
manufacturers, judges others by his own
standard of honesty, but he will find
that his last card, his lying and double
dealing with the Democrats of this
county, was the greatest mistake of his
life and will aid materially in consigning
him TO his political grave.
No Doubt of 1t.