Arizona republican., 1918-05-11
A Very Serious Accusation


 We rise to a question of personal privilege A week ago this paper printed the announcement of Hon. Thomas E. Campbell of his candidacy for the republican nomination for governor. On the same night the statement of MT. Campbell received in this office, announcement had been received from Secretary of State Osborn of his candidacy for the democratic nomination for governor. Mir. Osborn's statement was received hours earlier than that of Mir. Campbell but not published until the day following the appearance of MT. Campbefs an- nouncement.
 These were not simple, formal announcements, but personal platforms of the two candidates. There was similarity between them and that fact led Mr. osborn to believe that the Campbell statement a plagiarism of the Osborn statement. MT. Osborn believed. and stated in conversation with many persons, that The Republican, making an improper the statement he had entrusted it. had informed Mir. Campbell his friends and had let them have Mir. Osborn's announcement as model Of English and high patriotic sentiment for MT. Campbelrs statement which, otherwise, would not have appeared when it did.
 So long as Mir. Osborn confined the utterance of his dark suspicious to talk, The Republican could not well reply. It took pains however to him that he in But as he has invaded the public prints, feel that longer tinue silent. This statement from letter to the NOrInern ArlIOnd Leauer mas appeareu.
 Tn this connection beg to say to you that I gave my announcement to reporter of the Arizona Republican, a Phoenix daily yesterday Thursday, May 2nd feeling that it news mat ter and they would be glad to print it. Late last evening they called Tom Campbell, told him that announcing my candidacy, gave him copy of the letter and asked him to make announce
 ment which he did, seemingly using my an
 nouncement his copy The Republican printed Campbells announcement but made mention
 whatever of mine It would that in
 decency they would at least-although the
 Republican IS a partisan republican newspaper
 have printed mine in the issue, but of it
 they made no mention whatever
 We do not think that MT. Osborn understands faintly the seriousness of the charge he has made. and doubt very much whether one who so fails to understand is properly and fully equipped for he very responsible and honorable position to which he aspres His view of the amenities of life is too crcumscribed.
 The Republican would have been the most de- spicable of newspapers to do such thing. It would have forfeited the confidence every reader of every advertiser and would have deserved the contempt of the newspaper world very narrow politician might regard such act political trick, dirty only if played against his interests but other wise proper and astute But the average high minded citizen could trust The Republican again if he believed that it had done such thing. Yet Mir. osborn, without the slightest qualification declares in print, something already proved, that The Republican has done this thing.
 The facts in the case are these: MT. osborn's statement was. he says. handed to reporter for this paper. That evening it passed the editor who inquired to conditions in the mechanical de- psrtment that night and learned that the statement column in length could not be without crowd ing out other natter In his judgment the news value of the document did warrant it's publica- night under that Mr. Osborn was a candidate already we'll known. His views things in general were not the editor believed, of consuming interest; they would keep for twenty-four hours. Accordingly the statement was put into the editors desk and was seen by no other person that night. It had passed through the hands only of the reporter to whom it had been delivered by Mr. Osborn and the news editor, but both of them had given it only the most casual attention
 That night after the editor left the office the Campbell statement brought in and a telephone message sent him inquiring what disposition should be made of it. He supposed that it was a simple statement and as this paper is supporting Mir. Campbell. he directed that it be printed He had received not the slightest intimation, nor had anyone else connected with The Republican that there would be statement from Mr. Campbell that night.
 As we have said there a similarity between the statements. Both chose loyalty for their theme all candidates for office at this time doing. Mir. Osborn, believe has acquired exclusive right for Arizona to that subject. In his statement he used the expression 100 per cent American and do these and other hackneyed expressions appear in the Campbell announcement. But, as we understand, they had not been copyrighted by MT. Osborn. We may add without offense to either MT. osborn or Mir Campbell that neither statement was original in either subject or expression.
 Whether not MT. Campbell or his friends had heard of the Osborn statement, we do not