Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1916-09-08
OTHERS OPINIONS


Mccoy, Oregon, September 5, 1916
Editor Observer: Referring to you
offer to publish articles by me con
tributed over my signature, 81 an
happy, O King Agrippa, that I an
permitted to speak for myself" "
beg to correct you Mr.. Editor; an
not the "father' of the proposed re
call in any sense. [ was at Dallas
on May third and there learned oil
the proposed Independence outrages
On May fifth I went before the Farm
ers' union meeting at Smithfield and
discussed the county courts action
The Farmers union called meet
ing of taxpayers to meet at Dallas on
May 18th to initiate proceedings to
prevent consummation of these pro-
posed outrages. On Monday, May
eighth, I learned that large grading
outfit passed Mccoy for Indepen-
dence, and on the ninth I went to
Dallas and there learned that work
had actually begun, evidently max
ing haste to destroy the road grade
before a taxpayers meeting called to
meet on the twelfth.
I therefore filed an injunction suit
to hold up work at independence un-
til the taxpayers meeting called for
three days later was held. Now at
the meeting at the court house on the
twelfth of May l made report that |
had filed the suit to hold up work un-
til the meeting and now if the tax
payers wanted these contracts carried
out I, too. wanted it and would dis
miss the suit and donate the costs
put up. If they did not want the
contracts carried out they would take
action in which case I would turn the
suit over to them. At this meeting a
taxpayers league was. organized, Of
ficcrs elected and tile suit taken over.
Under a resolution passed a commit
tee of five was named to arrange and
conduct the injunction suit and | was
added to the committee as advisory.
The committee. with myself, met at
Dallas on May 10th. The court ar
ranged to hear Attorney Holman con-
duct the suit and to employ Judge
Ramsey to assist him. Trial of the
suit was had ON June 9th. A meet
ng of the Taxpayers league was
,alled for June 18th. AT this meet.
ng | made report of preparation for
he suit, of the trial. and result as
'ollows: "The case was closed Just
lfter noon at about two o'clock and
Immediately the Judge rendered an
opinion. | will read from The OBJ
erver (and so read from last column
n title page) In the following writ
en- opinion Judge Belt holds, etc.
then repeated that Immediately the
ase closed, the judge gave his decis-
on and If wrgttem opinion | was
urious to know when it was written.
hat is all | said about the suit
low at this time came calls. but not
y me, for recall, and finally action
as taken to recall. | am therefor
OF the father of the recall. Now ,
The Observer of date. June 20th, I
NJ accused Of attacking Judge Belt
nd casting reflections upon him be-
ause and only because of this writ
IN opinion, and which written opin.
IN | read from The Observer of June
tn at the meeting of June 18th. Saws
lere was no written opinion rem
cred, but that upon request of The :
bserver the Judge wrote the opinion
ter for it. The Itemizer also charg-
attack of Judge Belt and saws up
4 request of Itemizer and Observer
lie Judge afterwards wrote the opin- {
II for them. I
Now | challenge a denial of these !
ated facts, and | leave the public 70
'dge if | made attack or cast re- :
ectlons on Judge Belt. Brevitv is ]
e soul of writ. l close. Yours
II the right,
TAArrr -