Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-05-12

LII appears that the Journals WOrdy
duel with the Atlantic Daily News ov-
er Representative Walter I. Smith is
really making encouraging progress
1t is in this wise:
The Journal submitted charges
against Mr.. Smith AS A SUPPORTER OF
CANNON IN WASHINGTON. They have
been published twice in this column.
The first time the Journal printed
them, the News, a Smith organ, threw
really violent conniption fit. 1t said
that what the Journal said wasn't true
at all. In fact it said that the Jour
NAILS charges were "a tissue of ignorant
and willful Misrepresentation of facts, :"
that they were Ignorant, prejudiced
and wholly false"; and that the Jour-
nal was trying "to mislead the voters
of the district"
Then the Journal printed them again
and submitted it's proofs, which were
drawn from the Congressional Record
in Washington. 1t challenged the
News to investigate them and PUBLISH
THE RESULT.
Now, the truth is Truth, and Truth
will out; wherefore the News was
strictly "up against it..
In it's dilemma, the News made an
unexpected slip. Itgot down to the
facts in the case. 1t says now:
"The News comedies that Smith vo.
ted for Cannon for speaker. 1t never
said he did not"
OF course not. 1t simply said that
the Journals charges were "wholly
false" and "a tissue of ignorant and
willful misrepresentation of facts" !"
How cleverly the News sidesteps!
Then the News goes on to admit
another of the Journals charges, and
all the remainder by implication, for it
denies NOT SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
Instead, it tries TO EXPLAIN WHY
Smith did the things the Journal char
ges him with; but it's explanations do
not explain, as will probably appear
later.
However, this clears things up con-
siderably. Mr.. SMITH is GUILTY AS
CHARGED. The NEWS NO LONGER
DENIES IT. This FACT SHOULD BE
DRIVEN HOME TO EVERY VOTER IN THE
DISTRICT. REALLY, WE ARE GETTING
SOMEWHERE. 1t remains to be seen
whether Mr.. Smith can explain his
position as supporter of Cannon to
the satisfaction of the people, whom he
represents. The Journal thinks not.
Samuel g. Blythe in the Saturday
Evening Post, says Representative
Smith is held peculiarly to represent
Cannon and all he stands for, because
of his position on the Committee on
Rules" This states the simple fact in
the case, and should be understood by
every Republican in the district.
The truth in Mr.. Smiths case is that
EXPLAINING is better than DENYING.
In fact denial of the charges brought is
falsehood, pure and simple, and should
be SO regarded by the voters OF the dis
trict. And in view of this we should
all like to know if Mr.. Smith is respon-
Sible for THE ATTEMPT OF THE NEWS
TO DECEIVE THE PUBLIC AS TO HIS
RECORD ON CANNoNIsM. WILL THE
NEWS TELL US? 1t is the News, a
Smith organ, that endeavored by UN-
QUALIFIED DENIAL OF ABSOLUTE
FACTS to hoodwink and deceive the
public as to Mr.. Smiths record, and
thereby "to mislead the voters of the
district But the question is, Was
Mr.. Smith back of it? The News
knows the answer. Will it tell it hon
estly and frankly, and without side
stepping or evasion?
Really, it is important to voters to
know just how this campaign is being
run. There is time enough to discuss
the Portertield statement and Mr..
Smiths explanations. One step at a
time is less confusing and surer.
1t looks bad to find Mr.. Smith "held
peculiarly to represent Cannon and all
he stands for" with Cannon known to
be the defender of trusts and Special
Privilege.
But it takes on really ugly look u)
to find the facts vehemently denied at
home (2) to find the Smith organs at
tempting to deceive Mr.. Smiths con.
stituents, (3) to find the truth branded
as "a tissue of ignorant and willful
Misrepresentation of facts and (4) to
find those, WHO STATE THE SIMPLE
TRUTH INTHE CASE, violently attacked
and personally vilitied. If this is the
plan upon which Mr.. Smiths cam.
paign is to be conducted; it is hope
less from the beginning, for voters in
these days are too intelligent to be
/, browbeaten in any such manner. 1t
was good politics generation ago, but