El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-31
Bridgers Replies To Campbell
And Other OF His Critics

before me I excused myself, pleading
ar engagement and Ignorance OF the
law" It IS very clear to me and has
been from the beginning that the gen
tlemen who came TO see me about this
matter felt that I pleaded an engage
ment" as a mere excuse to get away
from them
They are entirely honest in this pre-
sumption, and I say this sincerely.
They think to this day that I resOrted
TO mere subterfuge, while have new
er felt that I should enter into a dis
cussion OF an insinuatiOn involving my
honesty OF purpose; but nevertheless
II was because Of these and other IN
situations that I at last grew Obstrep-
erOus during the course OF the pOlltax
investigation in court ] know when
1 am treated with proper courtesy and
l say now that ] was not treated with
proper courtesy in that meeting. hoWev-
er unintentionaI the dissOurtesy may
have been at the time
have not deigned heretofore to
make reply to these insinuations. But
now, in order TO clear this matter up
this matter with reference 10 having
a previous engagement',-I am willing
to make an explanation that viii great
" shock Mr. Campbell The men who
came to see me that day came at two
o'clock. They at first did not want to
divulge the nature Of the information
they possessed / persuaded them that
l could not draw a complaint unless
1amillarized with the facts. They then
agreed TO give me the necessary infOr-
nation BY this time Il was 2-SO, and,
II must tell It, had agreed to attend
an anu-prohibitiOn caucus at that hour,
and l excused myself for that purpose.
nave always hated to admit this to
Mr.. Campbell, because I know his utter
aversion to an Observation-Disclosures at
that time dreaded to lower myself in
his esteem and confess to him that I
had degenerated to such depths But
despite all that, / have at last been
compelled to expose myself. I hope Mr.
Campbell viii not ask me to prove the
truth OF the statement I have made, but
/ will prove It II I must
There Is one item Of the affair that
/ cannot prove TO him. however. as
know he would take the word OF no
living human as to that. I want to
state, nevertheless. and I make the
statement upon such small honor as
may possess, that when excused nv
self upon that fateful day. I did not
consult with the county officials or
my official or political associates. with
reference TO the matter that had been
laid before me I kept the faith.
did not run to them with the matter"
as am sure AIR. Campbell suspects. I
did not at any time discuss the ques-
ton with them, nor sound. the alarm
Of danger" I went into the matter
in the utmost sincerity, and all for
what-tO be made the unwilling object
OF insinuatiOns and inuendoes which
were so plain that I could not be in
sensible to them.
Now to show that Mr. Campbell can
be unfair, by the employment OF inuen-
does. at least, he says that the man
whom they charged with the polltax
irregularities was never permitted to
TESTIFY. Who prevented him2 Not / as
MI Campbell well knows Who caused !
the filing Of the complaint against him
which did effectually bring about that |
very condition. Not I, as Mr.. Campbell I
well knows.
This whole question narrows Itself /
down to mere matter OF stateuent I
ana counter statement. I really think 4
II IS foolish and useless. but cannot I
nelp but resent being misrepresented-
nave stated before that I do not
aspire TO the Joseph w. Folk realm,
and II seems to me that references 10
the missouri statesman place the ques-
lions al issue entirely beyond me as
wen as beyond those who make sucn
comparisons simply intend to keep
on trying not to make fool OF nv
selI' and II 1 can succeed at that I viii /
be satisfied. realize that these news
paper discussions can become intermln-
7ole and for that reason I dread 70
make this answer to Mr.. Campbell
think the public gets tired OF Suc1 I
things, and / hope Mr.. Campbell and / /
Will by this have become con
Vlnced that we cannot agree, but tnat
We can only keep on criticizing indefl-
nlteiy. and suggest that II there IS
anything good in either OF US that we
get down to business and find out
what II Is, for the benefit Of ourselves I
as well as for the general Denerit OF !
The community at large.
". ". Bridgers.