The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1899-06-02

RES OF THESE Judges. L would De
glad if it prove otherwise. One of
the greatest burdens the people
bear is the maintenance of Courts
and criminal costs, but as long as
they are necessary for the prOtec-
ton of life, liberty and property, it
is an expense that must be borne,
and to cripple the administration of
justice, to save a little money, is
poor economy. To do so when it
saves nothing, is crime against the
people. Yet, if these Courts have
so caught up with their business,
and could be dispensed with now,
it is right and proper to abolish
them. The abolishing of useless
offices was demanded by the dem
ocratic party, but to abolish some
and create others is not complying
with this demand.
Foster says, ''the half has not
been told'' on me. | invite him to
tell the balance. lie could not do
me a greater favor, nor pay me a
higher compliment. Twice | went
before the people for Endorsement,
and each time my record was sub
iected to the most bitter and scath-
ing criticism. / doubt if any rep
resentative Of this County was ever
subjected TO the same ordeal. | did
not answer by vituperation and sub
terfuge, but recognizing that pub
lie mans record was public proper
ty, | met them squarely upon the
issues at every point, and my en-
dorsement by the people each time
was overwhelming. | served six
sessions, the most eventful, per-
haps, in the history of the State. l
voted on more than 5000 bills and
motions, and received the approval
of the people whom | served every
time | came before them. Now, as
a private citizen, | intend to exer-
else my right to criticise the official
acts of our public men whenever |
think proper. Mr.. Foster proposes
to compare his record with mine.
The further he goes in this the bet
ter it will please me. The Memphis
Bond Bill was before the House in
1895, only with the difference. the
one in 1895 was local bill, the bill
of 1899 was not a local bill On
page 267, of the Journal of 1895, |
voted to strike out ''in gold COIN
from that bill, because to legalize
gold contracts even by local bills,
/ is to establish the gold standard.
How will his record compare with
mine on this bill? Did not he vote
for a general bill, applying to cities
of certain population, without strik.
ing out the ''gold clause" and pro
/ Tossing to be a ''silver man" too:
J Let him answer, and "'let the people
4 Judge"
/ voted against the Jarvis law in
] 1895, because feared that a fail.
ure to pay witnesses would hinder
the prosecution of crime. Mr.. Eos.
ter voted for bill which still left
the witnesses without pay, but re
stored the fees to certain officials.
Was this in the interest of the PEG.
Pile? If so, which one of the PEG
pie? ''Let the people Judge" He
may compare the record further
when he wishes. If he can afford
to leave unanswered the statements
in "Citizen's" article, to shift the
issue to something else, he can do
so-in fact, it would be good idea,
if he cannot answer them.
This kicking at criticism of the
record is the most preposterous
thing in the history of politics.
But Foster condescendingly agrees
to permit any one to "truthfully''
criticise his record, as if were it
done untruthfully, it could possibly
harm him. He made his own rec
ord, and no one can alter it; and on
that he must stand or fall. But, if
it is weak thing, he will have TO
set up with it of nights.
lie has expressed a high regard
for truth, and charges the author
of the article signed "Citizen''
with having no regard for the
truth nor respect for any man who
has. On the 25th day of March,
he wrote a letter to the BULLETIN
saying: eve defeated the dead
body bill" That same bill is to-
day a law on the statute books
and commissioners have been APP
pointed to distribute the bodies
Is his regard for truth only a re-
cent thing? He can answer, and
''let the people judge %