Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-07-21

terminal grounds that will be re
quired if the company make our city
a terminus.
A Visit From Mr.. Lane.
Saturday afternoon we were favored
with a call from Freeman P. Lane
who was the subject Of local mention
made M from an interview with Mr.
j. IL. Scott, published in the Olympial
OF the 18th inst. The gentleman
seemed to feel agCrieved over the infer
cnces drawn from the statement OF
Mr.. Scott, but that the language used
warranted them. and that its accuracy
had remained unchallenged for several
days, is the justification we find, if any
injury has been done Mr.. Lane by our
comments. The interview states that
MIR. Lane told Mr.. Scott, after finding
a bottle OF benedictine he alleged was
spurious, that he was liable to q fine
of from $50 to $500; that he, as spe.
cial agent of the Wine and Spirits
Traders Society, was authorized to
prosecute all violations of laws enact.
ed to protect the vendors of pure
wines, liquors and cOrdials, and that
if he (Scott) was willing to pay $50
the minimum amount, the matte,
could be settled, but that if he was
disposed to be mean about it he (Lane)
would "POp it to him." The inter.
view then goes on to state that after.
wards Scott consulted his lawyer and
he concluded from the legal gentle.
mans opinion that he had been
" bumped; he then looked up the
bumper and demanded a return of his
$50, and Mr.. Lane responded: "Now
Scott, don't get excited, you have my
receipt; didn't you ever 60 up against
another mans game?"
1t was upon this statement of de.
tails that we based the comments OF
last week, and uncontradicted, we sub.
init that they amply justify all the de-
auctions drawn. To bump" is only
another term for to bunco, conveying
precisely the same meaning, and il
any doubt existed it was surely re.
moved by the alleged retort of Mr..
Lane, Didn't you ever 90 up against
another mans gamer the language
that confidence man would natural.
ly use under the circumstances. It is
but just to Lane, however, to state
that he denies that this was his exact
language, but admits the use of words
that undoubtedly left that impression
upon Mr.. SCOTS mind.
Mr.. Lane said Saturday that the
Oympian of Sunday would publish an
ample rctraction of all reflections
upon himself, and asked that the
STANDARD withdraw its structures
upon his conduct. 1t was promised
that if the Olympian admitted that its
report was faulty in any particular to
note the fact and withdraw such sur.
misses as were not sustained by its
statement. AS the Olympian has re-
tracted nothing, here the matte,
would end, but as Mr.. Lane has pub.
lished letter in his own "vindica.
tion," we withdraw and retract what
we have said and base comment upon
extracts from the letter as published.
He says that as an attorney for an
organization he alleges to exist, called
the Wine and Spirit Traders Society il
is his business "to look up dealers in
bogus goods, ascertain to what exten,
they have been handling them, figure
out as near as possible the injury they
have inflicted on the owners of the
brand they have been initiating and
make the dealer pay in to the societ,
such sums as shall seem to be suffi
Gent to pay the damage sustained"
If there is any law which inciden
tally affords protection to the liquo,
trust, it is safe to infer that it ha,
been enacted to promote the genera
welfare of the public and not to foster
monopolies and make up to them loss
es sustained in competition with othel
products. It seems absurd to suppose
that, under statutory provision, occu
patton is given to spies to ply theil
vocation and to condemn any article
of drink they choose, assess a penalty
and collect it, under threat of prosecu
ton. 1t seems to us that the interests
Of the public are not subserved by 9
course which robs Peter to pay Paul
without comforting any apparent ben.
eft upon the other disciples, and
which offers a premium upon gall in
the game of Bluff. If an object is to
be subserved in protecting the people
from food adulteration, a suspected
dealer should at least have chance
for defense in court of law, instead
of being subjected to the extortionate
methods of Attorney Lane. If it be
shown, on competent proof that any
law has been violated, by the sale OF
adulterated articles of food or drink, a
judgment should be rendered by the
proper tribuntl, and the fine imposed
be commensurate with the enormity
OF the offense. There should be no
one-man judgment, rendered in the
back room of saloon. with the bull.