The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-10-21
Reputable Editors Repudlaie
journalistic MendaCity.
NOT A SINGLE DIRECT CHARGE
Candidate For Governor Helped Rather
Than Injured by the Work Of the
Mud SINGERS.

FennSyINaula are TSSenJlHB anu SOu-
demning the disgraceful journalistic
attacks that have been made on John
X. Tener, the Republican nominee for
governor.
Misrepresentation of a scandalous
character have been made in the at
tempt to ruin the reputation of Mr..
Tener, but investigations into the facts
of the case have shown that Mr.. Tener
has acted in a thoroughly honorable
and upright manner in every transac-
ton that has been referred to and
through which his political enemies
have sought to place him in a false
light before the people.
The efforts of a sensational newspa-
per to have it appear that Mr.. Tener,
through his connection with the Public
Utilities Corporation, has placed him
self in a position to forfeit the sup
port of his fellow citizens as a candi-
date for governor, have failed signally.
Not solitary fact has been sub
mitted showing that Mr.. Tener should
be criticised for any act in relation to
this company. While il Is admitted
that up to date the enterprise has not
been profitable, reputable business
men who are interested in the cor
poration are convinced that it will ulti-
mately be successful.
Mr.. Tener met the attack upon him
with a prompt and sweeping disavowal
of any wrongdoing.
at is palpable attempt to besmirch
my character" said he, 'and to ques-
tion my integrity, without the slight
est justification and without a scin-
tilla of fact to base an intimation of
wrongdoing upon my part.
"The article" he declared, 'fs an ef-
fort to promote the selfish and pecun-
iary interests of a mercenary and de-
generate publication. There is abso-
lutely nothing to conceal. l became
connected with the company through
w. l.. Christman, a reputable attorney
In Philadelphia. When l found l could
not give the time to the company
severed my connection with it abso-
lutely, never having accepted any Of
its stock. My relations with the COM
pany were entirely straightforward and
honorable in every respect"
Mr.. Christman, to whom Mr.. Tener
referred, is one of the leading mem
bers of the Philadelphia bar and a
man of the highest reputation in the
community. He is now president of the
company, which was formed, among
other things, to construct a railroad
on the coast of Oregon to open up a
big lumber field. Mr.. Tener was voted
s %
accept it. He was connected with the
company for but two months, when he
resigned.
Men of Affairs Interested.
A number of well known business
men are on the board of directors of
the company, including Simeon Mer-
rell, president of the Yost Manufacture
ing company, of Meadville, Pa; VIII
liam B. Margerum, a merchant in the
Reading Terminal market, Philadel-
phia; General Russell Thayer, who is
also a director in the Philadelphia and
Suburban Elevated Railroad company;
Colonel William Bender Wilson, for.
merly of the Pennsylvania railroad,
and for whom the Pennsylvania legis.
lature voted medal of honor for dis.
tinguished services during the Civil
War; w. w. Pinkerton, of the Pinker.
ton Construction company; Frederick
Schoff, manufacturer, who has been
prominent In many civic movements in
Philadelphia, and Thomas Bromley
Jr., who is member of the Commit
tee of Seventy, and has been active in
of in
Quaker City. General Thayer was
among the first to declare that Mr.
Teners connection with the company
was entirely honorable. He predicts
the ultimate success of the enterprise
Throughout the several publications
care has been exercised to avoid di
rectly charging Mr.. Tener with any
specific act of wrongdoing, but by In
uendo and by linking him with pro
moters who were identified with the
unsuccessful companies taken over by
the Public Utilities Corporation, an ef
fort is made to discredit Mr.. Tener.
In commenting upon the attack or
Mr.. Tener the editor of the Pittsburl
Gazette Times, among other things
says:
"Mr. Tener says his relations with
the company were straightforward
and honorable In every way As fal
as his friends are concerned his repu
distion Of the slander was scarcely
necessary; they know he is an homes
man, and they do not question his In
tegrity. But II is just as we'll that hI
should denounce the attempt to be
smirch his character, as he has dom
for the information OF the people o
the state, before whom he is appear
ing as the Republican nominee 70
governor.
"As for this bit OF sensationalisn
which has been introduced into tn,
campaign. 1t is a disgrace to journal
ism. 1t is essentially a low-grade pc
litical trick, partly intended to attail
the meanest of partisan ends an,
partly to achieve a feat Of CONNER