Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-08
IN THEIR OWN BEHALF.


see III the committees statement an il-
tcntiOn to so read between the lines the
public must bear in mind that this cont
mirtee is composed of honorable men
who would not stoOp to create false i'm
p;0Ss;on by indirection. When they learn
that any contestant for their favor has
been guilty of dishonorable action. they
viii openly charge, and state the same
to the public. and not hide under the COW
er OF sinister implications. And no man,
| financially responsible, dare charge lis
with any other than strictly honorable
actions, lii any matter concerning either
business, or the ordinary walks of life.
But there is one strange conclusion pre-
scented by the committee. 1t is this
Their bills and Wortham) experience
IL building exchanges is greater than that
Of any of the contestants"
This, as a conclusion, is rather anus
ing to anyone who is conversant with
the doings of the telephone world. TIE
fact is that Messrs. Bills and Workman
have never actually built a single mile Of
| telephone line, nor have they actually
built single exchange, nor have they
| had charge of the construction of a single
exchange or mile of line in all their ev-
u.
are simply promoters, and good ones at
that. The promoting field is'a legitimate
one, AMI they fill it we'll But to hod
them UP as having experience in building
| exchanges, is to admit that the commit
tee failed to investigate this part of the
subject, and simply relied on the repre-,
sentarions of Bills and Workman them
selves. Ii the latter is the case, the COM
mittec will be compelled to change the
sentence in their report, wherein they
state that "these gentlemen have always
adhered to the exact TRUTH
| The affidavit of Mr.. Waterbury which
was read at the Moline meeting of Dee.
), has been denied. As a further eci-
| dence that Messrs. Bills and Worthar,
have offered che committee endorsement
| for sale for a cash consideration the
following affidavit IL submitted:
Minneapolis, Mimi, Dec. 6, 1891,
Charles Webster, being duly sworn de-
pose and say: That on the evening of
November % at Rock Island. ILL.,. hir.
Horace Workman, a member of the finn
Of Ellis & Workman, offered to accept
$500 and turn the Endorsement of the
committee of the Rock Islard Club to our
people. The next day, Mr.. F. L. Wor-
ihIm Of the firm offered to take $4,000.
and leave the city and turn the indorse-
ments of the committee over to the Tri-
City Mutual Telephone Co.
Chas. Webster.
Subscribed and sworn to before me. this
Gth day of December, a. D., 1899
Beatrice NJ. Retz, Notary Public.
Hennepin county, State of Minnesota.
We deem the proof sufficient that the
| Endorsement, given by the club commit
tees, has been offered for sale for cash
consideration, which is a fair reply to the
assertion that the people Endorsed by the
committees are Leaders tried and true"
We believe we have a proposition that
will meet with favor from the people and
we challenge and invite a most thorough
| investigation OF our business character
and standing We are still in the field,
and have no idea of leaving so long as
the business public treat us with such
uniform courtesy, and such generous en-
dorsement az has been given Us, even
without the desired support of the COM
mittee. Respectfully.
1ri-City Mutual Telephone Co.