Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1904-05-19
TO "UNCLE IRA"
"Ira, when l love thee not
Chaos is come again.

Therefore l am loath to see you ig-
norant of the truth and will put you
right on the ''purifying' incident
which you SO generously gave me
credit for in the columns of the Times
last week.
Let me first state that am not the
editor of the News. l do, however,
look to it's welfare, and am it's bust
ness representative.
The article on gambling which APP
peared in our paper two weeks ago,
and which resulted in the discontinue
ance of that style of law-breaking in
this town, was written by one of the
citizens of this place and handed to me
with the request that it be published.
The gentleman not caring to sign the
article, it was put in without his sig
nature and therefore became an ex-
preston of the views of the Rosebud
County News on law breaking.
Immediately upon it's appearance
the county attorney and sheriff inter-
viewed Mr.. Johnson on the subject and
were referred to me.
Mr.. Northway, the sheriff, came to
me saying that he felt that he had been
very badly used by our paper and that
he understood that I was responsible
for it. He was told by me that he
could credit the article to me in view Of
the fact that it was unsigned.
asked the gentleman it he was
willing to go on record with the state.
ment that he had no knowledge of
gambling going on, and he avoided the
question utterly. His reply being that
~ have complimented myself that the
town has improved greatly under my
administration.
When I said, ."Mr. Northway, do
you mean to tell me that you have
never noticed the s1ot-machines in
the several saloons in town?' he re-
piled that he didn't know as he had.
then offered to show him some of
them and he accompanied me to every
saloon in town, where in each instance
slot machine set in full view.
Mr.. Northway would remark to the
proprietor, 'Mr. Terrett has made
complaint against these slot machines
and l want them turned to the wall. ;"
Thereby relieving himself of all re-
sponsibilty in the matter and giving
me the burden of many enemies to
bear.
Mr.. Northway is undoubtedly very
jealous officer but he is better politi-
clan, and did not possess the moral
strength to put the stamp of his dis
approval upon aw-brealing without
first finding some one upon whom to
lay the responsibility.
He and his republican friends were
really anxious to have gambling stop
ped SO they could whip the saloon ele-
ment into line on politics this fall, as
was done at the last school election, by
going to them and trading gambling
privileges for political support. So
fully realized at the time that was
doing him good political turn myself.
This much think you should give me
credit for.
To prove to you that the foregoing
speculation is correct: Immediately
after leaving me, Mr.. Sheriff and diff
ferent. ones of his heelers doubled back
to all the saloons and the proprietors
were asked: "Well what do YOU
think of that man Terrett? Was not
that about the dirtiest trick that YOU
ever heard Off" and innumerable
questions of the like.
Then when some one known to look
with disfavor upon law breaking shows
unon Main street it is the most natural