Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-10-22
WHY THE JOURNAL
CHANGED HANDS
Detective Makes Affidavit Substanti-
ating Rev. Thomas Rarker's State
ment Why Gang Bought Paper

actuated by the consideration OF posi-
sible motives when the lawyer does no
deem it to his advantage to call atten
ton to them. Men are sometimes Sc
verely criticised for actions which are
prompted by only the purest motives
because some enemy has belittled the
acts by ascribing some ulterior motive
Rev. Thomas Barker. of Ladysmitf
has been laboring for the past -four
years for the elevation of the mora
conditions Of this city. He did not be-
gin as a fanatic would have done-try-
ing to change conditions all at once.
v- He spent the greater part of two years
getting acquainted feeling his ground
and ascertaining who could be depended
upon in any reform movement. He
found that what he would do must be
done almost single-handed; but I'M
daunted he started out to do what he
could Slot machines and other gamb-
ling devices were prevalent, not only in
the saloons. He gave the owners
ample warming to remove them and all
but one needed the warming only one
man was prosecuted. He brought
about Sunday closing in to same man
ner.
Every move he has made has been
characterized by the utmost fairness
there has been no wish to trap" any
one without giving fair warning. In
his experience in practical reform work
Mr. Barker has learned the Importance
of having not only the law on his side,
but also having executive officers who
will do their sworn duty.
Mr.. Barker was instrumental in hav-
ing the question, License or No Lii
cense" printed on the ballots at the
last city election, but further than that,
he has taken no part in politics until the
present campaign. In the campaign
for district attorney he has taken sides
against member of his own cOngrega
tion in favor of a member of another
denomination. No thinking voter can
ascribe any other motive to this action
than his wish for better government.
The gang" with whose tactics Mr..
Barker has become thoroughly familiar,
who, up to the present time, have al
ways patteG him on the back and called
him a good fellow, have threatened to
run him out of town, have induced
members of his congregation to absent
themselves from church, have with
drawn some of his financial support,
and, further, have endeavored to be-
smirch his character. Mr.. Barker has
had attractive offers made to him
by other fields, but he feels that he
can do more good here and is making
z considerable sacrifice financially in re-
manning here.
The News-Budget having taken
sides with the reform movement, the
gang" thought it important that they
should have an organ to espouse their
Ca1se. The Journal, under the man
agement of Editor Richards, was not
radical enough to suit them. They there
fore devised a plan for its purchase,
having secured the services of man in
sympathy with their ideas to edit the
sheet. Mr.. Barker, in a recent sermon,
made reference to the purpose for
which the paper was purchased, which
statement was challenged by the editor
in the following issue. In the follow
ing affidavit, Mr.. Barker shows his au-
thority for the statement:
THE NORTHWESTERN DETECTIVE AGENCY
424 KASOTA BLOCK
]. P. BRANDT, MANAGER
Minneapolis, Mimi ,EOct. q, O8.
On the 18th of August, '08, | was in
company with NJ. Jensen, who is one of
nv men, in Mr.. Reeds office in Lady
smith, Wis. During our conversation
with that gentleman he said among
other things:
''The temperance people of this town
are getting so high-handed that they
will not listen to reason. We have
just bought one of the papers here so
as to meet them on their own ground,
and be able to hold our own" | asked
him who ne meant by We ana ne
said: Some of the boys in town have
gone together and bought it, and | am
the managing editor"
J. P. BRANDT,
Manager.
STATE OF MINNESOTA, &C
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN. 3D.
On this 2Oth day of October, 1908, be-
fore me appeared J. P. Brandt, the
person who executed the foregoing
statement, and who being by me duly
sworn on oath deposes and says that
the foregoing statement is true to his
own knowledge.
TsEAL1 E. w. RICHTER,
Notary Public, Steele Co., Mimi.
My notarial commission expires April
a, 1915.
Mr.. Barker need not have gone to the
trouble of securing the foregoing affi-
davit, as the columns of the Journal
under the new management sre speak
ing more loudly each week as to its
character.
SEALsHIPT OYSTERS