Arizona republican., 1908-10-24
PRELIMINARY
 MUD FIRING By Mark Smith Batteries to
 Get the Range ONE GUN ALREADY SPIKED After Delivering a Harmless Shot at Mr. Cameron's Record While Sheriff of Coconino County--More Filth Expected.
ONE GUN ALREADY SPIKED

The Republican a few days ago warned its readers that the Mark Smith papers of the territory were training their mud batteries on Ralph | Cameron and would discharge them a few days before the election. They l have been making some test shots, | getting the range so to speak They have been throwing out hints that MT. Cameron was a defaulter while sheriff of Coconino county.
 The Bisbee Miner thus disposes of that matter quoting a letter to Chair man Hoval A. Smith of the republican territorial committee from Attorney General Clark who knows more of the relations of MT. Cameron to Coconino county than any man living.
 For several weeks, the Kelly papers have been suggesting in an insinuating manner that there was something wrong with Ralph Cameron's record as sheriff of Coconino county, and though not making flat charges of dis honesty in the press, reports have been circulated by word of mouth in Bis bee and elsewhere that Cameron left the office of sheriff as a "defaulter' An anonymous article which appeared in this mornings Review and has ap peared successfully in other democrat ic papers of the territory is the first instance in which these charges have even been by inunendo, made in the press.
 Before taking up the inferential charges made by the anonymous letter writer, the Miner submits the follow ing letter from Attorney General Clark to Hoval A. Smith, in reply to letter from Mir. Smith asking for in- formation regarding the charges which it had been reported the democrats would make against Cameron;
 october IA. 1908. Hon. Hoval A Smith, Chairman.
 "Bisbec Arizona.
 Dear Mir. Smith-Replying to yours of October 9th, I am strongly of the opinion that even though these charges should be made and not re- futed at all, they would react on the democrats, as this kind of campaign ing has never met with favor in Ari- zona But, the charges can be success fully refuted and of my own personal knowledge. having been district attor- ney for the last two years of Gamer On's term as sheriff, I know that in- stead of Cameron owing the county, the county justly owes him a very large sum of money, owing to a mis- taken attitude of my own in cOnstru- ing the fee-bill. l took the ground, as district attorney. that the sheriff fn rrrf1aa in way in the execution of warrants and certain other criminal processes. Cam eron and his attorneys took the other view, but of course, being the legal advisor of the board of supervisors, my finding prevailed. The result was that when Cameron left the sheriffs office he was obliged to go down into his own pocket and pay in to the county treasurer about S2500, which he did in deference. to my opipion, when, as a matter of fact the county justly owed him and does today in my judg ment. more than twice that sum.
 "The supreme court of the territory has since decided in the case of Hen derson vs. Coconino county, that my position was wrong, so unintentionally and in good faith, l have been the means of depriving Cameron of a great deal of money that should have been paid him by Coconino county. and which he can never recover now, because of the Statute of Limitation.
 This may serve to enlighten you as the principal charges that are being contemplated by certain democrats.
 Sincerely yours,
 'E. $. CLARK"
 On the same subject, but having ref ernce to another mud battery which is still masked, Secretary Young of the | territorial committee yesterday gave out the following statement:
 T have positive information that | during the last two or three days of | this campaign some democrats will | stoop to the lowest, most contemptible | and dirty politics to elect Mark Smith | They will start base lie concerning | Ralph Cameron's record and give this | lie publicity in all their newspapers. | The article is already set up, in all the | democratic newspaper offices of the | territory. As soon as the release comes | which will be two or three days before | the election. this article will be pub lished simultaneously. The democrats | are counting upon it to completely | turn the tide from Cameron to Smith, | as it will give us no time to frame a denial and get that denial before the people. I wish to warn the voters to be on their guard"