Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-18
VICTIM OF SPITE
j. w. War; Says He Could Have Pro-
tected His Creditors If He Had
Been Allowed TO Do So.
VENGEANCE INSTEAD JUSTICE
Declares There Are Others Who
Should Be Blamed For
Suffering.

J. w. War;. who yesterday was TAX
en- TO the Joliet penitentiary, has pre-
pared the following statement to his
creditors:
To My Creditors: l am not making
this statement TO plead eXtenuating
circumstances nor to endeaYOr to cX-
cite sympathy. but rather TO state a
few plain facts tending TO show that
| was defeated in my purpose to pro-
tect every creditor by the i'll advised
action of a few who were actuated
by a spirit of revenge rather than
justice. 1t is well known that when
my affairs were announced TO be in a
critical condition. | was confined to
my bed with malarial fever, and under
instructions of my physician not TO
transact or even to talk business.
Without waiting for my recovery my
printing plant was seized and meas
urCS taken 10 throw me into involun-
tary bankruptcy. | did all in my pow
er to prevent the ruinOus sacrifice of
my property which would surely fol
low unless conservative measures were
adopted.
willing to Make Sacrifices.
At a meeting of the creditors a
statement from me was presented
showing how in my judgment their
interests could best be protected by
the formation OF stock company in
which every creditor would have an
interest. | was willing to devote my
time and energies under whatever re-
Striction ii might be deemed neces-
Sary to place me, at mere living
salary to bring the business up to a
point where it would be ample secur-
ity to every creditor.
My reason for my faith that this
could be done was based upon the
fact that the business | had beer
building UP was in the nature of a
monopoly. l was doing a work which
in all its diversified applications was
not done by any other printing cstab-
lishment in the United States. l was
supplying tie business colleges Of not
only this country but foreign coun-
tries with advertising specialties. and
a significant proof of the appreciation
Of my work is afforded in the fact that
for the year of 1903 | was elected
president of the National Commercial
Teachers Federation, representing the
leading commercial schools of the
United States and Canada. This po-
SitiOn naturally gave me great pres
tigC and the good will represented in
this branch of my business was worth
at a conservative valuation $50. 900. as
am prepared to prove by the Opin-
ion of competent experts.
sold Like Old Iron.
This good will which was as much
a value as the presses and machinery
even more so, for it was constantly
approaching instead of dCpreciating
was all ruthlessly destroyed and a
business which would pay a six per
cent dividend on basis of one hun
dred thousand dollars capitalization
was sold for what it would bring as
old iron. Who instigatcd these ruin
Gus proceedings? Not the best judg-
ment of the creditors. but the vindic-
UVenCSS of few who wanted ven
Eeanca against me at any cost and
who would be content with nothing
but my punishment ever if the crcdi-
tors interests had to be sacrificed to
bring it about. These are facts which
no one can successfully cOntrOvcrtS Ii
cost you, as creditors. at least fifty
thousand dollars to execute the ven
Seance against me, which a few hot
headed ones demanded. Blame, ana.