The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1896-01-30

same as I did, I, of course, favored it..
Mr.. Winans did not hand in his con-
tract until a very few minutes before
court adjourned, when we looked hur-
riedly over it, but had no time to take
action, and left the matter as it was
unsettled, so far as the contract was
concerned; but had declared the river q
public highway several days prior to
that time.
Your article would lead readers to be-
lieve that the whole matter was settled
together and at the same time, which
was not done, except so far as the court
was unanimous, as stated before. But
upon my arrival home I had scarcely
stepped off the train until I was be-
sieged with all manner of questions, and
was informed that report was being
circulated to the effect that this whole
scheme was being carried out on the
part of Winans Bros. and myself to
thwart and prevent the building of a
proposed ditch or canal; besides any
amount of other nonsensical rumors.
In fact 1 found that, after talking so
favorably to Mr.. Winans, through the
workings of our chronic kickers, an en-
tire change of feeling in regard to the
matter had been effected. The next day
Judge Blakeley called me to the tele-
phone and informed me that Mr.. Winans
was there to close up the contract. /
suggested that the matter lie over until
our next session, but he informed me
that Mr.. Winans was anxious to close
it up, and that the judge and clerk could
legally close it up, whereupon advised
him to be very careful not to give mo-
nopoly whereby interested parties could
be injured, etc. Later that evening the
Judge called me again and told me he
had Attorney Dufur drawing up con-
tract, which ne would submit to me for
my opinion, or sanction, which he did
on the succeeding day, when Mr.. Dufur,
through the telephone, gave me an out
line of what ne had written, which was
virtually in accordance with your state
ment of the conditions of the contract III
today's paper. But in addition thereto
he said they were ''bound to interfere in
no way with any riparian or irrigat
rights of anyone taking water from
river" 1 then told the judge that I
could see no objection to the contract
and thought it all right, since which
time I have heard nothing further. I
did not know the contract was signed
until this morning; but supposed it was.
1 write this long explanation to justify
myself, for during the two or three days
time in which the matter was being ar
ranged between the judge and Winana
Bros, L consulted with the people here
and told them the condition of affairs,
and thereby got their opinions and sew
eral suggestions, which I communicated
to the judge. But, now, taking your
statement that the matter was all closed
up before court adjourned. It appears
as if I had been simply ''trumping'' up
telephone messages to make the people
here believe had nothing to do with it.
Judge Blakeley, Mr.. Dufur, Winans
Bros. and the operator at this end of the
telephone will all agree that my state
ments are true. I cannot understand
why you make the statement that the
matter was all closed up in open court,
when it is not the truth. If 1 were in
politics and this came from my oppo-
nents 1 would know what it meant, but
coming from supposed friends, l hope it
is mistake on your part.
have done nothing since have been
county commissioner that am ashamed
of, nor have ever shirked my RESPONSE
bility. My official acts are public prop
erty. All ask is that the whole truth
and nothing more, be told. I am al
ways ready to abide the consequences of
my own acts. which have always been
in the interest of the taxpayers of Wasco
county, as the records will show and the
present price of county warrants prove.
A. s. BLOWERS.
Hood River, Jan. %. 1896.