The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-26

MIR. CUMMINGS ANSWERS BACK.
Mr.. MATHEW J. CUMMINGS, overseer
OF the Poor, has made public answer In
two styles to the charges brought by this
newspaper against his administration.
The first was made in the following I'D
yertisemsnt, which appeared in our con-
temporaries:
al pronounce the charge made against me as
10 the administration Of the Office OF the over
seer of tie poor a deliberate campaign ne
absolutely false and malicious. The records
OF my Office show that the Committee on
Poor of the Board OF Aldermen approve tho
administration of my office, and these records
are open to the inspection OF every citizen.
MATHEW J. CUMMIsGs."
The second was made in the following
brief but expressive communication
handed to the editor yesterday afternoon
by Gloves messenger" in the person OF
deputy sheriff SAMUEL T. GARDINER:
The State Of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations.
Providence, Sc. To the sherifs of our several
Counties or to their deputies. Greeting.
We command you 10 summon The News
Company, corporation created under the
laws OF the State Of Rhode Island, aud located
and doing business in the city of Providence,
H.. II HoNyIapH Of
said Providence if to be found in your pre-
cinct). TO answer the complaint OF Mathew j..
Cummings, OF said City of Providence on
the return day hereof (said return day. being
the 9th day OF January. A. ID. lso6) in the
Common Pleas Division of the Supreme Court.
to bo holden at tho Court House in Provi'
dence within and for our county OF
Providence, in an action of trespass on the
case. for that the said defendants have pnb-
lished.a false and malicious libel of and con-
cerning the plaintiff, as by declaration to ps
filed in Court, will be fully set forth; to the
damage of the plaintiff Twenty Thousand
Dollars. Hereof fail not. and make true re
turn Of this writ. with your doings thereon.
Witness: Hon. Charles Matteson. >Chiei
Justice Of our Supreme Court at Providence
this 25th day of.November. in the year is95s
(signod) GEORGE z. WEBSTER. Clerk.
We commend the position Mr.. CUM
| MINGs has taken In this matter. We be
lieve thoroughly in the principle tina
the only way TO fight is to take an az
gressive position. II you are attacked
never be content to simply defend your
self. Hit back, promptly, and right from
| the shoulder. and make the other fellow
do little defending. A defensive battl
ia always weak battie.
We think, however, that In Mr.. CUM
MINos' own interests he would bette
have waited twenty-four hours befor
bringing his libel suit, a., under existing
circumstances, an incredulous publi
may be disposed with crediting hin
only with the making Of campaign bluff
However that is none of our business
We do wish, however, that we ha
known six months ago what we know
now, and that . libel suit had beef
brought and tried before this election
Under such q condition we feel confiden
that the nublic would have been eve,
more certain than they are that the ofiic
of Overseer Of the Poor has been wrong
fully administered by Mr.. CUMMINGS.
We shall, OF course, continue to "inspec
the records" of Mr.. CUMMINGS depart
ment, which, ~ he truly states, ar
"open to cvery citizen"