Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-01-26

BASKET EXPLAINS.
sAYs THERE WILL BE NoCHAEeE
IN TIE MANAGEMENT OF
TIE lNTELLIGENoER
]. Z. Pool, Of The csutTshs Courier,
Failed to Secure an Interest
in the Psper-Letter which
are Explanatory.


To the kditaI q thu Ledger.
MEXICO, Mo, Jan. 2i.-DEAR SIN:
Your publication last evening OF the
coming change Of afsirs in The Eatel-
ligenoer's editorial department should
be contradicted and a misled publC
informed rightly Of the state Of affairs
that has existed, now exist and vii
continue to exist in this Office.
You said in your vsluble columns:
"ReliRble information comes from
Centrsla to the effect that S. B. Cook,
u Of the p~roprietors of the IHteIli-
geReeT Of this city, and who is now in
Chicago aiding in the management Of
the Democratic national campaign,
has made 3 direct proposition to J.
Kelly Pool, proprietor Of the Centralia
Courier, TO take editorial charge OF
u local contemporary. The pro-
posal was made, we are informed,
something like a week ago and Mr..
Pool accepted. It is inferred, how
ever, that Mr.. Cook made an offer to
sell the paper to Mr.. Pool, but later.
upon consultation with Mr., c. NJ.
Basket, who is a full partner in the
proprietorship Of the intelligence, the
latter objected and the deal was de-
clared of. 1t lie barely possible that
Mr.. Pool will assume editorial charge
Of the Intelligence, even in the event
that he does not buy the paper, as
Mr.. Cooks duties with the National
Committee in Chicago will moi permit
him TO give any attention to editorial
work"
In the FIRST place your information
proved to be not reliable. Your in
formant was mistaken.
Secondly, Mr.. S. B. Cook made no
''direet'' or indirect proposition TO Mr..
Pool in any way concerning The Iatei.
Hceaeer.
Mf. Pool when he learned that Nj.
Cook was to 60 to Chicago, conceived
the idea Of attempting to purchase
bis interest IN the paper, which is half
the stock, the remaining stock being
owned and controlled by me, and after
speaking 10 a few intimate CentraIla
friends, proposed the matter to Mr..
Cook, who told him, a. Mr.. Pool VIII
himself tell you, that he would eel bis
interest under no circumstances.
He also made no proposition to edi-
tor Pool TO take editorial charge Of
the paper. Cook & Basket are the
editors and proprietors and will con-
time 70 be. Mr.. Cook, on account Of
his n~ngusstioned knowledge Of the
politics Of his county, State and coun-
try, attends entirely to the political
editing Of the paper. This is very
sen known. TIE editorial columns
are ss open to me as they are to him,
and upon other topics than politics;
something from both orr pens is seen
from tine to time. Mr.. Cooks sn-
perioE knowledge Of the situation
zPtly fs him for the writing OF politi-
editorials. Although now in Chi
osgo, he Is assisting in editing the
paper, as he did before be left.
Again, Ar. Cook never consulted
with me concerning Tie InteIlieenoer-
Pool affair, because there was nothing
of the kind, and consequently never
objected, there being nothing to object
%; and there also being no deal, none
vas declared of.
Contrary to your statements that
he senior editors stay in Chicago win
lot allow him to give any attention to
be editorial work, be viii assist in
nevertheless, as stated above.
As to Mr. POOLS two offers TO take
OF the best papers in North
dissouri. he referred In the Courier to
iwo Of the stste's daily papers some
niles away from Mexico, and ! have
10 doubt win furnish you the names
'rivately, but not for publication, as
requested The Intelligence TO not
mention OF them by name. Mr. ,
Dol, In his own article, further states ,
aat be viii remain in Centralia, as ,
on published, and to-day says the
anne thing.
! am sorry 10 have to request such 4
space ID the LEDGER as is :
ere used, but feel sure that ii is due J
ae public thai you publish an expla- !
alton Of your article Of yesterday. ] 1
Q net want the communication look
d upon &c in any way e~gotisucal, but
aerely IS an explanation Of q wrong 3
sport published, no doubt, solely De- I
zase your paper wa informed go. AS
said the informant was grossly mis- !
ken although ] am not surprised,
moving who be is, that he should