The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1910-08-06
The Path of the Serpent

-H HE Shiny path of the venomous reptile that throughout a politi-
cal campaign drags its steathy length up and down the state
spewing out poisonous ISLANDERS about opposing candidates, is
already to be traced thus early in the campaign. Its path has been
traced from Reno to Godfeld and back as far as Nina on the return
trip, where a venal and Safeguarding paper for a few pieces of sill
yer has been found to fertilize its poisonous germs and spread them
to the winds.
The paper in question devotes its last issue largely to Mr. Sprague
and to his pack of bowling, mangey, Dckersonian band of coyotes, =
and after II of its lengthy TRADES of abuse winds up with the fol
lowing: Lay on MacDuf, and Damned be He who first cried, Hold,
Enough. We ar. with you, damn you, till the u sets o election day
in November
The News would pay attention to this newspaper scavenger
except that it makes a single statement which, if permitted to go un-
|frent, in this campaign, for it is a malicious and venomous lie.
In its mad rawlings about Governor Dickerson and the news
papers supporting him, the paper in question says and the other is
a pompous individual who was formerly one of the proprietors and
editors of the Colorado Springs Telegraph, a radical Republican or
gan and a valuable aid of that contemptous skunk, Governor Peabody
and the Mine Owners Association
This reference is to Mr.. sprague of this paper, who founded and
for several years owned the Colorado Springs Evening Telegraph,
and the purpose of the reference is to prejudice the public against
Mr.. Sprague by connecting his name with that of the odorous Pea
body.
Whoever poured this venonousl lie into the ear of the newspaper
in question, has either a very bad memory, is ignorant of political
history, o r. is reckless with the truth, for Mr.. Sprague did not own
the Evening Telegraph during the Peabody regime, was in no wise
connected with the paper, was not in Colorado Springs at the time
in question. and was not, nor had been running a Republican paper.
He had sold the Telegraph four years before Peabody and Peabody
ism appeared upon the political horizon.
On the other hand, while Peabody was governor, Mr.. Sprague
was during the Legislative session, secretary of the senate, and with
that Spartan band of Democrats who fought Peabody, barricaded the
senate chamber for seven days and nights, defying Peabody and his
state militia, who threatened to clear out the senate chamber so a
rump senate could hold a session and elect Wocott over the heads of
the Democratic majority. The rest of the time during Peabody's adj
MIR. Sprague was the political writer on the Rocky
Mountain News, owned by Hon. Thomas NJ. Patterson, attorney for
the Western Federation, and Peabody's btterest foe.
The News does not intend to burden its columns with a denial of
the many lies that will be spread about Mr.. Sprague; it would have
space for nothing else, as that will be the character of the campaign
made against him; but some of these lies more malicious and harm
full than others must be nailed now, before they get much of a start
The truth or falsely OF Mr. Sprague's statements as to his con-
nection with Peabody and the Mine Owners Association. can be veri
fed by a score of people here in Godfeld and other parts Of Nevada.
and by the editor of the local Republican paper, Mr.. John c. Martin,
who was night editor of the Rocky Mountain News at the time re-
ferred to.