La Junta tribune., 1900-07-07
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issue 10 reply 10 the aIticle IN MS
issue Of June 3oth. part Of which
was written by the editor and the
rest BY man who does not give
his name to the public. The rea-
son for this may be easily con-
jectured. Either he is ashamed OF
what he has written or because he
10 afraid Of 4 case Of libel. As l
have known Mr.. Fries for about
twelve years and have been en-
ployed by him As secretary and
treasurer. l felt it was my duty %
man and as citizen to reply to
some Of the things stated in regard
to him and the home over which he
was superintendent and the home
to be established in this city.
Your FIRST question is: "Do the
citizens of La Junta want the Fries
Rescue Home for children estab-
lished in this city1" Some Of the
citizens decided this in the FIRST
two meetings held, and decided in
the affirmative without a dissenting
vote.
Your second question is: ais
there an imperative need for such
home in this locality1" II we
study the location Of other homes
and the condition Of things around
us there is certainly q need for
such home az Mr.. Fries contem-
plates.
Your third question is: "Are the
citizens Of this community under
any moral or religious obligation
to endorse such a movement or en-
courage the establishment of an in
stitution of this character in our
midst1" Yes. believe that every
person of good morals or possess
ing genuine piety, are under obi
CATION to help those less fortunate
than themselves and if this can be
done best, as l believe it can, by
endorsing and encouraging home
Of this kind, then it should be done.
In your second paragraph you
speak Of Mr.. Fries and myself as
working quietly enlisting aid, etc.
This is true, we have worked quietly
but have done it openly and was
not ashamed of what we were do
ing. Do you expect US to take
them by storm without giving them
time to think. think the quiet
way il the best and most sure.
You speak Of having interviewed
4 number Of leading citizens and
failed to find one who believes there
is an imperative need for such an
institution in this city or who be-
lieves that Mr.. Fries has any right
Ito travel over this and adjoining
states gathering up dependent
children and dumping his charges
upon this or any other community"
This may be true. You doubtless
found them. AZ to the FIRST part
Of this statement, some Of our lead
ing citizens and business men have
settled by good generous subscnp-
tions. OF business men we can
count fourteen or fifteen who have
subscribed from s. to Sas, and one
leading citizen SIoo. As to the
latter part Of your statement, no
one doubts that. Mr.. Fries him
self would agree with you or the
leading citizens. on that point. This
never has been done by him and
don't think it ever will.
In your third paragraph you
make reference to the meeting in
the Methodist church which was
held 1t . very untimely hour but
it was the only time that all three
sentlemen could be present. The
first part Of your paragraph is
somewhat correct. but the latter
part Is not. You say that 'they
do not deny the charge that he
criminally neglected the children.
They claim that s'stress of cir
eumstances" forced Mr.. Fries to
employ imeompesent help and the
tragedy resulted. II my memory