The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-06-23
Doc. Howard Again.

Communicated
In reply to Mr.. Hawker's letter, to
which l have already made some allusion
in the Eagle, we would first inquire wheth-
er the circumstantial evidence in the case
warranted Mr.. Hawker in saying that my
statement in regard to the illegal sale of
public school property is untrue. He
states that on the very day I was looking
that property over, with his knowledge
preparatory to purchasing, he sold it with
out competition to his son at a presumab-
ly nominal price. If he intended me to
be a competitor, what was his object in
selling it before he learned what l would
give? Again, if he told me, as he says,
l could have it by paying more than his
son, what grounds of complaint could I
have had to DR.. Greig? Again, would I
have dared to make such a statement
against him to the attorney general, if it
had been false? Moreover, is it possible
to conceive of an innocent mar permitting
me to circulate such a report for nearly a
year without contradiction by either him
self or any of his friends, if 1t we're false.
until the public were favored with his
cold facts in the PIONEER some two
weeks ago. Yes. cold enough. Cold is a
condition of death these we're utterly
lifeless of truth. AS to what passed be-
tween DR.. Greig and myself. it is quite
immaterial. My business relations with
Mr.. Hawker were final, and what he
might or might not do was on our part
purely hypothetical. hold if DR.. Greig
had gone to Mr.. Hawker and kindly, but
firmly, told him he could not be silent in
the matter unless the grass were sold to
the highest bidder, he (Mr. Hawker)
would have at once sought 10 make amends
for his mistake. The Doctor should not
have looked upon it as an act of no conse-
quence, but rather as one involving a
principle which must not be sacrificed.
AS to smuggling, l am pleased to say
that I have thus far never been tempted
in any way to engage, directly Or indir-
ectly, in the illegal importation or sale of
intoxicants, or any other kind Of dutiable
goods, except the one load, already re-
ferred to by me in last weeks Eagle, which
l hired a man to draw from Plum Creek
and which I can prove was taken to the
customs Office for entry in good faith. but
the officer was not in, and not knowing
where to find him and the roads being
quitebare and rapidly becoming more so,
it being spring, with a distance Of some
twenty miles yet to be travelled, it was
driven on to my place and afterwards
seized and sold, which was the first, last
and only experience I ever had in such
matters. I never saw the man to my
knowledge till the evening before hestart.
ed for my load. *e
Il never yet became s. corrupt as tc
have to be fired from a church." This is
true in part. was fired" Or dismissed.
but as to corruption. that depends" II
disbelieving in eternal reprobation and
similar doctrines taught is corruption,
then I am exceedingly corrupt. but
should not suppose that "a fair and JUS
minded man" like Mr.. Hawker would call
it thus. Judging from appearances. he
and I must be of like faith. The facts are
I presented the church with my resigna.
ton, and was told (not officially that il
was accepted. but have to-day learned the
records show I was dismissed, no mention
being made of my resignation nor cause
! given for the action. In so far, I wrote
in the Eagle ignorantly, for which I ash
Mr.. Hawker's pardon. I hope the church
will yet give me official information as tc
why my resignation was not accepted apo
a just cause for their action, so that wher
any Of my particular friends accuse me q
being regarded by many as a 'lost sheer
of the House of Israel" I may be able te
tell them why. Till then. I must lay un.
der the stigma of being corrupt.
Respectfully yours,
..r.' " S. HOWARD.