The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-11-20
THE PEOPLE HAVE a RIGHT TO
KNOW WHO IS L. W. SMITH.


KNOW WHO is J. W. SMITH,
The genius that adorns the editorial
page Of a Salem paper defends -. w.
smith" thns;
The question concerning the identity
of -. w. Smith and AZ others" Is al
most as burning an issue IN Salem just
now az the one concerning the color OF
the hair Of the man that struck Billy
Patterson. Is IN incumbent ulon him
20 elgn his real name, especially II his
indentity is known 90 those who publish
his letiers2 Does lac have 10 sign his
real ma ne, and thus have n pac. OF fel-
lows a ter him, The only qu, stion TO
my mind Is this. Does he tell the
TRUTH Let those who are Interested
say whether or not lac tells the truth,
instead of attacking him because he
chooses 10 obscure his identity
This is an admission that the people
publishing the anonymous petition and
communication Of -. W. Smith and AZ
others" knows who the author Is, ~ TuE
JouRNAL has charged, and furthermore
that ~. W. Smith and AZ others" are a
fictitious creation Of the Push, paraded
In the Push organ TO serve the ends Of
the Push In city politics. lfD. W.
smith and a. others really exist and
know any facts about violating laws at
Salem why do they hide behind COW.
ardly anonymous communication Why
conceal their identity
We again call upon the Push organ
10 tell the public who J. W. Smith is2
II says II knows. Then II must know IN
what law office and from what Legal
brain emanate the anonymous epistles
II 80 readilyhnds space form lis columns
(aftor they have kindly been offered
TnK Journal for publioations)
ll"J. W. Smith and ~ others' are
real people the public has right TO
know who they are, and the authorities
are entitled TO the benefit Of all they
know about the violations OF the gam.
bling laws at salem. II they are fraud
ulent petitioners, fictitious citizens, mere
inventions Of some scheming Push poli-
tician, who is secretly trying to serve
the gambling interests, the people have
a right 10 know the facts.
The citizens administration stands
ready 20 prosecute violations OF laws
and ordinances against gambling, and !
all other laws and ordinances, when I
there il reasonable assurance that the
prosecutions can be sustained by suti.
cient evidence to secure convictions. Bat
who will claim that they ought 20 nm
dertake prosecutions and put the city
aud county 10 expense upon Information
contained Ia bogus petitions and anouy'
NOUS communications Certainly no
sincere friend oi-law and order,
The Push managers and their organ
have certainly sunk to oNtreme depths
when they resort 70 such mithods o.
gain the public ear They would pose
as friends Of morality, whom tits we'll
known that the push politicians rosn-
larly blcd and assessed the tenderloiu
for campaign funds Ia Salem
just as they do in all cities.
The Citizens administration haas MOI
permitted the police department 10 CON
tinue such practices. Il stands prepared
10 enforce the laws mparlially and 10
shield no lawbreakers. Ii there are amy
With such, orany oonlri-
buttons levied for poli.lcal purposes
ipon yioleiers OF law il will b0 done ia
he future as is has hoen done in tho 1
,asl, by the Push politicians and ior the
,eneft 81 Push politics.