Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-05-06
Random Shots Returned,

Random Shots Returned.
'The nice old gentlemanly, editor of
the PLAIN DEALER made social or
business call at the residence of j. 9.
Webster last Sunday evening. "-The
Representative.
Yes, when it was broad day light, 5
O'Clock in the afternoon, the street
thronged with people, and at that
unseemly hour, without asking per-
mission from any person, the editor of
the PLAIN DEALER actually called at
the Webster residence. We had
previously asked of Mr.. Webster about
Klinefelter, his newspaper plant, and
Of the political contest In Cerro Gordo
county when Blythe was first candi-
date for the legislature. Instead of
giving us his version of the situation
he said we had democratic friends at
Mason City to whom we had better
write for the desired information.
We did so, and got the information
that Klinefelter's Farmers Institute
had no newspaper plant there, that
it had been taken upon a,chattel mort
gage and removed to Kensett. that
Klinefelter had once been county
superintendent, had by hand bills and
circulars announced himself for re-
election and in convention had but
two votes, one of which was said to
have been cast by himself. That at
the election alluded to the democrats,
disaffected republicans, and Anti
Prohibs had met in "Peoples' Conven-
tion," and while defeating most Of
the republican county nominees,
failed to defeat Mr.. Blythe who came
out of the contest with majority.
This information came from men who
in point of ability and personal integ-
rity are at least the peers of the COM
mittee in charge Of The Representative,
or Of an equal number of persons in
Iowa. We desired Mr.. Webster to see
that correspondence as he had suggest
ed it. Perhaps some astute member
of the committee can tell what was
wrong, If anything, in a visit with
that object in view. We have moth
ing to conceal in connection there
with and no apology to make to any
member of that committee or to any
other person. We take the RESPONSE
bility.
1t is but justice to Mr.. Webster to
say that he declared that he did not
wish to deceive, or conceal the truth,
that we knew the reports, that they
were attributed to him, to write and
find out for ourself and if we found
the cts different from the reports
we q lid roast him to finish and he
woU pay for IKE roasting. We didn Il
have to roast.
"The following Tuesday P. d. con-
tains about a column on congressional
matters, discussing in mild way the
relative merits of Mr.. Blythe and Mr..
Haugen, ETC."
Very true, and it is up to the COM
mittee to deal with the facts present
ed in that article instead of resorting
to slurs, insinuations and inuendoes,
which have about as much effect as a
mosquito that has lost its drilling
apparatus.
"Some way the editorial don tsound
like Mr.. Mead. Perhaps it was an of
day with him--not up to his usual
form"
Better call in an acoustician, your
acoustic nerve is out Of repair. The
refraction ofsound has met one travel
ing in the opposite direction and has
excited wave of different velocity
and direction from the one you are
following. Immediate attention may
save your acoustic nerves. The
article we assure you was prepared by
''the nice old gentlemanly editor
without aid or dictation from any
source.
"a few years ago the P. d. name
for one of our tOwnsmen was 'Thrifty
Christy" and rather criticised him in
his double capacity of county Superip,
tendent and land Speculator. :"
The PLAIN DEALER corr
individual acts that it ap
ccnsureS acts that it th e
though both are by the Sat3 ..u1yidu-
al. 1t could commend Gleyeland's
tariff policy and condemn his financial
theories because it thought the latter
III the interest of corporations and
against that OF the people. And Sc
what it deemed wrong in Mr.. Webster
it censured and what 1t deems right
it approves, hence it is the act anC
not the man, that it measures.
"The last Cresco PLAIN DEALER
comes to the rescue of the two Re-
publican papers as against the hot
shot of The Representa- DEBORAH