Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1901-02-07
STATESMAN BELLS DEFENSE.

" pouA NANAA wac maui w ubAVnu
the public conduct Of the obstruc.
ZIONIST members of the city coun-
Gil, as those who understand the
ownership OF the paper supposed
would be the case.
In a long, vague editorial evi.
IDENTIFY submitted to other than the
editor for approval, an absolutely
untrue reason is given for the an
tagonism to public progress of
Hooley Bells three, and possibly
four, votes.
The opening paragraph of the
remarkable defense reads: "Those
who have been opposing the pass
age of the waterworks is one Of the
benefciaries Of the legislation fav.
ored by himself"
This is remarkably clear, per.
haps, to minds that are Hooley
Bellized but we confess our density
whtn we admit that we cannot
comprehend its meaning Perhaps
it is ia keeping with the Leaders
school of rhetoric, an evidence of
their new grammatical rules Of ex-
preston having been given the
public some time ago when, in re-
porting an attempted safe-blowing
at Ralcliff's mill, it said: "There
was no money in the safe but
books" "
The true reason Of Statesman
Bell's antagonism is hidden be
hind the assertion that he opposes
a waterworks franchise because, as
now proposed, the sum Of $500 is
demanded annually for the city's
use OF ten fire plugs. Did States.
man Bell ever know of the build.
ing Of a waterworks in any town
of the size Of Vinita where a simi-
lar clause was not included in the
franchise? Most cities and towns
that do not own their own systems
pay more than ESQ a year rental
per plug, and in many instances
pay as high as 800 per plug.
The Leader article contains this
paragraph: Abuse is not argu.
ment and this paper will not stoop
to use it," The truth is ever
good argument aud the Chieitain
employs it always.
The truth is what is hurting
Hooley Bell now in his effort to
again faslen his tenacles upon the
funds Of the taxpayers, and it sur
prises no one that the Leader and
those who wear the collars Of the
would be boss defend him.
"Some people would like for
town to legislale money into their
pockets-they don't mind paying
taxes when the money returns to
their own mill" This is another
evidences Of the wisdom of the
Leaders philosophy.
Il evidently refers to the pro-
gressiye members Of the council
who are true to the people. Are
we to infer that Statesman Bell
and his cohorts would object to
legislation that would fill their
pockets with the coin of the tax
/ payers?
Those who know the past his.
tory of the members Of the ring
will smile at the very inference.
The proposition to submit the
question Of granting a waterworks
franchise to a popular vote Of the
people is a good one, and is gladly
welcomed. The obstruclionisls
who make the proposition know
that they are safe, however, be.
cause there is no way open at this
time for such a test. If there
were, the Hooley Bellites and fel.
low obstructionists would be
showed under by a vote of at least
five TO one.
Again we call the attention Of
the obstruciionists to the fact that
Yinila has outgrown its swaddling
clothes and is no longer the village
TO be bossed by a man wnom the
secretary Of the interior said wss a
disgrace to his people.
If the Leader is to be believed
Dom Hooley Bell is proud Of bis
public record and the paper is
proud Of hi,.
Jesse James and the Dalton boys
were also proud Of their records.
OUR TRUE AGENTS.