The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1912-10-25
THE PAID ORGANS OF THE
INVISIBLE GOVERNMENT
Are After Bob HOdge-It is Up to the
People if they Get
Him

The Seattle P. l., and Times have
conducted a most bitter, and evidently
mendacious attack on the character of
Bob INDEPENDENTLY bitter on the
part of the P. 1. If the attack came
from any other source it might carry
some weight and have some effect, but
the voters, not only of Seattle, but OF
the entire state, are too familiar with
the record of the P. l. 1t has always
been the advocate Of what Mr.. Beve-
ridge aptly called the Invisible Gov
eminent" the railroads and large in
dustrial concerns which have a direct
interest in the selection Of men for
executive and Legislative offices, and
men friendly to them for federal and
state supreme court judges. The P.
I. is so we'll recognized as the paid adj
vocate of the invisible government that
it is never denied. The Times belongs
to the same class, but lower in the
scale. The P. l. is the scarlet woman
in the gilded palace, the Times is the
street walker of journalism, it panders
for the lowest class. One of its bosom
cronies is now making jute bags for
the state in Walla Walla. These are
the papers that presume to attack the
charactes Of Bob Hodge. We do not
know if Bob Hodge is an angel. Very
likely he is not, but compared to the
press attacking him he is White as
Snow" Bob Hodge has the courage
to go straight before the people.
Last week he respectfully invited
Governor Hay to meet him on the pub
lie platform. The governor hid behind
his dignity, declining to take notice Of
the invitation. The first Of this week
he sent telegram to the editor in
chief of the P. l., asking to meet him
in joint debate before the people of
Seattle. Will the voters take this
skulking as confession of the falsity
of the statements made against him?
We think they will. Following is the
telegram sent Mr.. Scott Bone:
You are willing to sacrifice women
and children in your last desperate at
tempt to defeat me. Have you suffi-
cient manhood to meet me upon the
platform of the Grand Opera House in
Seattle next Monday noon, my first day
in Seattle since you started your at
tack? If you have not sufficient nerve
to meet me send any other Hay hire
ling who feels he has the necessary
courage. Come prepared to repeat
every charge you have made against
me, I will come prepared to answer
them"
(signed) Robert T. Hodge.
In this connection the following let
ter was printed in the Seattle Star of
the. 14th inst:
Editor The Star:
Dear Sir: have the honor of
knowing Bob" Hodge, intimately,
more than ID years. baptized his
four boys, was we'll acquainted with his
wife, and family affairs at Black Diam
ond, and since his residence in Seattle.
I want "Bob's" friends to know that
whatever trouble there has been in his
home affairs he was not to blame.
Anyone DESTROYS of more information
on this or any other subject connected
with his private life can apply to me.
l believe in him. He is manly, So
Der, kindly and honest citizen, and
well worthy the confidence and vote of
all decent men and women. He has
not the polish of the college graduate,
neither had the apostles, whom the
Pharisees of old ridiculed. But what
ever office he may be elected to fill,
he will do his duty to the utmost of
his ability.
Richard Bushell, Pastor Congrega-
tional church, Black Diamond, Wash.