Semi-weekly herald., 1912-03-21
COMMUNICATED.

Evening Herald to reply to the charge
in The Durango Democrat of Sunday
morning, that ! did not know where
| was at, and was reaching the Osler
age.
To the former charge have to say,
that | know my position with refer
ence to the policy of that paper, to
the extent of depriving myself of a
morning paper, because of having to
read the abuse of our best citizens,
both business and official, in its eff
fort to pull down rather than build up
the interests of the town, for the rea-
son that some of the business men
do not see fit to advertise in the
paper and the official does not submit
to graft of the taxpayers money.
Should any one dare to make reply
through another paper in defense Of
himself or any one of this community,
he is branded as liar" coward"
''peon," 'blatherskite," "ingrate,' and
such obscenities as bring the shovel, -
pull the chain and IS. o. b. (sour
old boy)". To stab in the back has
been considered in all ages amongst
civilized people, the most aggravated
form of cowardice | would ask, is
it any more so, for the editor or man
ager of newspaper to abuse and
blacken the character and standing of
any one who differs with him, or re-
fuses to pay tribute and has no news
paper of his own to defend himself
with?
1t is a source of regret to the writer
to live amongst such "a cowed com
munity, who not only submit to, and
by their patronage support such a
paper, when the remedy rests in their
own hands, without the aid of law
lessness.
All progressive towns have their
boards of trade or commercial bodies
under perhaps some other title and
SO must Durango. If you and some Of
our citizens are so ready to criticize
our present directors as being incapa-
bic and incompetent, don't bid for pa
tronage and popularity on those lines,
but volunteer to replace them. | feel
certain each one of them would will
ingly resign in favor of more capable
| men and give their successors their
financial and loyal support.
BY whose efforts did we secure the
Fort Lewis school? Surely not by
the knockers of the board of trade
bers, are now subscribing $3.50 per
month to the maintenance of same,
by reason of part of the state ap-
preparation being held up and no part
of this sum is taken out of the men,
bership dues. The work of the di-
rectors of the board of trade (who
without pay, give their time and effort
to advance the interest Of all) as well
as the dues derived from its men,
bership are to certain extent being
wasted, and will continue so as long
as we have the Democrat under its
present policy.
Let those who are members support
their directors and defend them in
an effective way. Be men, and share
the abuse they are subject to and do
not be afraid of the abuse you, of
course, will be Individually subjected
to. These conditions have existed
for nearly twenty years, let us united
| fight it to finish and then if we can
without sacrifice of pride or honor
! on either side be friends.
In answer to the charge of Oslerism
/ would confess to the same. IL, as a
member of the sugar beet promotion
fund committee, had sanctioned Mr.
Darley's spending the subscribers
money in violation of every principle
of the contract with him, or could ac-
cept his oft-repeated statement, "that
the tariff does not figure in the price
of sugar." when all competent writers
on the subject state, that even a slight
reduction in the tariff would be q
saving of millions of dollars to the
consumers. How could saving oc.
cur with the same cost price to the
consumer?
II Mr.. barley can make the peo
pie in the San Juan basin believe thi.
statement then I say this is an In
viting field for the lightning rod man
On the other hand, If l was candi
date for office and wanted to secur,
the farmers and others votes,
should fall in line with the progressive
citizens" movement and share this un
usual good sop that the office seeker
has to offer the voter, or make th'
same confession.
The subscription list will prove thaf
I wanted a beet sugar factory (but mo-
to fight the trust) as much or mor'
so than the farmer or progressive
CITIZEN" when with the exception Of
John Perrung, l was the largest In