Williams news., 1905-11-11
Now, the above is submitted to the candid and fair consideration of the citizens of this county.
 Respectfully,
 HENRY F. AsHURsT.

Now, good people, you will agree with us when we say that the above is what might be expected from Mir. Ashurst, if we got anything at all. His long suit is 'grand stand" plays. By the publication of the above excerpts from the report he is attempting to pave the way for the asking of further favors at the polls. In order to make hit with the masses he rushes into the breach and shouts: "Modesty precludes my publishing that part of the re- port that may be commendatory of me-" but, here, "I take you into my confidence and give you that DOT ton which draws blame and disap- proval upon myself" Modest man. Would more were like you. We all know your "errors are errors of the head and not of the heart," as you have said in former days. But, even so, why should the people have to stand for it?
 In his letter above MT. Ashurst makes this statement: II do not want excerpts from it (his commu nication) published, but want IT ALL or none." Now. it's a poor rule that will not work both ways. He wants all or none published of what he is willing to give the public and thinks will serve his purpose. The public does not care particularly for the part he is so willing to furnish, but, like him, wants ALL of the orig g. inal report. If the district attorney thinks the NEWS would be treating him unfairly by cutting out some of the report he is so willing to fur nish, we wonder what the people think of the attorney when he cuts out all of the report but that part given above.
 As we stated before, it is not our desire to make this personal mat ter, and if at any time we have said or done anything to injure any of the county officers we are ready to make amends and offer an apology, but we don't propose to have the public guzzled out of a knowledge they rightfully ought to have.
 It seems, from what we are able to learn, that the district attorney thinks the governor is not treating him right in putting it up to him if the report is to be made public. Now, let us look at the situation calmly and from an unbiased posi- tion. The law says the governor "may"at his discretion have the re- port published. Possibly there is disposition on the part of the gov ernor to refuse publication of the report as coming from him, and if so, what are his reasons? The main reason why he refuses to mix in county affairs is undoubtedly be- cause he is in no way responsible to the people of the territory for his. actions. He needs fear no re- suit at the polls on election day and the wrath of the people has no terrors for him, and will have for no one in his position so long as this is territory and our governors are appointed. They are only re- sponsible to the powers that be in Washington. (Here is another good argument for statehood). Being responsible only to the president, naturally the governor would hesi- tate to give out anything for publi- cation that might injure the chances for further promoting his party in- terests.
 Not so with the district attorney of the county. He is directly re- sponsible to the people. It was by the suffrage of the masses that he stepped into office, as their repre- sentative, to watch over the legal end of the county's business. Did his "errors of the head" not con- tinue to crop out he would have ko tl.o