Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-02-22
Sarah Again Defends.

Times under the heading. Law Abid-
ing," Mrs. Ellen r. Van Leuvan
attempts a defense of the petition
presented to the mayor some time
ago. We cannot truthfully retract
one item from our correspondence of
the 9Th, but reiterate what we then
said that the petition was frowned
down by most of our leading citizens
and that many who did sign it, ex-
planned their position to the mayor
afterwards. Publishing the petition
serves us a grand favor, proving as it
does our remarks of week ago The
names on the petition do not repre-.
sent majority of the leading bust
ness men of Lime Springs by any
means, and if necessary we are
willing to furnish names of those who
discourage the presentation of the
measure. We obtained the informa-
ton from the mayor himself that
several signed said petition simply to
please and that they had since de-
fined their position on the subject.
Besides the names of farmers which
appear, we find names of men of
whom we never heard, nor by dill
gent inquiry have we been able to
learn of them. Perhaps our acquain-
lance is not large, but we would like
to meet Messrs. L. A. Reed, w. A.
Cray, D. A. Freber. We have been
told by some who signed the petition
that they did not take the trouble to
read it, but understood it was a
measure to 60 before the legislature
in reference to the liquor traffic. 1t
does not matter particularly whether
Mrs. Van Leuven believes our state
or not. We write in good faith and
stand ready to give proof in every
instance.
She tries to convey the impression
that we dut bed as ''caJ's paws" all
who signed the petition. 1t will not
better the position she has taken to
willfully distort portions of our com
munication. This is what we did say,
"The remainder of this following be-
ing used as cats paw" This state
ment was made before any reference
to the petition had been made in our
article and had no bearing on that
whatever. In speaking of the signers
to the petition we used the following
words: "a few of the town's-peopIe
signed it and we think the majority
of them meant we'll in SO doing" We
invite a comparison of our former
letter with the alleged communica-
ton which Mrs. Van Leuven trans
poses and translates to suit her re-
quirements of the case. The SO called
cats paws know to whom / refer,
and all have to say is, that if the
coat fits, put it on. No one need
causelessly take offense, because the
chief reformers are trying to show
them wherein we have insulted them.
The writer in the Times thinks our
worthy J. p. was insultingly accused.
We do not think so. And there you
are. We are but using the weapons
he himself started out with, but even
at that we leave to the readers of the
article and those conversant with the
facts, if the j. p. got one half what
he deserved for his conduct previous
| ly. Mrs. Van Leuvan did not refer
to the insulting remarks of her
Ihusbanti at the NJ. e. church, how
ever. Speaking of that disgraceful
of the church, and one who
has signed the petition, said In sub
substance: ut was an altogether un-
Van Leuvan and was unjustitiable. 1t
was cowardly inasmuch as it was
made during the absence of the
accused and did not allow of an i'm.
mediate reply. Mrs. Van Leuvan
need not believe this either but we
will make this positively known il
necessary by getting the permission
of said church member and rea
christian and publishing his name as
proof of our falllbility.
We do not claim to be up to date
on legal proceedings, but it seems tC
US that if offenders are tried before
the j. P. (what he is on the outlook
for) he would be benefited by the
fees. If we are mistaken please en-
| tighten US.
| Referring to the Insulting accus
alton" of Mrs. Van Leuvan against
our marshal for serving papers a:
deputy sheriff rather than in his ca
/ pacity as marshal because of the
extra fee to be SO obtained, we have
but this to say, the papers for service
in almost every instance are made
out in the name of the county anc
come through the sheriff. The
deputy sheriff might plead Ignorance
of the requirements of the law in 8
case like this, and serve the paper!
as marshal if it would please hi
critics, who apparently are striving