The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1908-03-20
THOMAS VS..
THE HERALD.
Former Editor of The Repub-
lican Touches up Herald
Editor in Fine Style.

Editors Republican: - Please allow
inquiry the Hartford Herald makes OF
me in an editorial this week. The
Herald says, "And now, Mr.. John Hen.
ry Thomas, of Narrows, KY, will you
shut up and be good, after your edi-
torial chastisement at the hands OF
The Hartford Republican? Dare you
again to break out into print and as
sert your freedom of thought and
speech in Presidential preference? At
ter this unanswerable CD argument
can you still be for Taft? 1t seems
that you and one Roosevelt, and some
others, are classed among 'undesira-
BILE party men. OF course this isn't
our scrap, but what can you say
now?"
What can l say, now, Ell? can
say that differing with The Republic
an in the matter of a Presidential
candidate / went to that paper with
defense Of my candidate and was
given as the Herald knows the best
position in the paper, and the trip
pie head supplied by the Fairbanks
editors was all that courtesy or de-
cency could demand. In my statement
for the Taft forces l exercised as
much freedom in stating their claims
as if / had myself been editor of the
paper. The editor of The Republic
an saw fit las they hadAa perfect right
to do, to defend their own position
in an editorial comment that was both
dignified and courteous. Would the
Herald have had my article tucked
away in some obscure position as a
matter unworthy of comment? | con-
fess that l felt some pride in the
fact that the editors of The Reprb-
lican saw in my defense of Taft rea-
sons so cogent and convincing that
they felt impelled to an attempt to
break their force by dignified reply.
l regret to draw a parallel hurtful
to the Herald, whose editors have
long been my personal friends but
tainted with the inquiry of whatI can
say now, / must ask the Herald to
contrast the very generous treatment
accorded me by The Republican in thi
matter with its own conduct toward
distinguished members of its own par
ty under similar circumstances about
five years ago. At that time two
well known Democrats were contest
ing for a nomination for district Of
flee. The Herald was supporting one
of these candidates whom election
meant an appointive office for one Of
its editors. Certain prominent Ohio
county Democrats were supporting the
other candidate, and when they went
to the Herald with matter in the in
terest of their candidate did the
Herald give them first page, first COL
umn? Rather not. 1t gave them adj
vertising rate of 10 cents a line and
no reduction for space taken. What
can / say now? can say that along
about 1903 Rowan Holbrook and Gabe
Likens would have been pleased, to
have received little of the courtesy
from the Herald that The Republican
showed me in my defense of. Taft last
week. r.
Go to, neighbor. Be good. Go
Dray IN the Lord Of the Harvest To
send your party men worth scrapping
about. For twenty-seven years your
party has had but two men on the
Presidential horizon. One Of these
you have discredited with remark
able violence and the other one is play
ing dog in the manger to the perpetu-
al delight Of the Republicans.
j. H. THOMAS.