Evening journal., 1902-03-17
nnn.MourIInp nnArnnnlNc

The Sunday Star has case of rabies
over the matter of the Welsbach con-
tract. and the services Of the Pasteur
Institute may yet be required. Its ar
guments are those Of the wharf rat who
settles points of dispute by hurllng a
fisl-full OF mud. The desire OF many
Of our best citizens. including certain
Of tho Street and Sewer Directors, to
end a most perpleXing controversy by
securing a contract advantageous to
the city In all particulars, sets it raw
ing. In these rawlings it misrepresents
gentleman whose motives, character
and business ability cannot be sullied
by anything the Star may say. The
following shows the nature OF the
slander which is deemed necessary in
the attack on Mr.. Johnson:
Mr. A. l.. Johnson is gentleman
for whose earnestness and sincerity we
have the greatest respect, and il would
be grave circumstances indeed under
which we would feel justified In ques-
ioning his motives; but. when Mr.
Johnson soberly tells us that two and
two do not make four. that black is
white, that wrong is right: that tho
source of corruption can be untainted;
that of two parties responsible for
dishonest act one can be innocent: that
it can ever be really expedient. or in
any degree defensihle to connive at
crooked methods or compound with
eonsnirators; that it would be even
remotely right for the city to recognize
and reward trickery in the public bust
ness even though it should itself profit
thereby an hundred fold-when Mr..
Johnson tells MS these things with an
earnestness and gravity that confirm
his sincerity, we are reluctantly COM
pelled to abato somewhat our hitherto
high estimate of his intelligence.
The answer 20 this is that 1t isn't
true and it would be an insult to the
intelligence Of the Star to say 1t didn't
know it. II isn't true directly, infer
entially or iguratiyely, and all we'll
informed persons know It, We believe
that Mr.. Johnson has acted with pru-
denoe and good business Judgment. and
even II this were questioned. there
would be no occasion for such con.
tempible and scurrilous scribbling.
Turning from the director, the Star
attempts to fay alive the City Solicitor
Mr. Reinhardt. we imagine, can take
care OF himself, but what Is the mo.
tive for this savage attack on the\City
Solicitor? The Star thinks he is toe
ofliolous in giving advice to the Street
and Sewer Commissioners. and that hC
needs to be rebuked Well. can't the
commissioners take care Of themselves
and isn't the Star little presumptuous
In attempting to point out their rights
ana duties in the premises We pre-.
sumo that when they decide that the
City Solicitor has overstepped tn,
bounds Of the duties Of his Office they
will assert their rights without advic,
from the Star We do not presume K
say whether Mr. Renhardt has mad,
the ideal officer. but unless tho sta
can find some other point OF attack. w,
shall presume that he is doing his full
duty. The Star delights in items lik
these: 1T looks to Us as though th
Welsbach people should be willing L
pay good part Of City Solicitor Rein
hardts official salary" That is skill
fully worded, and is probably a priyi
liged utterance, but were its intent pa
in plain language, the law. we imagin,
would give Mr. Reinhardt full redress