The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1905-07-05
MR.. BRYsoN STRIPS THE
WATER QUESrIoNiOF
FALSE IDEAS.
And Presents It on It's Merits-He
Also Flaws the Dark Lantern
G',ng, ThatIs Ashamed to
Stand Sponsor for It's
Own Product.

To THE UNKNOWN I ~ shDIIohs oF
THE INvEsTIGAToR.--
| 10 not know why you should
designat me IN your issue OF July
first a en-. who Is leaving no stone
unturned to carry the coming water
bond election Ia favor of issuance
of bJnds, nor why you should ask
me- to state over my signature
whether IZstapd sponsor for what is
appearing in The TIMES in relation
thereto. | have not approached nor
tried to influence The decision of a
Single voter. By neither word of
mouth nor stroke of pen have / as
sumed to tell my neighbor what he
wanted or did not want, nor how
he should vote Upon the question.
Nor can conceive of such colossal
conceit as that you manifest in in.
sisting that any one should stand,
sponsor for anything,-you who re-
fuse to stand sponsor for your own
output.
Since you request it, however, |
will answer your question over my
own signature: [ am not wrl-
ter of anonymous communications
to the public and stand sponsor for
whatever appears over my sigma.
ture and nothing else. II have the
opinion, however, that whatever has
appeared in THE TINES is the dis
interested and honest opinion of its
editor on public question, and
that no facts In reference to noun
tain water have been misstated.
Since your query came to my no.
tice, I have taken the trouble to as
certain the facts regarding the re-
duction in Dallas insurance rates
in as much as it was this matter in
particular that seemed to evoke
your request, and 1 can unhesitat-
ingly state that THE TINES is cor
rect in the statements il made and
"The Investigated" and Mr.. Emery
certainly have the wrong hunch. "
Now, Mr.. Editor of "The Inves-
tigator, having answered your que
ry, NAV I be permitted to ask you
few questions?
First, are you disinterested In
your attack on mountain water,
and if so why do you withhold your
names? You say the truth needs
DO spoesor, but common morta s
cannot unfortunately always di-
vine the truth and are forced to look
t, the source of, or authority for, a
statement before they can give it
proper credit. Who you are, what
your motives may be, your truth.
fullness and honesty of purpose,
these are matters which the public
are eut tied to k4ow that they may
judge what weight aud Importance
10 attach 10 your eta ements and
conclusions. Youl motives may be
the best in the world, bat so long
us you keep yourselves hid, sus pi-
cion attaches to them and to your
publications.
Second, are you honest and sin.
! cere in your statements and argu'
ments? I ask this question seri'
GUS y~and without oisrespect. No
knowing who you are I can judge
of your sincerity only by the char
acter of your attick.
have never been in favor of mu
nicipal ownership of public utilities
and I can readily understand tha
a tax payer might hesitate before
voting a bond. issue of even fv
thousand dollars. There is room
| for honest difference of opinion a
to these matters, and when [ reat
the foreword of "The Investigator
| I expected a f4ir and intelligen
presentation Ct ths argument
against municipal ownership an,
the bond issue. Instead I hav
found your pages filled with palpa
BILE mistatements and insincerity.
) The ordinary citizen has not tim
nor opportunity to study the bus
!, lness questions involved, whethe
wood or iron pipe is preferable
whether the system will be sci
! supporting, whether it can be bui
for the money available. If eve
, ! the city builds water system,
can act only through commissio
and all such questions as thes
must necessarily be left to it for i
!. denisinn The rnar1, hsra Of thn oor,