Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-10-31

been witness. Not content with this
assurance, he came to the Office later to
emphasize the fact that he had been an
unwilling party to the affair, and went
still further in the matter by telling my
friends that he regretted the incident
very much. I believed him, and told
him that bore him no i'll will, and
have given him abundant evidence since
of my sincerity.
When Mr.. Walters referred in his ar
ticle, which appeared in the GAZETTE of
the 21st inst, to some difficulty he and I
had had, knew of but one occasion of
this kind, and if he had any sdocu-
mentary evidence concerning the mat
ter, Mr.. Miller must have subscribed to
it. I was loath to believe that he had
become willing party to it secretly
when he was openly expressing so much
regret at having been made an unwilling
party to the incident itself, so went to
him and inquired if he remembered the
particulars of what had taken place be-
tween Mr.. Waters and myself at Allen
& Woodward's corner some time in June,
1900. He told me that it was so long
ago that he had no distinct remembrance
of the affair, but that he had made af6-
davit to the matter as he remembered it,
shortly after it happened. Here are the
facts; the public can draw its own con-
clusion regarding Mr.. Miller's conduct
in the affair.
The statement in the affidavit which
Mr.. Miller has subscribed to, that I said
was lying and knew was lying when
I made the statements which admitted I
had made, is not true. I did not say
knew the statements were lies. I said
that I did not know them to be true. The
matter questioning Mr.. Waters sinceri-
ty was not susceptible of proof, and by
the same logic was not subject to dis
proof, except as one must rely on Mr..
Waters word; and I willingly and
frankly accepted Mr.. Waters statement
that it was not true. It was matter OF
which could not truthful1y say, 81
knew it to be 1ie.''
The story concerning Mr.. Waters a1leg-
ed assistance from Portland did not orig
mate withme. When Mr.. Waters took me
to task in the matter, might have shirk-
ed the responsibility and told him my au-
thority, but he did not ask for it, and a
tattler is a sincere friend to no one. The
statements repeated, and which Mr..
Waters claimed to be outraged over,
had better evidence back of them than
the story Mr.. Waters was circulating so
industrious1y on the morning of last cleo
ton day. Mr.. Walters at that time
upon the testimony of dissolute fellow
was using against his (Watters) oppon-
ent, Mr.. Woodson, man of unimpeach-
able character, story which reflected
upon Mr.. Woodson's character as seri-
ous1y as anything had repeated reflect
ed upon Mr.. Waters. If Mr.. Waters
thought me '1itt1e'' for what I had re-
peated, in the light of what superlative
of 1itt1eness does he contemplate his
conduct?
*x*
Mr.. Miller has gone out OF his way to
include in his affidavit, the statement
that I had previously offered to wager
money with him that Mr.. Waters
had visited the saloons recently (mean-
ing during the campaign of Iooo). If I
ever said such thing to Mr.. Miller, it
was remarked casually in some ordinary
conversatson with that gentleman. Had
made it seriously and Mr.. Miller
thought could not prove it, he has suf6-
cient sporting blood to have taken the
wager. However, I will say now that I
was told on the authority of a man,
whose word had no reason to question,
that he had seen Mr.. Waters enter the
side door of certain saloon one morning
about seven O'Clock, during the CAM
paign of 1900 or about that time.
~
Now, why did Mr.. Waters undertake
to make me take the brunt of all that
had been said concerning him during
that campaign? And why did he want
an affidavit regarding what was alleged
to have said and done, when he might
have approached many others for the
same offence whom he undoubtedly con-
sidered of more importance than he con-
sidered me? What did he expect me to
do, on the occasion in question: To deny
that had said anything regarding him,
or try to shoulder it on to some one else;
or did he expect me to pit my 125 pounds
against his 165 or TO pounds and three or
four inches advantage in height; and his
225 pound friend standing by to make
affidavit as to how the difficulty occurred?
Was his conduct such as he has reason to
be proud of and did he manifest the
sincere Christian spirit that comes before
the throne of grace with the petition:
ssForgive us our trespassers as we forgive
.,c233 CT