The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1911-10-12

William ]. Biggar. in four coiui
letter published in the Sunday Amer
ican with lot of cheap wit. base
upon my name, and lot OF cheape
statements of misfacts, attacking. Il
nearly as | can make out my honest.
and sincerity in preaching politica
progressiyeness II should prohaDi!
be beneath my notice, but as 1t "a
surely exemplifying statements mad
in an editorial a week or so ago
am tempted into making reply.
If | was 10 reply in kind ] migh'
say that Biggar was a "Beggar aftei
cheap noteriety that would give MIN
a bigger" political pull, but sucn
effusions of wit are not so much me
result of brains. | take it, as me re
Election of gas from dome OF fed
hair. But l am not seeking pubic
inv and may even soon retire from
newspaper work. The writing | have
done for more honesty in politics ana
greater love in man for man. must
stand for itself My answer will be
a reply only in so far as Mr.. Biggar
attacks my personality.
First. | did not get my start in
newspaper work on the Tacoma Daily
Ledger My start was made in n
little country town and for eight
years | worked there learning that
all then existing political parties were
rotten at core and that the average
reformer was as rotten, only he mad
less opportunity to prove it, and
vet contrary as the statement may
seem. learning that the majority Of
all men were good at heart, and to
be trusted with the affairs of state,
once they knew what they wanted.
Second, | never worked for the
Tacoma Daily Ledger. | did, how
ever for eight years work for the
Tacoma Daily News, which is owned
by the same mans. A. Perkins. Dur
ing those eight years, though
never agreed with Mr.. Perkins In
his general political attitude on aat-
ional questions, yet / learned 10 ad-
mire and respect the man. He is !
father to his employees, and though
of the old school, at least when
worked for him, believing political
bossism is necessary to political sue.
cess and prof proposing to be sue
cessful, yet he belongs also to tina
other old school which will never de
sert a friend and never forget n
enemy. In spite of the fact that n
knew l was an .".insurgent' poll
tically and that | was fighting, pol
itically, that wing of the republican
party which he wanted to succeed
Mr.. Perkins was the man who frs
of all offered his support to put m
in the Lynden post office, and woul
have put me there, too, had not
changed my mind about wanting it.
Third, never lost in a politica
fight for the Lynden post office
Though l did not support him 10
the place, Postmaster Bender and
are the best of friends, and so far a
l know never have been anything els
applied for the postoffice and wa
promised it by men who, Deliev,
could have delivered it, for you mus
remember that the postoffice was Will
in the gift of the regular" repul
licans and not of the ''progressives
or insurgents. While the appoint
ment was pending one of the re
gular" republican leaders of III
county made a request of me tn;
set me to thinking, and ] conclude
that a man who published my Sort
newspaper did not want 70
under political obligations to ar
man ON earth. | valued my new
paper and my readers opinions mo-
than ! valued the post office, so
wrote to our congressman and witt
drew my application. | doubt if yf
believe this plain statement of rae
Mr.. Biggar, though it is easily We
flied. but l don't care whether yt
do or not, | am making the stat
ment for the benefit of those WI
do believe what | say and who ms
wonder about that post office bu
mess.
Fourth. though 1t was not WRITE
with that purpose, ! was not at
surprised that the regular Hera
and many other regular pape
should copy my editorial. and frank
am glad that they did. Whiie
hope l do not pose as poi'
lea, prophet" have of late yea
been conceited enough to believe "a