The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-03-14
An Impudenr Inquiry.

AL AlnD0OOAt AA40AA
/ County Clerk Harry L. Knight receiy
ed the following letter from Charles F
: Sleeper, editor of the Palmyra Nea0s
The envelope was marked personal
and was sent by registered letter and |
receipt requested in order to max,
J sure that the person addressed got it
The letter reads thus:
i Palmyra, Burlington Co., n. J..
Mich. 18th, 1916
Mr.. Harry L. Knight,
Mount Holly, N. J.
Dear Sir: 1t is reported that you
have been selected as one. of the dele
gates from this District to the Repubii-
can National Convention. AS you will
lcome before the voters for election, it is
proper that you should inform them
where you stand, what policies you re-
present, and what candidates you favor.
| am informed you favor the so-called
Tory" wing Of TIE party rather than
the Roosevelt. which polled the larger
vote at the last Presidential election, in
this county. The voters are anxious and
have a right to know your position, so
they can vote intelligently, and unless
I you clearly make it known we shall be
compelled to accepr the rumors snd adj
wise the voters accordingly.
Yours respectfully
Charles f. Sleeper.
N. B. Your early reply, or failure to re-
ply within ten days. will be published.
OF all impudent procedures the above
is the limit. Under indictment for libel
ling county clerk Knight, and being
compelled-by advice of counsel posi-
bly-to discontinue his attacks upon
Knight, Sleeper, the editor, seeks to an
noy the clerk by other methods, and
the letter is in the line of operations.
By what right Sleeper interrogates the.
man who, by the decisions of a grand
jury, the editor is now under a charge of
libelling, is not plain. Mr., Knight has
not answered the letter, and if he does
make reply, it will be to a Republican
paper, not to one which has straddled on
all portions of the fence. If he does
answer he might asksSleeper if he is a
and if he voted i'll the Re- |
publican primaries, and further, If he
has supported the Republican nominees,
as members Of that party. 1t is safe |
bet that he did not support county
clerk knight. Possibly he did vote for
the Senator and Assembiyman, but it is
dollars TO doughnuts that such action
was not on Republican platform, but
more because those candidates favored
principles that the editor considered
more to his liking than politics. Sleeper
says, ut is reported you have been Sc
lecsed." This is rather premature, as
there has not yet been any selection. /"
Mr.. Knight intends TO ask to be sent to
the Republican national convention as
a delegate. Thus far he has received
much encouragement in his canvass and
the voters who will decide the question
-Republicans-have not demanded any
of his intentions if elect
I'd. They have had two chances to show
their appreciation of the county clerk,
and both times the decision has been
gratifying to him. And the last time
The confidence Of the people was re-
affirmed it was in the face of the attacks
If Sleeper, and it is safe to predict that
history will repeat itself" and that the
people twill vote intelligently, and
will not be compelled to wait for the
editor to 'tadvise them accordingly"
There are sufficient number of intelli-
gent people in this county who are able
TO do their own thinking, and not be de-
pendent upon any one not authorized
by party affiliations to dictate how they
shall cast their ballots. With all the in
cidents in view, it would be just as well
for Sleeper to attend to his own personal |
anG political business. If he wants
Roosevelt delegates elected, let him
frame ticket toward that end and work
for its success, but so far as county clerk |
Knight is concerned one would think |
Sleeper had learned that discretion is
the better part of valor." In view of
past occurrences, it might be advisable
to go slow before making publication on
"rumors." That course has not worked |
very well 50 far.