The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1906-09-20
SOUNDING A FALSE ALARM.

tissn nature, which all the papers are
expected to, and GO advertise, Tree Ot
cost, the printing should beeQuitably
divided, and noI given ~ ole office
because OF personal tavoriTism or
kinshlp connection.-Butler Times.
The Democrat cannot give 500 em
phatic endorsement OF the above cen
timent expressed by The Butler
Times. Ii The Times means shat ell
printing is 10 be done nrst with q re-
gard for the interest," OF those who
pay the bills and ia an effort to secure
Ihe best work as the most favorable
prices IL ia but declaring in plain
terms she duty OF an honest official.
We join with The Times In the belief
that, all other things being equal,
public patronage should be tsirly
distributed
We desire TO bring to the attention
Of a number Of public officials THE
sentiment as indicating that In the
bestowsl OF their entire patronage
upon one paper alone that they not
only lose all reputation for fairness
and impartisllty, but do not even
gain the approval OF the paper which
has received more public patronage
than the other twelve county papers
combined.
For we shall refuse to believe that
The Times expression OF opinion Is
based upon anything other than It's
exalted zeal for the public good and
the reputation OF our county officers
ioriairness. Perish the base thought
that because the Democrat has re-
Gently secured two considerable con-
tracts for semi public printing In an
open field against all bidders that
The Times should feel chagrin at our
success.-Dsmocrat.
The TINES Is somewhat surprised
that our esteemed contemporary
should evince so much feeling over a
small paragraph, which simply states
an abstract truth, without dealing
In personalities, and make 1t text
to display Its venom at TIE TINES
and covertly attack our Democratic
county officials, whom the present
owner OF that paper had attempted
to coerce into giving him their full
patronage. We are at further loss
to understand why 1t took a whole
week to evolve this vicious, sugar
coated assault upon The TINES and
the Democratic officials, unless 1t was
that the heavy emergency editorial
writer, the power behind the throne,
was busy looking after his fences
that no patronage escape from the
family corral.
One would think that the editor OF
the Democrat, who Is now at the
trough" to the amount OF two
thousand per and perquisites, would
be the last to raise the patronage
cry, but it seems those are the fell
lows who sound the false alarm, In
order to divert attention from them
selves. They take the loaves and
fishes with both hands, keep all with
in the family grasp, and even regret
the crumbs that fall to the humble
workers In party ranks.
The Democratic county officials
have been fair and just In the dis
tribution OF their patronage, and 1t is
not true that The TINES has received
more than what 1t was justly entitlrd
to. The editor Of this paper is the
persona! and political friend OF every
Democratic county official, gives
them loyal support at all times and
never conditioned his allegiance upon
patronage. To the credit OF those
splendid gentlemen, they have recog-
nizsd their obligations, and refuse to
be dictated to by seliconstituted
political boss, who has been whine
ing about patronage and slurring
the county officers ever since he came
into possession Of that paper.