The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-05-01
Washburn, Wisconsin, Thursday, May lst, 1918

by Mr.. Peavey during the time that
members of the council were being
brought into the limelght and before
he was mentioned much in connection
with any of the deals. But in be-
ginning these articles we stated that
we intended to be fair'to all and give
facts as we found them upon the
records, especially in regard to the
figures, let the chips fall where they
will"
Even at as late date as April
18th the Mayor wrote as follows: |:
And in fairness to you will say that
| think it is in the interest of all fair
minded citizens that this be written
up. But do not feel, having been
on the square and open and above
board in all my transactions and
official duties, that there is anything
which warrants making an attack
upon me-"
We continued with our articles just
the same, continuing to follow the
suggestion of the Mayor that we pub
lish "ifanyone has been doing wrong. :"
On April 18th his views of our articles
changed and in letter written at
that date he says as follows: II can
not see, for the life of me, how you,
claiming to have the interests of the
city at heart, could have done this"
Could anyone have been more fair
than we in these articles. They
were published with but little COM
ment and because the recall petitions
followed as result we cannot be held
to blame.
What we intended to show by
these articles and what we did show
was that city affairs have been con-
Quoted in an irregular method during
the past year. We showed how the
boiler deal was let to members of the
council without bids being advertised
for. How goods were bought for
the city by the councilmen from
themselves, how their own work was
supervised by themselves, how the
lease of the bank building was let, and
how work was done by committees
without orders from the council when
the same exceeded over 5000, how
the order for the payment of the
boiler job was issued, signed and
cashed when other orders allowed at
the same meeting were left unsigned.
how bills were attached to others
which had already been filed in order
to collect pay for work done by alder
men, and how orders were drawn for
more than the amount of the claim
presented. Many of these things
were contrary to law. In answer to
the Mayors letter we did show that
the city was not in as good financial
shape this spring as it was q year ago,
even though more money was at the
disposal of the city council.
We did not charge the Mayor with
permitting these things to be done
but simply said that it was his duty
to see that they were not done.
At the mass meeting Mr.. Peavey
attacked the 191 signers to the re-
call petition, claiming that not over
twenty of the number knew anything
of city government. This statement
will be resented by the signers who
represent more than one-third of the
voters of the city.
The object of the recall petition as
we understand it, is not an attempt
to discredit Mr.. Peavey at Madison
and it is not fight between the La
Toilette progressives and the Stalwarts
as charged by Mr.. Peavey. Those
back of the recall petition say that
they have but one object in view and
that is to have better city govern
ment in future.
Outside issues that have no bearing
whatever upon the issues should not
be allowed to enter into this CAM
paign and personalities should be
avoided.
Mr.. Peavey, in telegram received
yesterday morning, retracts the
statement made at the mass meeting
to the effect that we had purposely
withheld the publication of his letter
for one week. The telegram follows:
Madison, Wis.
VIM. Robinson,
Editor Washburn Times.
Wish to retract my statement as to
letter mailed here afternoon of the