The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-06-01
A Contemplate Lie.

During this campaign several contemph-
hle lies have been circulated about several
republican candidates, bat Virgil Walters
and his friends capped the climax when they
had the following published in the leading
democratic daily of Corvallis, which is own.
ed by creditors and edited by H. Pape, jr.
The article is as follows:
"Severa1 weeks ago the GAZETTE gave its read
ers page article on fruit, complied from COM
munications from different persons about the
county. Among these communications was one
from Henry Bristow, republican candidate for
recorder. We have been reliably informed that
the editor of the GAZETTE at that time stated in
effect that Mr. B S communication was SO poorly
written that it hardly readable; also that the
spelling therein was very poor Certainly the
people do not want man who cannot write a
good hand or spell well, to write up the records
of the county. How about this MIR. GAZETTE" "
With regard to this the GAZETTE will say
that it is utterly without foundation, and
manufactured out of whole cloth. But for
the lack of time we would publish fac
simile OF some of Mr.. Bristow's handwrit-
ing alongside that of Mr.. Walters, and a
comparison of the two would show plainly
that Mr.. Brstow is the better penman. He
is an educated gentleman, and spells cor
re,tIy. The GAZETTE man called on Pape,
and demanded retraction of the statement
and an apology for its publication. which he
agreed to give in his paper Wednesday night,
but did not do so. The ''reiiable authority"
referred to, was II. l.. Holgate, one of the
democratic ward strikers, who was very eff
fectually called down by the GAZETTE man
in an interview had yesterday morning. At
first, he claimed the statement was true, but
l. llo.l, h.
admitted that he remembered none of the
alleged conversation, but had a faint recol
lection of some talk the subject, but
could not call to mind any part of it. He
claimed, however, that the alleged cpnver-
sation took place in the office, and in the
presence of E. e. Wilson, and that he would
bear him out in the statement. Mr.. Viii.
sou, however, could recollect no such con-
versation, and stated fatty thaS lie had
never heard the GAZETTE man m Ike any
| reference to Mr. Bristow's handwriting or
his composition. Holgate claims that he
told Pape not to publish the statement, be-
cause he was not certain to the matter,
but Pape published it without examining
into the subject at all. when he might, with
little trouble, have found letters and state
| ments from MIR. Brlstow, that would have
proven to him that even if such statements
had been made, there was no foundation for
them. During this whole campaign, MIR.
| Bristow has spoken Of Mr.. Waters always
| in the most gentlemanly way; admitted his
qualifications for the office, and considered
him perfect gentleman. Under such cir
cumstances the statement made to injure
Mr.. Bristow was most cowardly and con-
| temptible attack on a man who had acted
all along in such a manly, straightforward
| manner toward his opponent. If men can
get Office through such damnable means,
it is shame, and disgrace to the COM
munity. Such cowardly and unprincipled
methods should not triumph over honesty
and manliness of character as has been ex-
emplified in Mr.. .Bristow's 8 campaign through.
out. 1t places a premium on political job
berry while honesty, manliness and integrity
and kindred virtues are placed at dis
count The writer has for many months
been a personal friend of Virgil Waters
and had supposed him too far above the use
in his behalf of such vile methods as this to
secure his election. The GAZETTE has
never intimated that Mr.. Walters was in
any way incompetent. In fact, this paper
has admitted his fitness for the position.
Mr.. Bristow's attitude toward Mr.. Wat
ters has been that of friend, and there
fore there was no possible excuse for these
contemplate lies. But since such base
methods have been resorted to it is to be
hoped that Waters will be defeated by an
overwhelming majority.