Evening journal., 1897-06-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
PETER J. FoRD's DENIAL.

To tho Editor OF the Evening Journal.
Siri An anonymous and libelous cir
cular was scattered broadcast yesterday l
purporting to have been Issued from
the headquarters OF the Busineas |
Mems Republican Association, VIII |
mington Delaware" In substance
and effect Il charged me with conspir- /
ing with certain other gentlemen,
whom It named, to defraud the city |
treasury and to use the Street and |
Sewer Department for political pur-
poses. The author OF the circular Is
not lknownsto me; nor do / believe the
circular was authorized by any asso-
clation This much l do know; that IN !
general and detail in substance and IN
effect, so far as the assertions II con-
tains refer to me, the circular is a mass
OF barefaced lies, and its author and It's
sponsors, one and all, libelers OF theI
most contemplate type.
have been more or less connected
with the political movements OF my
party for some years, as my friends
and neighbors well know, but It has
been. left to this concealed enemy who
dares not sign his name, to accuse me
of corrupt practices. l am, in spite oi
every effort. unable to find any such
concern as the Business Mems Repub-
hcan Association" IL does not exist.
There are however, indications as tol
the authorship of the article, which
make II probable that the man who
wrote It is a paid political hack, whose
reputation would detract from, rather
than add to, the effect of his words.
Il / have made careful inquiry among
Republican business men OF repute and
standing here and with one accord
they repud.iate the circular, and deny
an knowled ge of the so-called "asso-
ciatb, n" Among other things, one of
theae e.fusion charges me with hav-
ing infusnced Mayor Jefferis to ap-
noiut prof We bster to the Street and
saVef Dppartnn, mt, and that later Mr..
WBbhter, At my instance, exerted HIM
SELF lo place the contract for the build
ing OF the Silvel brook sewers. The
facts are. that the contract Tor the
building of Silvefbrook sewer was
agreed ilpon before Mr.. Webster went
into office. and while a majority OF the
commission were yet Republicans. MT
Webster had practically no connection
NTH at. Moreover, Mr.. Webster was
not appointed 10 office at my sugge s.
ton, the mayor having neither consult
ed me; nor / having made any sugges
tion regarding his appointment. III tnt
contractor who has the work OF build
ing the sewers, is as. is also alleged a
contributor to the Democratic campaign
dtfnds, know nothing of II; but 90
know that the details of the building
of the sewer were agreed upon at q
meeting OF the Street and Sewer De
partment with representatives OF the
Jessup and Moore Paper Company ano
the Ford Morocco Company, each o.
which latter concerns contributed
$4,000 to the cost Of the work. ,sLe
prI do not deem it necessary to ansWel
the charge of my having attempted L
''loot" the city treasury. Those WIN
know me will answer that for me.
The circular signed "A Jeffersoniai
Democrat probably by the same au
thor. is rather too rotten for detaile'
notice. When methods fall TO ia
point Of making 1t necessary to assai
the character of private individuals, ol
false and lying charges, it is time 70
reform, and for lots of it. l shoul
not.deem il worth while to dignif
either OF these circulars by an answe
were Il not that some person whose goo
opinion | esteem might inadvertentl
be led to believing some of the charges
AS to the fictitious Business Men
Republican Association" and the spec
trail and indistinct "Jeifersonim Demo
GRAFT / promise them both a differeI
style OF attention, il they will CON
from behind their present places (
teoneealment That is, II they are M
both one, which Is more than Likely.
lF.fe N Peter J. Ford.
Wilmington, June 3, 1897