The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-04-26
DIRTY methods DEVELOP
IN ELECTION CAMPAIGN

resign from the City Council or re-
sign your position with the Railroad
Company. Immediate action is re-
quired.
(Signed) NJ. O'CONNOR-
To this letter from Mr. O'Connor,
sent the following reply:
Winnemucca, Nevada.
April Gath, 1921
NJ. OConnor. Esq.
Div. Supt. W.P.R.R.
Elko, Nevada.
Dear Sir:-Your letter of April 22nd
reached me last night. 1t is true that
/ am working in the roundhouse at
this point and that am a member of
the City Council of this City, and am
also a candidate for reelection to
the same Office. Before proceeding
further | wish to say that | am COM
PEELED to refuse either TO resign my
position with your company or my
position on the City Council. l also
refuse to withdraw as a candidate for
reelection. This is the first l have
ever heard of the rule that an EN-
ploye of the Western Pacific cannot
become an officer of a municipal gov
ernment such as the City of Winnie
mucca, or, for that matter, hold any
other official political position. AL
though a workingman, have always
regarded myself as a freeman, free to
follow the dictates of my own con-
science, and not serf of any man or
corporation. l understand your letter
to mean that | cannot become can
didate for such Office For il | cannot
hold the office after my election. under
the rules of your company. | could
not be a candidate for such office
without violating the rule. | wish
to cite you to Secs. Nos. 20 and SO of
the Corrupt Practice Act of this State,
found at pages 476 ct seq of the Ses
sion Laws of 1913. You offer me as a
reward for not running. or for re-
signing, the retention of my present
employment with your Company, or
its loss If do not ! regard your ac-
tion as a violation of the provisions
of this Act. and If necessary, | shall
have to proceed against you and the
Company as well under the provisions
of the Act mentioned. / look upon
your letter as a personal threat
against me and an unjustified attempt
to intimidate me, besides being a vio
lation of the penal laws of this State.
II | were to withdraw my candidacy
at this time and under the present
conditions. l would be equally guilty
of such violation along with yourself
and the Company you represent I
must refuse to place myself in such
a position. I am confident. judging
from the date of your letter and
threats made against me here on the
same date, that your letter is not the
outgrowth of your own personal judg-
ment, but that 1t arises from threats
made against your Company by GER
tain large shippers over your road
doing business here in the City. who
are opposed to my candidacy for the
office of City Councilman from the
Second Ward, and who are anxious to
compel me to withdraw from the race.
In conclusion, l wish to re-state my
position so that you cannot misunder-
stand 1t: I refuse to resign my posi-
ton with your Company; l, also, re-
fuse to resign from the City Council
of the City of Winnemucca; and what
I believe to be of greater importance
to you and your Company, refuse to
withdraw from the race for City Coun-
Gilman from the Second Ward.
Regretting your action very much,
l remain,
Yours very truly,
(Signed) w. L. AKIN.
The above is no more than a clean,
- o., 60