Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1907-12-20
WHAT ARE THE FACTS ?

4
ask for information in regard to the
matter OF the recent fight waged by the
Moscow Journal aginst DR.. Bevis, the
superintendent OF the Moscow schools.
We have watched the fight closely,
and, interested in Moscow, want little
information. We have yet TO see a
single iota Of anything resembling a
specific charge against DR.. Bevis. Now,
we don't know DR.. Bevis. We never
saw the man, and have no prejudice
either for or against him. But we
would like to know what he has done.
F. L. Moore, chairman of the Moscow
school boald, is quoted as standing up
in a public meeting in Moscow and
saying that DR.. Bevis had done some
thing so awfully bad that he (Moore)
could not mention it before mixed
audience. We understand that DR..
Bevis faced Mr.. Moore, challenging
him to specify his charge. Another
member OF the board, Jessie Richcreek,
the gentleman who tainted last fall
when Assessor Vaughn confronted him
with a challenge to prove libelous
charge, made the same charge as did
Mr.. Moore, and, while he didn't faint,
Mr.. Richcreek was cowardly enough TO
stand up before the audience and ac-
cuse Dr.. Bevis OF a crime he, like
Moore, refused to prove, or even
mention.
Not only DR.. Bevis, but the citizens
Of Moscow, have right to know Of
anything making the superintendent OF
their pubic schools an unfit man for
that position. II Mr.. Moore and Mr..
Rchcreek refuse to furnish not only the
information desired, but fail to prove
their charges, what they are would not
look we'll in print. To brand man
with crime and then give him no oppor-
tunity to defend himself is cowardly,
vicious and too contemporary mean and
little to lay at any mans door. 1t is
worse than falsehood. 1t is meaner than
murder. Sum up every crime in the
category and then pick out the one that
deserves the most contempt and you
will have placed the mark OF condem-
nation upon the man who deliberately
blackens another man S good name.
The News directs its inquiry to the
Moscow Journal because the Moscow
journal has directed the fight against
DR.. Bevis. 1t is the Journal that has,
more than anyone, stirred up the trouble
over the Moscow schools, and it is the
Journal that owes it to the public o
prove case against DR.. Bevis. Unless
the charges made by Messrs. Moore and
Richcreek are specified and then proven
some one is guilty Of malicious false
hood, premeditated SANDER. and COW
ardice too contemplate to be passed by.
If Messrs. Moore, Richcreek and the
Journal gang have not lied, and we will
presume they have not, then they
are duty bound to prosecute DR.. Bevis
for the alleged crime. II they do not
they are not doing their duty. They
have no right to remain silent. Nor
have they right to ignore the chal-
lenge OF DR.. Bevis after making insinua-
tons so ugly as those uttered by Mr..
Moore and Mr.. Richcreek at the public
meeting a week ago. DR. Bevis is
either guilty Of some horrible crime or
Mr.. Moore and Mr.. Richcreek are liars.
And if these gentlemen are liars, what
about the Moscow Journal?
The News has no personal feeling in
this matter. But we do believe that
the public is entitled to know the facts
in a case Of so much importance as the
one that has raised so much trouble in
Moscow. If the Moscow schools are
presided over by a ver;table DIR.
Jerkyl and Mr.. Hyde" there are a lot
OF people outside of the county seal who
would like to know il. If some one
has lied the public would like to know
that, too.