The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-21
A THOROUGH DENIAL.

Professor Garrett OF LeWfssoWo IN Ds-
fepss of HE Good Name.
Professor Garrett Of Lewistown re-
quests the publica ton of the following
self-explanatory letter:
To the Editor of the Standard:
In your issue Of Monday. May is.
your Great Falls letter contains some
statements rejecting ON nv character
and calculated to mislead persons un-
acquainted with me. j therefore ask
for an opportunity to lay the plain
facts before your readers:
The whole matter seems to have orig
mated In an article which appeared In
last weeks Fergus County Argus. in
which that paper falsely and malicious
Captain Preston as authority. Captain
Preston disclaims having made such
statements, and I now have In my
possession a signed statement which
reads as follows:
ITO Whom 1t May Concern: This il
to certify that I was misquoted in the
article appearing in the Fergus County
Argus of May IL in regard to Prof. M.
j. Garrett and T. X. Carson. In that
conversation / simply aid they did not
enlist. G. II. PRESTON"
From the account that was pub
lished in the Standard it would seem
that a petition signed by David Hilger
and 20 others" had been sent last week
to Governor Smith. Although nearly
a week has elapsed the petition has not
yet arrived at the governors office.
Calling up Lewistown by telephone I
was informed that such a petition had
been circulated there by a few per-
sonal enemies of mine, but that instead
of "David Hilger and 20 Others" only
Is had been secured at the time
the libel was inserted in the daily
press; that Mr.. Hilger. nndi1g he a
been deceived. had Withdrawn from
and disowned the whole business in a
signed letter. n thai the Lewistown
Democrat of this week had shown up
the cowardly conspiracy In its true
light. The report has found It's way
into the more respectable journals of
the state. To the readers of such pa
pers l desire to say that ! never at any
time stated Internationally that I
would join the United states army. /
stated to different parties in Lewistown
and Great Falls that l did not know
whether l could join or not until 1
would reach Helena. 1 have stated
that l wanted to enlist, If l were in
shape to do so. but no n has a right
to construe this into a statement that
/ would enlist regardless of every
thing else.
on our arrival in Helena I found that,
OWING 10 CIRCUMSTANCES tndt IL ID uH-
necessary here to set forth In detail,
j could not enlist. Captain Preston
| reported by telephone to Lewistown
the names of those who failed to pass
examination and those who did not
enlist. The Argus did the rest" The
whole matter seems to arise from the
fact hat when the Argus vas con-
verted to the gold doctrines OF Cleve-
land and Hanna l continued in my old
haIiaf in himafalliSm IT has NOT haan
for that sheet to attack
democratic and populist officials. The
people of Fergus county know me and
know the Argus, but for others / de-
sire to insert two statements, both
written by republicans. but men who
! are too broad-minded TO think less of
a man on account of his political be-
lief.
Sergeant A. w. Stoddard OF Com
pany / is one of the leading wool grow
ers in Fergus county. He owns a half
interest in the Lewistown Commercial
| company, and also in the hardware
| house of Hobensack a. Stoddard. He
is universally esteemed. J.. NJ. Croft Is
q prominent wool grower and Is asses
sor of Fergus county. Following are
! statements from these two gentlemen
ITO Whom 1t May Concern: This is
| to certify that NJ. j. Garrett paid lor
his militia uniform Immediately upon
| demand and was the first member of
4 Company /, M. N. c., to do SO: also
\ that i have always found him prompt
in the payment OF claims. n during
! my acquaintance have considered him
| honorable In all his business relations"
"A. M. STODDARD."
This IL to certify that Prof. M. ].
| Garrett was q member of the commit
\ tee for raising and collecting funds for
| the purpose of uniforming and equip
| ping Company /, M. N. @. That ]
served upon that committee with him
and he at all times was an energetic
! and efficient member Of said commit
tee and displayed great interest in the
raising of funds for the company.
have always found Mr.. Garrett strict
~ accurate and reliable in his dealings
u. NJ. CROFT.
Lieutenant Company l."
These statements are from men whe
have known me for three years.
place them against the statements OF