The Farmington times., 1916-09-01
GoRDoN's TRADUCERs

Personal abuse, vituperation, mis-
representation and distortion of fact!
enter largely into our political cam
paigns, as conducted by the jacka
class of politicians. They appeal t.
the meaner instinct Of human nature
that is always ready to believe the
worst of others, that would even drag
down and soil the wings of an ange
of light. Is it any wonder then that
there is SO much bitterness in our pol
itics, that the basest partisan feelings
and prejudices are aroused until of
ten the best of neighbors of different
political views grow to suspect each
other of all sorts of sinister designs
against the public welfare. 1t is a
deplorable condition, but each recur-
ring campaign these political muck
rakers make their appearance and fair
thinking people can only endure them
as they must any other sort Of loath-
some epidemic. .
The Republican brand of this char
acteristic class of snarling partisans
at the State Republican headquarters
is just now exercising its peculiar tai
ent against John p. Gordon, Demo
cratic candidate for reelection to the
office of State Auditor, and is sending
out its canned sputum to the Repub
lican country press, which is publish
ing and devouring it with the avidity
of duck foraging in a slop trough.
Gordon is stigmatized as a profligate
exploiter of the contingent fund Of
his department, looter of the school
fund and nepotic spoiler and robber
of the salary fund, which in the light
of facts is so malignant and exagger-
ated that only the most credulous or
those always ready to swallow the
worst they hear of anybody are like
ly to be influenced by it.
For one thing he is lambasted for
expending about 5000 of the contin-
gent fund of his department in attend
ing Convention of State Auditors at
Denver. This convention was held,
like other national meetings of State
officers, for the purpose of comforting
and exchanging views on matters per-
tanning to the conduct Of their offices,
and it goes without saying that lit
tie recreation and conviviality are in !
dulged in. Whether such gatherings
inure to the benefit of the public it is
not now our purpose to discuss. Mr..
Gordon's expenses to this Auditors
Convention were paid out Of the con-
tingent fund of his department, as has
been the custom all along. Former
Attorney General Hadley, afterwards
Governor-we only mention his name
because he is partisan Of the pack
that is bounding Mr.. Gordon--fol,ow
ed, profted by and indorsed the GUS
tom. In this. Mr.. Gordon only, did
what other State officers, both Dem
ocrats and Republicans, have been do
ing time out of mind without objec
tion from any source.
But some of these jackal Republi-
cans took it into their heads that they
could make little capital out of Mr..
Gordon's trip to Denver, and began
to cite him as an instance of Demo-
cratic profigacy and misapplication
Of public funds to private use. A
Prosecuting Attorney Of
Cole county, wherein rests the States
capitol, thought he saw an opportun-
ty to get little cheap notoriety, and
80 filed in the courts an information
against Mr.. Gordon for misuse Of the /
public funds. OF course Mr.. Gordon
vas promptly acquitted, but no matter
If acquittal or innocence has any eff
'eet upon the jackal class of politi- ;
ian; and it is doubtful if the name of ,
he Prosecuting Attorney who sought
10 put himself in the lime-light at !
Mr.. Gordon's expense is known to
lozen men outside of Cole county.
This little incident, however, it
here had been any wrong in what Mr..
sordon did, could have injured no ones
equation but his own, but the jack
lis would 20 farther and blast the
'eputation for honesty of good and
.apable woman. They charge that
Gordon permits his wife while on I,
he State pay-roll to stay at home, !
orning to the State capital once a
month to sign her pay check No
animation that the work for which 4
drs. Gordon is paid is efficiently done J
nd the mdhey earned; but their IN j
inuating statement would lead the
ublie to infer that she sits at home
18th hands folded in her lap and does {
othing to entitle her to the pay she {
sceives-in short tllat she and hes.isi
4 Z. N l.NsSst. .eALst H..