Evening journal., 1905-12-13
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 10. 1905
UNPRovoKEp OFFICIAL IRE.

is to certain extent tlattering to this paper and
its policy that certain officials and public SER
wants have learned so soon that in the future they
will be required to give good account of themselves
failing do So they will suffer the unfavorable
criticism of the Journal Republican. 1t is not sur
prsng therefore, that probably the most vulnerable
public official in city should begin to squeal be-
fore he has been hit and. rushing into print, under
takes to save his official hide by trying to make the
people believe that any criticism made of his official
conduct will be based upon personal animosity'
The City-Socitor must contemplate the performance
of many blunders and reprehensbe acts during his
term Of office that he should in such way under
take to spike the guns of this paper The statement
alleged to have been written by him. but which has
many marks of having been suggested and perhaps
composed by or both of his two legal advisers,
certainly puts him in very awkward position. Per-
haps, had he read the statement carefully it is pos
sible that he would not have signed it. Up to the
present time the Journal has commended the City
Solicitor in most liberal way and given him praise
where we now begin to question whether it was de-
served. For speaking in a most favorable way of
him and his expressed policy of attending to the
legal affairs of the city himself we did not suppose
that he would fly into such rage unless it be that
he has already made some arrangement relative to
the employment of special counsel whenever oppor-
tunity viii present itself for him to do So We as
sumed thatwth an assistant Cty-Solictor and now
an official claim agent of the city making the legal
department cost the city So 600 year not including
the rent of the City-Solcors private office of his
telephone. law books and other expenses aggregatng
perhaps another 81 0O0 that the Cty-Solicor would
feel that the tax payers had right to expect him
with such elaborate equipment to take care of all
the legal affairs of the city and notimpose upon them
the additional burden and expense of employment of
special counsel For this stand, taken by the City
Solicitor, we commended him, and for that he gets
angry with US. We might almost suppose that he
had already employed special counsel in some case
and having kept it from the public, breads the fact
being made known and the comment that such action
on his part would cause.
The Journal, under its present management is an
absolutely fearless paper, and it will not protect or
defend its friends from criticism when they deserve
it. nor crcise its enemies or foes when they do not
deserve it Indeed the Journal does not propose to
have in matters pertaining to the official conduct of
public servants either friends or foes. Regarding
the City-Solicitor, not one word has been said bv
this paper that has not been proper comment upon
his official action and fortunate indeed II IS for him
that his personal and professional conduct has not
bsen under the fire Of this paper It not with him
in his private professional capacity we are dealing
only public official. We would that he at All
times viii discharge faithfully and creditablv the
duties OF his office and when he does none will be
quicker to give him praise than this paper. We de-
sire that the public officials of this city county and
State maintain the highest standard Of official intes
rity and service, and when that is done it will be
pleasure for US 10 point 1t out TO the public On the
other hand, where such standard is not maintained
there be neglect. cselessness untness or dishon
esty shown by such public official the Journal will
be unspsring in its criticism regardless of who the
official may be. We have purpose to serve in this
community and the thousands of readers we have
and those who are coming to US in great rapidtv.
viii have in the Journal organ to protect and safe
guard their interests and rights. Our guns are of
new and improved kind and are proof against the
spiking methods employed SO often by corporations
and public officials We regret that the Cty-SoHci-
in the statement referred promises to keep out
Of print and burns his bridges behind him by decar
nZ that in the future he viii exercise more care and