The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-10-30
ROOT DEFENDS
HIS RECORD IN
LETTERTo STAR
CONTINUED
FROM PAGE I

be absurd on It's face.
AT tho recent primaries. 25.sT2
voters expressed their confidence
In my character and ability by yct.
ing for me. Should defer TO
them or to you. and tho 81 or lees
attorneys whom you say were pres.
en-, at the meeting which appoint
I'd you to wait ON me. with the
Suggestion that withdraw my
candidacy
Your threat that the newspapers
would rcpublish the old matter. II
did not withdraw. 10 disquietins.
but not controlling.
III they wish TO Join with you.
and with those with whom you are
working. To tear me down. be
smirch my reputation. and humiii.
nte my family. they. OF course. have
that privilege.
Il consider the threatened as
sault upon me as dastardly. COW
ardiy attempt TO humiliale myself
and family. and piece OF unde-
served persecution.
In justice 10 my family. and 10
tho 23.sT: of my fellow citizens
who voted for me at the primaries.
and In justice to myself. bex To
decline your suggestion"
Resolutions Passed
Upon receipt OF this letter. the
president of the association called
a meeting thereof to pass resolu'
lions denounclnE my candidacy.
ard TO invite the newspapers 10
make an assault upon me. Al first
the officers OF the association de
clined to invite inc TO be present.
but some Of the members insisted
that decency and fair play rcquir-
ed that be invited; these re-
quests Induced the president TO re-
quest my presence. the invitation
being received after S o'clock OF
the evening upon which the meet
Ing was 10 occur.
I appeared at the meeting. and
upon motion being made by a
member Of the association. vas
invited To speak. and did NO. re-
viewing at length the circum'
stances leading up TO and surround
Ing the matters compiaiaed OF. 4
resolution denounclng nay candi.
dacy. and calling for the publIca-
ton of the matters referred To. was
introduced. and discussed by sew.
erai of the members.
Opinion Of Small Coterie
One member moved that. instead
of denouncing my candidacy. that
the facts be published. and laid be.
fore the people. Ia order that they
might decide for themselves as To
whether or not ! was a suitable
candidate. This exceedingly faiF
proposition was voted down. II ap.
pearing that the meeting did not
care 10 trust the voters OF the
county 10 make up their own
minds from the facts. but rather
preferred to lay before the people
the opinion OF a small portion OF
the association.
At this point II may be pertinent
10 let your readers know who com
prise the Seattle Bar association.
IL In NOT an association OF the en-
tire membership Of the bar. In
stead OF that. II has. understand.
n membership OF not 10 exceed one.
fourth OF the entire membership OF
the bar
Less Than rs Vote
When n vote was taken upon the
resolution denouncinR my candl-
dacy. there were less than IS votes
cast In favor OF the resolution. and
a considerable number OF those
present fsome OF them being mem
bers of the associationD not voting
either way. and quite number
voted against the resolution.
so we have the spectacle OF sew
enty.five, or less attorneys out OF
I 200. attempting to tell the voters
OF this county how they should
vote. and telling the 2S.S12 voters.
whose votes nominated me. that
their chosen candidate should with.
draw.
Corporation Lawyers
At the meeting. speeches we're
made by six or eight attorneys,
practically every one OF whom was
well-known corporation lawyer:
so we have the situation OF this
meeting adopting the ideas OF a
little coter.e OF corporation attor.
neys. We have the situation of
this small aggregation setting up
their judgment against that OF the