Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-17
CATCHING THE CROOKS.
Newspaper Publishers Who Would Sell
Their Readers for Money.

In the issue Of Golfers Of March 2,
last appeared the following editorial:
Speaking of liquor, by the way,
prohibition amendment which comes
up in West Virginia on November Is
causing the liquor interests to act
according to their lights. The Post
Chronicle of Morgantown prints let
ter from c. L. Trevitt of Washington,
d. c.. telling how awful it will be II the
hundreds of thousands Of dollars In
vested in breweries, distilleries and sa-
looms are wiped out; adding that it Is
a fight to the death, and outlining q
campaign of education. This educa-
ton consists in offering $1,000 or more
for editorials, preferably written by
Trevitt himself, but, as he adds: am
willing to pay for editorials, even II
written by yourself On Trevitt's let
terhead appears the following: Lit
erary Agent, Essays and Speeches pre-
pared for congressman and Others
There are 219 publications in the state
of West Virginia OF this number
thirty three are daily newspapers, five
semi-weekly publications, and fourteen
monthly publications. Not even the
monthlies were skipped by this literary
agent. Whoever wins, the poor liquor
interests are being put to great ex-
pense; but then they get most OF the
money of a large part Of the popula-
ton, so perhaps, it is all fair in the
end"
A representative Of the liquor inter-
ests in West Virginia protested to US
that no such person as &c. l. TreVitt
had any authority to speak for those
interests, and charged that the Trevitt
letter had really been sent out by enc
mics Of the liquor interests.
Golfers thereupon pursued some
investigation. This investigation dis
closed that "35 B. Street, N. W., WASH
ington, D. c." the address Of c. l..
Trevitt, as shown by his letter, Is the
Bliss building, in which building Is the
office Of the Anti-Saloon league. We
found that Mr.. Trevitt's mail was de-
livered at this Office, and forwarded
from there to William E. Johnson, who
is a brother -in-law Of c. l. Trevitt.
10Th Johnson and Trevitt live near
little station known as Oak Crest, on
an electric car line, twenty miles out
from Washington. That batch OF let
ters addressed to the West Virginia
editors had been sent by Mr.. Johnson
TO the secretary of Rev. Edwin c. Din
widdie, superintendent Of the Nation
al Temperance Legislative Bureau,
with offices In the rooms occupied by
the Saloon league, with the re-
ouest to Mr.. Dinwiddie's secretary to
mail them at the Washington post OF
fee. Mr.. johnson had also asked Mr.
Dinwiddie's secretary to forward to
him, as he should from time to time
advise her of his address, all mail
which should come to 35 B. Street, N.
W., for c. L. Trevitt. These instruc-
tions were followed. Both Mr.. Dinwid-
die and his secretary claim not to have
had any knowledge Of the contents OF
the Trevitt letter mailed from their Of
flee to the West Virginia editors.
The Trouble With the Department.
Golfers then sought Mr.. johnson.
William E. johnson Is known among
the liquor interests and their friends
as "Pussyfoot" The name OF PUSSY
to oil hOnSanOlO
word in the camp of the liquor inter-
ests in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico,
Minnesota, and other western states.
Until the fall of 1911, when he re-
signed, Johnson was employed In the
interior department as chief special Of
ficer of the United States Indian SER
vice, with special duties in the sup
preston of the liqYor traffic among
the Indians. Some dissatisfaction was
expressed by officials Of the interior
department with certain phases OF
Johnson's work. The officials declar-
ed that mo fault had been found with
Mr.. Johnson's integrity or his charac-
ter" although some 100000 of pubic
funds had passed through Johnson
hands. Johnson asserts that his work
interferred with the activities OF GER
tain politicians, and that this fact led
to friction between himself and the de-
partment. 1t was charged by the de-
partment officials that Johnson was
overzealous in the defense of young
New Mexico Indian named Juan Cruz
who. as one of Johnson's deputies
had attempted to take a bottle OF
whisky from four Indians, was as
saulted and beaten up, and In SELF
defense, as claimed, fatally shot one
of the four Indians. johnson charg-
ed that the Indian agent, appointed
by the government, was himself the
owner Of a drug store in Santa Fe
where, contrary to law, whisky was
sold to Indians. Four OF Johnson
deputies were killed during one pc
riod Of eighteen months, and he him.
self has taken many desperate
chances.
Johnson's Object.
Johnson was Trying 10 Separate lie
sheep from the goats in the editorial
sanctums of West Virginia. Ten years
ago he had trapped with the same
bait 16S Texas newspapers whose edi-
tors were willing to poison the source
of public information for price. Re-
ferring to his "catch" of West Vir-
ginia editors, and holding up batch
Of letters, Johnson said: These were
the rascals 1 was after. 1 have nc
apologies to make. 1 went out after
scamps and got them. 1t Is not the
first time I have set bear traps fol
crooks"
Asking for Money in Advance.
Johnson held up letter signed 81
w. Miller" dated February 9, 1912
and said: Miller is a Sunday-schoo
superintendent" He Is also the pub
Usher and proprietor" Of the Putnam
Democrat of Winfield. He wrote:
II will say am in business life. not
seeking pleasure. | am in the market
for business, and I accept your propo'
sition. stopped carrying liquor