Iron County register., 1899-12-07

them were for me. I may not state
the figures with absolute exactness,
but do state them as | remember them.
and | know the statement is approxi-
mately correct. No. Mr.. Phelps COM
mitted no theft for me, Hendrickson to
the contrary Notwithstanding. ab
solve and defend him against this in
dictment he has drawn against himself
for larceny.
As to the 800 subscription, know
nothing. l know l paid numerous
campaign assessments, but cannot now
recall the particulars of any special
assessment made so long ago. am
positive, however, that at one time or
another paid whatever was assessed
against me. / think / can easily be
acquitted of any charge that | have
failed to do my part in making contri-
buttons to Democratic campaign funds.
| could confidently appeal to both our
National and State Committees to de-
fend me against that imputation.
Almost the first contribution made to
the National Committee in 1896 was
made by me in the sum of $1,000. In
addition have always contributed to
the State Committee, and frequently to
Local Committees. Within the last
year have expended in contributions
and in political work over $1,000 in
cash to say nothing of the time and
labor l have given to the party. If
any issue Is made as to that, can give
names, dates and amounts. Within
the last two months I attended a meet
ing of the National Executive Com
mittee at Chicago and spent nearly
three weeks campaigning in Iowa,
Nebraska and Kentuckey-to the latter
of which | went to aid the Kentucky
Democracy in the terrific battle it was
waging against the combined forces of
the Republican party and the Louis
vile railroad-and while engaged in
this most recent party work, aside
from my labor and loss of time, paid
out over 5000 for expenses. Whatever
else one itching to lnjure me may do,
it is neither wise nor profitable to at
tack me from this direction.
And now having said this much in
Of of DholDo in, 70
him right before you and your readers.
allow me to say a few words on my
own account. have no personal quar-
rel with Mr.. Phelps. l disavow any
thing approximating personal i'll will
toward him. He is shrewd, adroit,
resourceful man, and personally quite
a companionable and clever fellow.
Indeed he is devllish clever fellow in
more ways than one. OF the man
Phelps / care no more than for the
general run OF men. If he were only
true and loyal Democrat, fighting for
the party, as most other do, only be-
cause he believed in its principles and
purposes, | would not care how many
favors or honors were showered upon
him. Mr.. Phelps knows as we'll as l,
that the differences between US, what
ever they may be, are not personal.
He knows, and the people of the State
know, that those differences arose out
of, and relate wholly to, public affairs
both public and party affairs, in
which | have no special interest be-
yond that of any other citizen or Dem
ocrat. My objection to Mr.. Phelps
being a potent force in Democratic
councils is predicated, not on personal
grounds, but on what he represents,
and on what he does to advance the
special interests he is employed to
promote. 1t is known to everyone,
who knows anything, that certain pow
erful corporations in this country and
in this State, in contempt of their duty
and in defiance of the public right.
have entered into politics, seeking to
control party conventions, to define
party policies, to manipulate nomina-
tions and appointments to public Of
fee, and to direct the course of public
affairs; and they have been more or
less successful in these endeavors both
here and elsewhere. To promote their
political purposes these political cor
porations employ political agents.
Mr.. Phelps, rs everyone knows, is
high salaried agent of that character.
He represents, not primarily in pro-
fessional or business capacity, but in
political capacity corporate interests
which are not only opposed to the
principles OF the Democratic party,
State and National, as stated in its
platforms. but corporations which are
actively engaged in the very politica,
work to which / have alluded. In
serving his employer in the very line
of his employment, MIR. Phelps for
gets, or is Indifferent, to party fealty
and duty, and does things that loyal
Democrat and good citizen ought not
and would not do. This great evil,
already become wide spread and ex-
tremely vicious, is constantly growing.
1t is. out of this situation, and because
of Mr.. Phelps connection with it, that