Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1910-04-28
Views Afoot

L
In the "Views Afoot" column of the
Journal, appeared recently discussion
of the record of Representative Walter
1. Smith as a supporter of Cannonism
in Washington.
1t appears that the Atlantic Daily
News, Smith organ, felt greatly out
ragged over this article. In recent is-
sue it devoted two and and half col
umns to an attempt to disprove the
Journals statements and to vindic.
tive attack upon the Journal, filled
with abuse and vilification.
The statements published by the
Journal were true. And in order that
they may not be forgotten, and that
the peevish News may see them again
in print, they are republished below.
Against Walter I. Smith the Journals
most important charges were:
"He has been a faithful supporter of
Cannon, the champion and defender of
the Trusts and of Special Privilege.
HE voted for Cannon for speaker
He voted FOR the resolution which
sought TO CONTINUE Cannon's despotic
power by re-adopting the old house
rules.'
"He voted AGAINST the resolution
which sought TO PUT AN END to Can
mons rule, by taking away his power
to appoint committess.n
"When finally revision of the rules
became inevitable, he voted FOR a no.
minal compromise, by which the speak
er RETAINED all of his original power"
The second of these statements is
proved by the Congressional Record in
Washington. The record of the vote
is found on page four, under date of
March Is, 1909. On page six of the same
record is found the proof of the third
and fourth statements above; and Oh
page seven is found the proof of the
fifth. Moreover, the first statement is
true because the other four are true.
and because Mr.. Smiths subsequent
course has given us considerable fur
ther evidence;
Now, since the Congressional Record
can not be questioned, the charges
must be regarded as proved. Anyone
may investigate the matter and con
firm the Journals statements.
Let the Atlantic Daily News do it.
Really, let us find out whether II is
the Journal or the News that is try-
ing ito mislead the voters of the dis
trict." Let us see whether the above
statements are ignorant, preiudiced.
and wholly false as the News asserts.
and whether they are "a tissue of ip.
norantand wilful Misrepresentation of
the facts" Let us find out whether it
is the journal or the News that is the
"half-baked, untiedged and uninformed
newspaper
| Yes, it Is ''daren and the News
DOES NOT DARE TO DO 1T. Still, since
the Congressional Record is conclusive.
and since the Journal has taken the
trouble to tell the News just where to
look for the evidence, it seems that the
News ought to do it. And having
looked up the proofs, the News really
ought to publish the result But the
News WILL NOT DARE TO DoTH1s Ell.
THEIR.
/. If the News doesn't dare to look into
these things, it ought in all fairness to
give this challenge the same publicity
4 among its own readers that it gave to
the attack upon the Journal. But per-
haps the News DAREs NOT DO THIS
EITHER. Who can tell?
At any rate the bluff is called. Come
along, please, and let us have the
proofs. 1t is up to the News. Let us
see its superior brand of wisdom in ac-
ton.
| Incidentally, the time is past when a
representative in Congress can "blow
hot" at home and elbow cold" in
Washington. And the day has gone
by, too, when abuse and recrimination
VIII Jake tne place OF evidence that
voters can turn over and weigh for
themselves.
Note:-The statement by Dr. Porter
held is in sense ancient history. 1t is
interesting to note that his narrative
ENDS with the very day on which the
list OF levents set forth above against
MIR. Smith BEGINS. A newspaper like
the News might make use of such a
statement to blind the eyes of voters,
but it would be worse than useless even
for this purpose if brought up to date.
The Journal can demonstrate this to
the News, also, if the latter so desires.
Mrs TttrL Moo~o