The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-07-23
AN OPEN LETTER TO WILLIAM
KRIOKBAUM.

hOth't JOu ho'S ohtShiDtSh W diloWCI
the charges which l made against you
in my article of June 2and. You
began by boasting that you would
prove every assertion made by me to
be lie. Let us see how you have
fulfilled that boast.
Instead of answering my questions
you have either deliberately lodged
them or shielded yourself behind some
indefinite explanation.
In the first place l charge you with
wanting me to give $rso to a candi-
date for Sheriff, to make him friendly
toward you. In your answer, have
you denied this ? No. You say, you
really can't remember. Is this the
way you "stamp my accusation as
lie"l
In the second place l charged you
with buying off Bresch as a candidate
for Sheriff, and then refusing to pay
the purchase money. Have you
denied this ? No, but you say the debt
is John Mourey's. You told that
same story to the disinterested Justice
of the Peace who tried the case be-
tween you and Breisch. He evident
ly didn't believe you, since he gave
Breisch judgment for his full claim.
Again, l accused you of deliberate
ly violating the law in relation to your
state tax. openly charged you with
refusing to make sworn return Of the
amount upon which you ought to have
paid tax. How have you answered
this charger What reply have you--
the great reformer, the guardian of the
people, the watch dog Of the Treasury
what reply have you made1 Do
you proceed to "stamp the lie" on
this utterance, as you boasted you
would2 Oh, no. You content your
self with the statement, that "other
men did the same" Is it possible,
Krickbaum, that your only excuse is
that others have done likewise ? But
you must remember that y0u are a
reformer. Yon are white-winged
angel Of purity. Yen are the owner
of such a spotless cherub as the
whiskered Vanderslice, and we really
expected better things from you.
But this isn't the only dodging you
have done. There is that Pohe affi-
davit, charging you under oath with a
crime, deliberate attempt at bribery
What have you said about thatp OF
course the people expected that you
would ''stamp that also as lie. y
They expected that reformer, of all
men, would crush to pieces the ac-
cusation that he had offered hundreds
of dollars as a bribe to County off
Cials.
Well, did you satisfy the people
You complained that the accusation
was an old one. You got Mr.. Pohe
to make statement that he regretted
he ever made the affidavit, but re-
member, that no7oAere haze yen o,
P0he aeaie6 its huM. Vanderslice
wrote Mr. Pohe's statement and got
TIE old man to sign 1t. You tried the
same thing with the Parr affidavit, but
you failed, and therefore youhave never
answered that affidavit at all. Come,
come, Krickbaum, if you must be a
rascal, at least be bold one. D0n'i
dodge.
You have learned by this time that
it is more pleasant for man of youi
stripe to make charges than to answer
them. And yet must ask you to give
the people some light upon few more
questions that rather shake theil
belief in your reform principles.
You have all along been worried
that the County Commissioners draw
too high salaries. But didn't you vote,
as member of the legislature, to in
crease the pay of Commissioners from
$a.oo to $3.50 per daye Of course
in those days you had control of the
Commissioners Office. Vanderslice
hadn't been whipped out of the West
yet, and you were not so anxious
about the peoples rights.
Again, as Commissioners Clerk
didn't you shave sheep orders by the
score, when there was plenty of money
to pay the farmers and sheep owners
in full1 l know this is old, but it is
question full Of interest. Don't
dodge it Krickbaum, and be careful
how you answer, as there are plenty
of witnesses about.
Then there is another little matter
you might explain while you are at it.
WAateOer became efthat$5oo. Count
60na, left IN yonr hands as commits
sioner'S Clerk? 1t was in your charge
1t suddenly disappeared Can yor
explain thisa Or possibly this il
another case where ''you really can,
remember"
You have charged me with giving
improper advice to public officers.
have sQuarely denied that charge and