Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-04

In conformity with its long estab-
llshed policy to give all men who feel
aggrieved by anything that appears in
its columns a fair hearing, The Bee
prints in full the open letter Of Charles
Leslie, setting forth his claims for sup
port for the Office of county judge and
his standardization for his conduct as
chief clerk of the county court.
Mr.. Leslie Indignantly resents the in
timation that he is not qualified to dis
charge the duties of the Office to which
he aspires and arraigns The Bee for
not telling the people that he has been
IAN attorney Of record" at the Douglas
county bar for more than twelve years,
and submits the names of forty Omaha
lawyers, who certify to his high abilities
as a lawyer and vouch for his unbend-
ing integrity and exceptional equipment
by temperament, experience and educa-
ton, to administer the duties devolving
upon a county Judge.
Such a certificate would have some
weight with the people were it not for
the notorious fact that partisans and
public men rarely refuse to sign GER
tifieate of character for any candidate
or applicant for Office, however dis
reputable, especially If he is in position
to render them some service. It is no
uncommon thing for the worst boodlers
to have the best letters of recommends
ton in the governors Office or with the
president for appointment to Office
The fact that Mr.. Leslie has been for
more than twelve years "an attorney Of
record" in Douglas county affords no
better proof that he is fit to exercise
judicial functions than the possession
of a diploma from a medical college
would fit him for the position of chief
surgeon of the Union Pacific railroad.
Mr.. Leslie is an attorney of record, but
his record as an attorney is a blank
during the twelve years that he has
been an attorney of record.
What has Attorney Leslie done dur
ing all these twelve years to qualify
him for judgeship? He has been court
bailiff at $50 a month for a number of
years; clerk Of J. II. Van Dusens leg
islative committee for SO a day, and for
six years past chief clerk Of Judge Vim
sonhaler for 800 a month.
Mr.. Leslie declares The Bee is not
honest or frank in its method Of at
tack. He says: "By insinuation you
intimate that l am a CRATER and yet
you have said that il would with
draw as candidate for county judge
you would aid in nominating me for
register of deeds, and would then sup
port the entire republican ticket" Mr.
Leslie forgets that this offer was made
before the editor of The Bee had any
knowledge or even intimation of the
systematic graft to which Mr. Leslie
was personally a party. With that
I record before 1t, The Bee could not sup
| port Mr.. Leslie for any office.
No honest man would be party tc
the petty pillage to which widows and
orphans have been subjected by Mr.
Leslie and his co-grafters in the county
judges office There is no excuse what
ever for levying a head tax for posting
notices in the court house and for quail
flying appraisers of the property o.
widows, orphans and heirs of deceased
citizens OF Douglas county. This duty
is presumed to be performed by tn,
salaried clerks, and under the law ever!
dollar of fees thus collected is payabl,
into the county treasury and not to b,
pocketed by Mr.. Leslie and his fellow
grafters in the county judges office.
The Incorporate and virulent manne
in which Mr.. Leslie attempts self-vin
dication within itself affords suficlen
proof that he is utterly unfit for Il Judi
cial position. No man is qualified to b.
judge who loses his head.
The eulogy bestowed by Mr.. Lesli
upon his chief. Judge Vlnsonhaler
whose repeated vindicatiop by the pee
pie at the polls, he points to as proof o
his unbending integrity, also confirm
what The Bee had suspected at tn
! outset, that he expects to follow in tn
footsteps of Judge Yinsonhaler by con
= tinuing his keep-it-dark policy an
: perpetuating the practice of farmin
out trust funds for private gain.
= The questions Mr.. Leslie has seen
! to PROFOUND to the editor Of The Bee
although not relevant to his candidacy
will be answered over his own nam
= in The Sunday Bee, and when they ar
$ answered Mr.. Leslie will not have a lie
e to stand on.