The Monticellonian., 1902-01-24

Springs, Col. E. W. Rector had a personal difficulty with school teacher but bystanders separ- ated them before any damage was inflicted The two made friends and the matter was dropped, but now since Col. Rector has announced for Gov. this teacher, whose name Is Geo. B. Cook, comes out in an open let ter to the people ofArkansas, pre- tending to detail the circumstan- ces of the difficulty; and states them III such manner tand for the sole purpose) as to injure Col. Rector in his race The very act of giving this letter to the public at this time should stamp Mr. Cook as man un- worthy of the confidence of de- cent people. Brave and honor able men do not resort to such means when dealing with an ad- versary.
 Col. Rector, in reply to the letter, says that the statements made therein are untrue to a considerable extent. But If ev- ervthing that Cook says was absolutely true 1t would not dis qualify Col. Rector for the office lie Is seeking Cook, smother ering his resentrnenti in his bosom for two years, now at the insti- gation of some of Col. Reetor's enemies, comes like the assassin in the dark and endeavors to stab him i'll the back. The diff cultyloccurred about one of Col. Rector s sons who was attend ing he public schools of Hot Springs, and the letter of Cook was written for the sole pur- pose of preiudieing the farmers and laboring people against Col. Rector, and there are just two things in the letter that this man Cook, and those who hoped to gain by its publication, wanted to get before the public.
 First: Cook says: "Col. Rec tor came to my house and among other things stated that I will have you to understand sir, that my son is gentleman, the son of gentleman, and the son of the most distinguished tamiliesin the South, and should not this be taken into considera- tion?' '
 Col. Rector, in reply to the above charge says that lie did say that his son was a gentle man, and the son of a gentle man, but that fact about being"of the most distinguish ed families. &c." " is absolutely untrue The second charge that the willy Cook brings against Col. Rector is as follows:
 "Why damn 1t my children do not receive any better considera- ton at you hands in the public schools than do the children of the wood haulers "
 Col. Rector. in his reply to the Cook letter emphatieally denies using any such language; and for our part we prefer to believe gentleman, and the son ot a gentleman" rather than believe Q man who would try to take such undue advantage of even an enemy as this man Cook IS endeavoring to do. In denying these silly charges of Cook Col. Rector shows the unreasonable ness of his making them by the facts that he, himself, was brought up on the farm, cut and split rails, drove oxen, and done all sorts of farm work, and that one of his sons Is a mechanic, workingin the railroad shops as hired lahorer and that anoth- CT of his sons is a farmer and works on the farm. Such being true 1t is quite likely that Cook $ charges will meet the fate they soriehly deserve-fail to create a ripple on the politiealsurface. In order to make the impression that he IS "some pumpkins" himself, he signs his open letter. Geo. B. Tnolf Srot puhl:c Schools Hot