Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-03-09
MIR. WILKINSON
MAKES REPLY
..dll0r ENenIne MNrld.

EDITOR Evening World
Some person, whose identity is not
disclosed. has mailed me clipping
from your issue OF the ga inst, con.
tanning an aindayit BY Mr.. Horny S.
Butts; and while / am ayerae to im-
posing upon the owners OF newspapers,
OF upon the public, feel the matter
should not be. ignored Ii Is not 10
what Mr. Butts has said, that / desire
to object, but to what he has MOI
said; for am perfectly willing to
leave what he has said to the careful
reading of any man OF fair intelli.
gence. Nor shall go into details to
any great extent; for should do SO,
would back my statements with evil
donce easily awaited that would not
do Mr.. Butts any good It Is but lit
tie concern to any man who lives as
far from Berkeley county as | do. as
to what Berkeley county people think
Of him, but TO Mr. Butts living in that
county, ii is quite different, and | shall
refrain as far as possible from say.
ing or proving anything TO his detri.
ment ! disclaim any such desire. His
affidavit would have received no reply
from me had IL not ignored the follow.
ing facts:
/. THAT he has told various persons,
including myself that he was left Off
the book board few years ago be.
cause he expressed himself to Mr..
Alex. Clohan as being opposed to the
Cyr readers Chose he voted for re,
Gently.
2. That he stated to various agents.
including myself, and to citizens Of
Berkeley county within the last two
months, that he favored a change of
readers. and that his change OF mind
| did not occur until certain agent
from Pennsylvania paid him visit
within five days OF the first meeting
of the board on February 9.
8. That when he made his state
ment to the book board concerning
me. he urged the members to say
nothing about the matter; and that
when |, having heard OF his charge,
took him to task at the noon recess OF
the board, he begged me to keep the
matter quiet; but | replied: by the
1 afprnaI Cod I will MT
| 4. That / was before the board
made statement to them that was
entirely satisfactory, and the truth OF
which Mr.. Butts admitted In their
presence, when I challenged him ia
deny one word of 1t.
| 5. That / informed Mr.. Butts II.
the presence of the board, it was nc
fault of mine that some people in Mar.
tinsburg had warned me to watch
him." that The was crooked" and that
"a certain book company that bought
up former book board in Berkeley
county would get him"
The reader cannot tell from Mr..
Butts affidavit that made any state
ment to the board. | did so, however,
and was accompanied by Attorney
Wade G. Kilmer ask no one to ac.
cept my statement concerning a mat
ter that never would have existed ex
cept for Mr.. Butts desperate effort to
retain in use set of readers OF In
ferior merit, OF outrageous cost. and
TO which he was very much opposed
until quite recently; but do ask any
citizen Of the county who wishes to
know the facts. to inquire or any
member of the board other than Mr..
Butts. cheerfully refer you to them
their names are Z. III. Tabler, John II.
Lemen, Joseph Payne, w. A. Pitzer.
C. p. G. Rinker, Hunter Walker. ID.
Gold Miller and newly appointed
member whom I never met. refer
you TO Wade G. Kilmer also. He was
present.
The only comment upon what Mr..
Butts did say, that seems to my mind
necessary at this time is this: An
honest man sure of his position
would hardly feel the necessity of en-
phasis and affidavit when addressing
his own people. A simple statement
should suffice. and it is no fault OF
mine that Mr.. Butts felt the neces-
sity of anything more
A. J. WILKINSON
Grafton, w. Va, Feb. 20, or q