Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-04-12
THE FOOL ASKS QUESTIONS, WILL
THE WISE GUY ANSwER7


the mental pabulum so anxiously
and longingly awaited by those who
like that kind of soothing and restful
reading for the editorial page of the
morning paper, having classified the
Capital Journal editor as "a crapulent
and cheerful idiot and irresponsible
yawper," ought forever to render the
latter quiescent. That he is not so, is
probably due to his "crapulent idiocy,"
and hence he brushes in where angels
fear to tread" and takes the chances of
being called something real mean by
asking the onomasticon in knickerbock.
ers, who writes the profound legal argu-
ments for the morning paper a few
questions.
It is an old saying that ga fool cani
ask questions that wise man cannot
answer" and as our reputation as a
fool has been established by the indis.
putable dictum of the unabridged pons
asinoum, who corrals airy nothings in
empty space and gives them in print
local habitation and a name, we desire
10 also establish his reputation as being
the real wise man by asking a few
questions, that in consequence of his
wisdom, he will probably not answer
Why is the morning paper so deeply
interested in the purchase of the Salem
eompany's water plant by the city1
Why did it not, if it knew Of this in
iquitous clause in the charter amend
ment that would have deliberately rob.
bed the outlying districts, tell its read
ers soi
Why did it, as it says it did, talk the
matter over with those managing the
matter of purchasing the water plant,
and so readily agree with them that the
section alluded to did not mean any
thing, and then keep still about it'
Why did il come out after the in.
iquity of the measure was shown up in
The Capital Journal, and attempt to de.
ceive the people still further by insist.
ing the section did not mean what it
said and by trying to distort that
meaning in an effort to make the sec.
tion seem harmlessi
Why did IT, after all this, in its is
sue Of Friday morning, admit editorially
that The Capital Journal s view Of the
matter was right and that section II
Of the amended charter must be climin'
atedi
Why is II so insistent that this pur
chase matter be gone ahead with wher
il knows, and says that section II must
he amended, and with its usual cheerful
optimism asserting il will then carry by
a large maiorityl
Why is il trying to force the people
TO buy a plant that only about yea
ago they emphatically said they did no
wanti
why does It insist, not on municipa
ownership of water, but on tho purchas
Of this plantH
Why does II back up the expendin
Of $1,000 Of the taxpayers money i
finding out the estimated value Of tn
Salem water company's plant for tha
company
Why this tremendous rush to hay
tho matter settled al oncci ls II afrai
some further coorod gentleman win b
found in tho woodpilci
Why is il fighting the water con
pauy 3 battle for II, rather than stan,
ing with the poople' These are just
few question asked by the crapulcnt br
cheerful idiot Of Tho Journal
You will perceive that this idiot doe
not ask the "moral upliftcr" Of tn
paper up the street, why 1t classes hin
ne nm idiot. lie knows. II is bccaus
the evidence shows he is. II he WASH
he would never try to culighten III
chccrlcss gloom, the somher curtauc
dark phamhprg In what should he th