Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1921-09-16
VIRTUALLY INDICATED


to refrain from all discussion of
political or religious nature, as it be-
lieves these subjects are a mans own
business and that he alone is qualified
to choose his belief and steer his own
course in endeavoring to escape the
snares and pitfalls supposed to sur
round these much debated subjects.
Notwithstanding the above outline
of our policy we think the occasion
has arisen and the time most op
perfume for a truthful unbiased state
ment of the much discussed question
of the truth or falsity of the grave
charges preferred against Mayor
Atherton by the self-constituted
'holier than thou" Purity League
which recently jumped into the lime
light and made bid for notoriety by
preferring the sensational charges of
graft and corruption against the
mayor Of the city of Newark.
After a so-called thorough and un
prejudiced investigation of the case
and several days devoted to the sup
posed mental task Of separating the
chaff from the wheat, Governor Davis
handed down his cut and dried decision
and removed Mr. Atherton from Of
flee. In lengthy document the gov
ernor states that two charges were
made, gross neglect of duty and ac-
cepting bribes. The gist of the mat
ter is contained in the concluding
paragraphs of the governors decision:
'On the strength of the evidence,
we are compelled to find Herbert A.
Atherton, Mayor of the City of New
ark, guilty of the charge of Gross
Neglect of Duty in that he failed
properly to enforce the law and here
by remove him from his said office
as such mayor.
"We are compelled, however, to dis
regard uncorroborated testimony
against said mayor by self-confessed
gamblers admittedly animated by a
spirit of revenge; men who admit
their only business is that of gam
bling and who charged they paid
Atherton money for police protection.
True or untrue, we cannot accept as
sufficient the testimony of men of
this type without at least a measure
of colroboration from substantial wit
nesses. We must therefore rule out
the second charge of Misconduct of
Office"
A unprejudiced view of the whole
regretable circumstance discloses an
apparent scheme on the part of local
politicians aided by the claw Enforce
ment League" backed by gang of
self-confessed gamblers, to remove
from office the peoples choice for
most important position, discredit his
standing and injure his reputation,
for the purpose of aiding in his defeat
for reelection in November. This
opinion is strengthened when it it re-
membered that Mr.. Atherton was ap-
preached by a League emissary, an
attorney claiming to be a power in
the political circles of the state, who
offered twas it bribe also) to squelch
the impending charges if the mayor
would resign his office and withdraw
his name as candidate at the ap-
tN1,oo obirC, 7,Yi1oo a,.U o1oo+io1, M,
Atherton's refusal to do this evident
ly made the bunch more vindictive
than ever, and no efforts were spared
to accomplish their purpose.
Governor Davis ruling states that
the charges of accepting hush money
were not proven, and that the char
acter and standing of the witnesses
introduced precluded the acceptance
of their testimony. This being the
case the question arises why the
goody-good League members should
seek such companionship, and if there
is any truth in the good old saws
that "water seeks it's own level" and
that "a man should be judged by the
company he keeps"
Mr.. Atherton accepts the adverse
decision very philosophically, and
during his temporary retirement to
private life is smilingly greeting his
many friends and laying the ropes for
a hot campaign for election as mayor
next November.