Graham guardian. [volume] (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923, 1911-10-13
OCTOBER 10. 1911.
AN HONEST MAN

AN I1OlN6Jk ANfAiN
In REPUTATION of the recent sour
rilous attacks made upon Colonel
Thomas F. Weedin, the democratic
candidate for the nomination OF
governor of Arizona, alleging that
he is controlled by corporate inter-
ests, we print the following article
from the Arizona Democrat:
THAT Thomas F. Weedin is in
any way controlled by the corporate
interests Of Arizona. as insinuated
bv some Of his political enemies, is
emphatically rcpudiated. not only
by his neighbors who have loved
him during the score Of years he
has resided in Pinal county. but by
certain facts, which, perhaps. it is
well to recall at this point in Weed
ms campaign.
"Old Tom Weedin, pioneer Indian
fighter. editor of paper which has
never lifted its voice against, but
always strenuously for leais alton
beneficial to the people and the
Territory. Is today poor man, abb
solutely without penny because Of
his strong personal integrity.
Some months ago an fastener
named ERan arrived in Florence.
He was commanding in appearance,
talked much Of the splendid pros
poets Of Arizona in general, and
Florence in particular, under COM
ing statehood, presented credentials,
which on their face were unques-
tionable. and proceeded to establish
a bank.
Certain prominent citizens Of
Florence invested in the enterprise.
among them Tom Weedin. whose all
was represented in his modest week
ly newspaper plant and home,
every stick of which was placed and
nailed by Weedin's own hands.
Egan proved to be scoundrel.
He gambled away the money Of the
depositors, the bank failed and the
stockholders we're called upon by
the law to make the money good.
Weedin was among a number who
we're on the notes of Egan for about
$4,000. Some Of the signers were
for taking advantage Of technicali-
ties and evading payment, but that
proposition struck the ire chord in
Tom Weedin's character.
Gentlemen, I'm on the notes.
and propose to pay up. l want
that emphatically understood. Not
a man who placed dollar in that
bank because of confidence In US
shall lose dollar SO far as my little
property will protect them
That from Old Tom Weedin, and
forthwith he proceeded to the hold
ers of the securities of Egan. signed
by Weedin and the others, and
made. good every dollar for which
he was obligated.
The incident left Tom Weedin
practically penniless. He has not
one dollar today with which to make
his campaign. Friends who love
him for his sterling worth. for the
prominent part he played in the
early and dangerous days of Ari-
zona's settlement, who wish to see
him honored in his declining years
for his fidelity to Arizona, and to
truth and honor. are advancing the
few dollars he needs to travel about
the State to meet the voters.
And not one of those friends is
q corporation man. They are men
of the class of Old Tom Weedln.
Here In Florence is a Weedin
club Of nearly 200 voters. In Pinal
county his democratic neighbors will
give him a unanimous vote at the
primaries, and when 1t comes to the
general election scores Of republic
cans will give their beloved neigh
Dor their votes. The best estimate
of a mans character is that of his
own family, and next the estimate
Of his neighbors and daily associates.
Weedin has lived in Florence many,