The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-11-10

Mr.. Webster answered our letter by
return mail cancelling his speaking
date, saying that he did not wish to in
terfere in any manner with religious
gathering. Our mental process has not
been hitting smoothly on six cylinders
recently and by some Incompetent
sible misunderstanding we read that
the speaking would take place the fol-
lowing evening, October IS. Without
making any further inquiry we got out
posters announcing that Mr.. Webster
would speak in Oroville on the even
ing of the 18th. In the meantime the
committee that makes out the itinery
of speakers billed Mr.. Webster for
Omak on the night of the 18TH and
there Is where the wires crossed.
On Tuesday evening, October II, Mr.
Webster spoke at Tonasket. After the
meeting Mr.. Webster, accompanied by
a staff correspondent of the Spokes-
man-Review, drove to Oroville to
spend the night, Mr.. Webster desiring
to meet as many of his friends in Oro-
VILE as possible Wednesday before
driving for Omak. On his arrival here
late In the evening he was accompan-
led to his room by Mr.. and Mrs A. B.
Avery, of Nelson, Mr.. Avery being
state committeeman, Geo. j. Stewart
and Tully Hayes Of Okanogan, both
gentlemen delegates to the Deanery
then in session, ]. r. Frye, of Okla
hogan, republican candidate for as
SCISSOR, two correspondents of the
SpOkesman-Review Others visited Mr.
Webster at his room during the even
ing. The hour was very late and those
present admit that they carried on a
rather noisy conversation, thought
lessly not taking into consideration
the fact that occupants of adjacent
rooms might be annoyed. Being up late
naturally Mr.. Webster did not get up
until late in the morning. He met a
number of people about two o'clock in
the afternoon. in company with J. F..
Samson of this place, and others, left
for Omak.
At the hour set for the advertised
meeting a number of people appeared
at the hall and the speaker failed to
appear. Some despicable individual at
once started the report that Mr. Web
ster was in room at the hotel incap-
able Of appearing before an audience
There are human birds of prey that
seize every morsef of rottenness that
comes within their ken and this report
was repeated again and again by per-
sons who could have readily ascer-
tanned it's falsity had they merely made
inquiry at the hotel. However to such
people the truth or falsity Of any re-
Election upon Mr. Webster cuts no fig
ure. If true all the worse for him; If
false we will try and make it appear
as true.
But that was not the only brutally
cruel report started. A shocking story,
some distorted imagination, was start.
ed on its rounds and carried far be-
yond the confines of the county to the
effect that Mr.. Webster was intoxicat-
ed in his room on the night Of the 18th
and was accompanied by female A
more baseless lie was never uttered.
Its very absurdity should have put the
OEI6AudtOIS " pause UclOTe even mar
boring thought of the kind. A man
occupying a high public position, a
man out among his constituents solic-
iting their votes for reelection, man
housed among and surrounded by
delegates to a religious gathering
would be insane to do the things Of
which he was charged even If so in
clined, and Mr.. Webster is certainly
not that kind of man.
We have held off making this expla-
nation, although knowing the reports
to be in circulation, in order that the
explanation could not be charged up
to political influences. It is done in
defense of the character and honor Of
man who has been villified by men
SO far beneath him in telligence that
they are unworthy Of notice, and yet
whose insidious stories have spread
abroad and cost Mr.. Webster many
votes at the late election. We only
trust that these reports have not aided
In his defeat, for 1t would be misfor-
tune for the state If Mr.. Webster, one
Of the brightest men Washington has
ever sent to congress, should be rele-
gated to private life at this time