Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-11-23
A RETORT COURTEOUS.

That good man, Senator A. K.
Bailey, the dear old soul, to whom we
have been indebted for many favors
co in the past, places US under renew
ed obligations by his gentlemanly re-
joinder to our responses in last week 4
Public Opinion to the generous treat
ment accorded us in former issue of
his excellent paper, the Republi
Of course it will be understood that
this editor is not wholly blind to the
fact that the aforementioned courtesies
were not originally intended to be
helpful to US, quite the reverse. The
great and good Mr.. Bailey really
meant to annihilate us, we fear, smash
us up as it were, with one stroke of
his mighty pen, and thus deprive the
people of Wiunesheik county of all
future issues of Public Opinion under
the present management. and that,
Mr.. Bailey, wonld have been real
calamity, don't yen know.
Why, bless your kindly heart. the
people of this county have sort o.
taken to Public Opinion, some even
go so far as to say that they don't know
how they would be able to keep house
without it, and it's only dollar and
a half per year, payable in advance,
with, the largest circulation in Winnie
sheik county of any paper, and there
fore offers the best medium for adver-
tisers. We would really like to boost
the Republican bit, get it before the
people, you know; give us your adv
Senator. we will do the right thing
by you all right, all right.
But say, Mr.. Bailey, what about
those 500 republicans who refused to
bow the knee at your command and
vote for your friend, Mr.. Barfoot.
Under cover of your hysterical lunge
at us, it looks like you also meant to
give them "swat" while you were
about it. 1t would appear as if your
polished utterances in last weeks Re-
publican which we're so generously ap-
piled to the editor of this paper and,
must we say it, over his head to those
naughty republicans who voted for
Mr.. Jewell, could only have been con-
ceived in the brain and heart of per-
son of refinement and good breeding.
We were delighted with them, we as
sure you. Come at us again, Senator,
fi.e q whole broadside next time, it
will not impoverish you. Your readers
will expect it of you; they know you
TO be an adept in the use of such ele-
CANT terms as you employed last week.
We trust however that you will not
again find it necessary to apologize to
your readers for wasting SO much
Space" as in YOUR last issue you
really did use too much Of it, you did
indeed. Your article was not worth
t it 8 market value was not quite up
10 your estimate of it, we fear. Don't
10 it again, Mr.. Bailey, "space" is
valuable in the Republican these days,
The paper is so influential, you know.
Mr.. Barfoot should feel truly CRATE
'ul to you for the valuable aid you
rendered him in his canvass for super
visor, as no doubt he does, down deep
in his heart.
After lame attempt to Justify
yourself for your "treachery" in the
fight referred to in last
weeks Public Opinion, when you
oolted the regular nominee of the
because Of personal spite,
you sweetly turn upon us. your best
friend, and politely dub Us
traitor" "treacherous, etc., etc.
These are generally considered nasty
words when applied by one person to
another, but when such terms are fl
tered through the brain Of the good
MIR. Bailey they lose much of their
They will no doubt be
by the fortunate" readers
of the Republican at their true value
~