Imperial Valley press., 1915-11-08

NJ ". Conkling has agan tafen ms
pen IN nand IN defense of the irrigation
district board, and the document thus
prepared la heen jointly signed h}
President hamilton and Director Brock
man and duly published in Mr.. Conk-
ling personal organ. the Progress.
Very appropriately, for an attorney,
the ease is treated as court vital,
though the rules of evidence are tx
nored. and. very ebaraeteristieaily for
some attorneys. the defense seeks To
becloud the minds of the jurors by
personal attacks
The article accuses the Pres of
abusing the undersigneda- Messrs.
Hamilton and Eroekman.
First of all the Press wishes to take
exceptions to this The Press has said
repeatedly that il does not question
the honor or integrity of either of
these gentlemen. Il Ia said that per
sonally this journal has only Kindly
words for them. It has disagree with
their policy. and has exercised it@ right
to eriticise their public acts. Not orc
discourteous or unllindlf word has the
Press spoken in regard to them, nor
will il d. so. however far they so in
personal attacks. for this iouruel will
insist ON this issue being met purely
on it oWn merits.
RceardinE hr. Coni,Iin@.
"When Coni.ling wa employed not
one of the reeallers made any kick"
and
Then objection comes solely from L.
Z. Howe. editor II the Pre-, whom
every old timer knows has bitter
personal crouch against Conl1linE. T.
serve this personal Crouch. Howe has
during the last four months printed in
his paper one lie after another
The reader will note the admission
that the alleged old crouch was not
manifest in any act OF opposition until
1 months ago.
IN other words. this bears out the
stdtement already published IN these
columns that the Press did not oppose
Afr. Conkling or the board until Last
.ummcr. when the publishers diseov-
cred the existence Of the secret CON
tract with the Southern Pacific com
papY and when Mr Genl1lins, attorney
TOR tho district against the southern
Pacific. . or / times went from thc
distriet office into the superior Court
q III al p ufH idstr Ibl Tic obul1tIn II l a
oifie.
I'p to that time the Press had been
informed that Mr. Conltlng had soy
ered In relationship with the railroad
company.
Beginning when the#e revelation
wore made. the Press criticised Mr..
Conltling for attempting Ia terve Two
conflicting masters aud It all crit
Ia,
mi leading the public H. giving out
rart Of the southern Pacific contract
a the whole contract
Tkc Pros has no old Erudge or new
Eredugc against alr Conhins or any
Other person. Il doe not harbor
erudges. and while the Pre- has neyef
liked Mr.. conklns'a method. II throw
NJ obstacle in his way until it seemed
that his public service Wa public
menace.
ur. ConI,line', Contract
The article is peculiar in thaf II a.
eerts the value Of Mr ConRGnF.# acrx-
1ces aud attempts To minimize tn part
Ec played in il.
The fact is that Mr. Gonlslias. after
conference With Southern Pacific of
fieiale in san Franci#co. announced to
fhe directors Of Tire district in open
moetins that he had been asked by tho
Southern Pacific 20 draft a eoutraet
embadylpg what the district de.ired
This lie did and II va admitted II
The Southern Pacific Company and bv
that eompauX.a lawyers VA somewhat
amended. CoukllnS went In Wasblee
ton and while lie va absent judge
uatncs Wa sent 70 san Francisco L.
seeure some ehaoge# in thc document
in feature which thc directors did not
aprrove This is the history Of the
published n3rt of the contract The
history 81 the secret Part is NOT known.
Regarding this contract the Pros
has believed and till believe that il
mould bc oonsunmated ri the earliest
possible date.
But il does not believe thar Mr.
Coul.iing or any othr southern Pa
eific attorney should rass for The dis
tfie on the title 10 the aruperfv tin