Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-11-29
Expert R. A. Harris, Salem, orc.

Expert r. A. Harris, Salem, Ore.
Dear Expert: Since you are much
given to letter writing and have bur
dened Uncle Sans mail in the state of
Oregon with your various Epistles to
the Ephesians and others during the
last few months, 1t seems meet that |
should answer you in kind. 1t appears
from a careful reading of your note
that you are out of patience with me.
This Is matter of much regret on my
part, especially for the reason that !
have always made it point to get
solid with all experts" and members
of the "profesh," but / fear that here
after when we meet that you are GO
ing to pass me the frozen face. Now
my dear Expert, you are entirely
wrong in your judgment regarding the
attitude of The Observer. 1t isn't
jealous. 1t is supremely satisfied with
itself and the part it took in the de-
feat of the little scheme engineered by
yourself to give you a better job at
the expense of the taxpayers of this
grand old state of oregon, and 1t APP
pears that you are the individual con-
sumed with the passions Of the green
eyed monster" You have had much
to say during your struggle for the
adoption of your pet measure, about
the erroneous statements" of those
who opposed you, yet always you
have, by telling half the truth, misled
the people and sought 10 befog the
real Issues in the state printer fight
You have resorted to any subterfuge
which you thought might aid you and
your small coterie of cohorts, and
have attacked the state printer with
out reason, at the same time endeav-
oring to pose before the people as the
only true and conscientious disciple
of the people. You have abused those
who differed from you, and accused
them of all sorts OF ulterior motives.
You have had much to say about the
present abuses I'm the state printing
department, when, as "a matter OF
fact, the greatest abuse observant at
this time is the fat salary which you
draw annually from the strong box of
the state treasury. From an expert !
ence Of many years i'm the printing |
business, I am constrained to believe
that the state of oregon needs a |
printing expert" about as badly as a /
yearllng pup needs two caudal ap- |
pendages.
II The Observer ever Suggested /
anything" more truthful or sensible |
in connection with any plan to correct /
the abuses of the state printing law
now in vogue" than the amputation
Of your official neck, and the elimina-
ton Of your salary, ! don't know
what II is. ! am not interested In the
state printing law only insofar as il
affects the people Of the state. don't
expect 10 gain or lose by the adoption
OF your plan for a printer on a fiat
salary. or any other plan. I only ad-
Vocated the rejection Of the pending
law because / have had experience i'm
other states where your plan was ef-
fective, and I have had abundant oc-
caslon To know Of the graft and the
abuses" Of which YOU so glibly prate
In your many appeals To the people
Possibly I wasn't the first to advo-
cate commission 20 revise the pres
ent printing schedule: understand
the former proprietor Of this paper
advanced that idea. hut do believe
that The Observer was the first and
only publication to advocate Il during
the recent campaign. and my idea was /
a commission composed entirely Of
practical printing men rather than
experts. Possibly therein lies the
real reason for your recent explosion.
You would probably welcome a COM 4
mission that included you as one Of
the members and 7 have no doubt
that that was your motive in issuing .
your recent circular. copy of which I
you forgot 70 send me. by the way. In I
which you advocated such a commits /
sion. I note that you are willing. and /
even anxious. 10 serve the state On the \
furtherance of any honest plan" and Z
the people OF the state ought 20 b. {
mighty thankful that they have al
least one conscientious citizen who &
hravely stands att he very door Of {
The state treasury. with one hand In 9
The strong box and the other welding I
4 threatening sword warning au ma )
rauders away. Il 10 certainly comfort D
shle 20 feel that there is one man who ]