Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1914-10-31
spRINGMEYER TELLS
HOW COLLINS TRIED TO
DOUBLE CROSS HIM
To the People of Nevada:

d lIlG ScPAS VI
In the month of May, 1910, was
a resident of Goldheld and assistant
District Attorney of Esmeralda
county. At such time | contemplated
being a candidate for the Republican
nomination for the Office of Attorney
General and during such time dis
cussed my candidacy with one E. R.
Collins, at that time strong politi
cal power in said county. Collins tried
to dissuade me from entering the fight
declaring that Hugh Brown, of Tono-
pah, would likely be candidate be-
fore the primaries and would defeat
me, as he was very popular. Never
theless, decided to file my applica-
ton. On or about the oath of that
month Collins came to my office and
asked me how | sood in respect to
the existing membership OF the Ne
vada Railroad Commission. | told
him that | was for their retention in
Office, and if elected | would vote for
tIClI Soihho tciN i'N
that this was all he wanted to know
and that as Hugh Brown had not as
yet filed, for the primary nomination,
he might not enter the fight. On the
10Th day of July, Collins called on me
in my Office and said it was alright
That as my stand on the Railroad
Commission was what they wanted,
Hugh Brown would not file. | SAID
that sounded good to me. Collins
then said that | must put it in writing
to assure Hugh Brown and others
that the Nevada Railroad Commission
was safe in the event that | had no
opposition. Suspecting no treachery,
and without hesitation or suspicious
Of unfriendly motives, thereupon
wrote the letter in question.
Within one hour from that time |
learned on the street that Hugh
Brown had filed met Collins com
ing out of the postofhce and started
to talk with him when he stopped
me and said come inside He closed
the door back of me and turning
about, said: Now we have got you
just where we want on. You lay down
or I'll publish that letter and kill you
politically for all time" | said, ~ GU
publish that letter and | will tell how
you got it. You have struck the
wrong man There is nothing in 1t
but what | am willing to have pub
lished and ! defy you to publish it"
There was a good deal more said
among which was that | proposed to
stay in and make that fight and pub
licly' declare my stand on the Rail
road Commission from every platform
in the State. This | did, as the re-
ports of those meetings will show.
When the convention of nominees oc-
CURED at Carson CITY, | was chairman
OF the platform committee, wrote the
plank in the platform pledging the
Republican nominees to the reappoint-
ment of Bartine. Shaughnessy and
Thurtell as the Railroad Commission,
and read the platform before the con
vention.
My feelings against Hugh Brown
grew out of the belief at that time that
he knew of the representations made
by Collins. do not so believe now,
for Mr.. Thatcher in his speech at To
nopah quotes a published extract
from letter found among Collins
effects, the authorship of which he
does not disclose, and which supplies,
at this late day, the motive of Col
Inns, and apprises me at last that my
feelings against Mr. Brown was Who'll
ly and completely unfounded.
Mr.. Thatcher's Interpretation of my
letter in his Tonopah speech, is
neither justified nor uttered in good
faith. wrote the letter honestly,
and under similar circumstances,
would do it again.
I Signed. George Sprinpmeyer