Imperial Valley press and the Imperial press., 1906-06-23
ISLANDERS RtFUTfD
Vile Lies of the Imperial Standard DiSprOved and their Author Called
 Down

of assertions against the solvency of Mir. w. F. Holt and his enterprises. In fact, the sheet fairly reeked with venom toward Mir. Holt and his busi- ness ventures and everything that could be said in a covert and cowardly way was said to their detriment. He at- tackled the banks in which Mir. Holt is Interested and belittled everything he Is connected with Not being able to publish all the hatred he entortains against Mir. Holt in his sheet he spread the story that he is bankrupt, that everything he has is mortgaged even to his home in Redlands. Upon Mir. Holt's arrival in the Valley he prompt ly called on the editor and demanded to know his authority for any such statements. Of course the editor had lied and had no authority for his asser- tions. Mir. Holt then made him a proposition that if he can find any rec ord of mortgage not only on any of Mir. Holt's property but on any of the property of the companies in which he Is interested outside of the steel rails on the Holton Inter-Urban railroad that he will give him five thousand dollars. Of course if there are any mortgages they are certainly on record and if on record they must be either in the records of San Diego county or San Bernardino county. As there is more than six hundred thousand dol lars worth of property covered by this proposition it can be seen how desper- ate are the straits of the Imperial push in their efforts to injure Mir. Holt.
 Talk about lying, that effort of the Standards editor is almost as bare faced as was the stuff he put into the Los Angeles Examiner last year con- corning Imperial Valley and ranks with his underground tunnel from the-ocean efforts. Last year he did all he could to injure and destroy this Valley by fix ing up big sensational lies about if and sending them broadcast through the Examiner and the Associated Press. Now he Is at the same game but with a little different tactics. He now tries to do the same devilish work by attack ing the business enterprises of the Val ley and circulating vilIianous lies about the solvency of its best business men. Any paper that would publish and cir culate such infamous lies as the Stand ard does should be summed as a viper by every decent man.
 In its desperate desire to serve its masters 1t attacks everyone they point out. By some means it has been con- ceived by the Standard editors en- ployers that Mir. Holt and his enter prises are not being run for their benefit. The town of Imperial having been pro- noted on monopolistlc principles Its promoters believe it to be crime for anyone not to contribute to their wealth. This being their feeling they look upon the establishment of the Holton Power company's plant at Holtville or the promotion of the cantaloupe growing business at Brawley or anywhere else in the Valley as a crime. No other town must build up or enterprise be launched is their dictum unless it con- tributes all its wealth to the Imperial Land company. But the actions of the Imperial Land company itself has made this impos 'ible Everyone knows what niggardy and parsimon- ious policy has been pursued by that company in the promotion of its towns.