Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-12-12
A PLEA FOR FAIRNESS.

The lClI2E LaE eLCEa 60 70 DE
absolutely fair In this controversy
over the electric light bonds. II pub
lished free Of cost the first two arti-
cless regarding the proposed bond
issues. both from the pen Of u. g.
Butterfielo When fl published the
second il stated that thereafter il
would require pay for articles On
either side Of the question. When
the FrohDach article was brought IN
the Tidings insisted that the taxpay-
eTs' committee pay the expense Of its
insertion. Alderman Cunningham
came 70 the office and asked if the
Tidingg would print articles on the
other side. He was told that it would
for the same price that it charged
for the Frohbach report
There was meeting Of citizens Of
Ashland, largely business men held
at the Commercial Club Tuesday
forenoon 20 put in nomination a can
didate for mayor 10 oppose o. II.
Johnson, who, like any man with d
personality Of any strength, did not
suit all. There were at that meeting
both supporters Of the voting Of the
bonds and those opposed 10 them.
Mr.. Briggs at first insisted that
someone else run Several names
were mentioned, but all refused, and
Mr.. Briggs finally consented. He
stated openly and above board that
he was opposed 20 the bonds as he
did not believe in loading any more
bonds onto the city at this time.
Among about 20 business men pres
ent was {. A. Malone, local manager
OF the Sigkiyou Electric Power and
Light Company. The manifesto OF
the bond prOpagandigtg, issued on
Tuesday night. contained the follow
ing gIurring allusion TO that meet
ing:
This morning a meeting was held
in the Commercial Club rooms
Among those present were G. S. But
Ter, G. A. Malone local manager OF
the Siskiyou company, p. T. Staples
e. d. Briggs, Joe Hurt and others
r. y. Briggs was nominated fol
mayor. What does this combination
mean? What do these men stanC
for? What does the Siskiyou com
pany have 10 do with it?"
The heading OF the manifesto is &
slurring reference TO "one Frohbach
who admits that he is 10 be paid fol
his statements and figures" "OnC
Frohbach" was for some time secre
tary OF the Commercial Club and il
probably as well known TO the public
as the signers OF the articles ~ the
manifestos. His employment TO &c
through the books OF the light plant
was the outcome Of chance gather,
ing Of business men in the office oi
&. Il. Lamkin, a man who is opposed
TO Mr. Briggs for mayor and favor
able 10 the bond issue. Mr.. Froh
bach al that time made the remark
that for S25 he would 20 through
the books and find the facts. Ques
tioning Of the accuracy OF state
ment by II. V. Richardson was tho
cause Of Mr.. Frohbach's offer and
that Mr.. Richardson Offered to guar
antee the money to pay Mr. Froh
bach and raised 1t by subscription, &
list Of the donors appearing in thii
issue.
What the Tidings objects TO is tho
repeated statements and insinuationi
that anyone who opposes the issue o.
the bonds rs in a frame up" and hal
something coming" from the power
company. Some OF the bitterest en-
emies Of the public service corpora
tions are the men who have tried tt
get "handout" and failed, but tn,
TldinRg certainly would not say, mucl
less inginuate that the advocates o
the bond issue are IN that class.
The same applies 10 the wet" ant
DRY proposition. The Tldings ant
It's editor believe that the interest
OF Ashland would be best subserve,
by a dry" town but do not believ
that the advocates OF closely restrict
ed saloons are all fiends 0incarnate
Neither does It believe that tn
"prOhis" are all cranks, fanatics 0
hypocrites as some OF the wet" ad
yOcates would have us to bellev,
Let Us each and all hold TO on
opinions without impugning the nc
lives OF others.
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