Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-03-26
AN OPEN LETTER
Editor Herald,
Dear Sir:

The recent political campaign has
caused me to wonder whether it is
generally supposed that political
campaigns justify SANDER, misrepre-
sentation and falsehood and whether
the people permit a standard Of NOR
atty in politics that they would not
cOuntenance in private life. The
present campaign has carried more
than the usual amount Of intentional
INSTRUMENTATION and SANDER and
notwithstanding retractiOn OF certain
Of such statements they are still be-
ing spread innOcently or otherwise
On or about March Is it was report
ed to Mr. Walter j. Brennan by three
representative citizens who came to
his office, that one of the candidates
for mayor had stated to his support
ers, and that his supporters were gen
orally spreading the statement, that
MIR. Brennan had endeavored to get
him to withdraw as a candidate for
mayor and had then told him as
reason for such withdrawal that there
were certain things about the present
city administration that should be
covered UP and which it would be I'M
wise for the public to know. AS the
S@1ANA
without any foundation whatever and
was a clever SANDER both of Mr..
Brennan and the city administration,
Mr.. Brennan wrote this candidate de-
handing a retraction of his state
ments The candidate came to our
office at once, admitted that he had
made wrong statements, made full re-
traction of them, admitted in the
,,~ooo,oC Of INC+o and
myself that his withdrawal had never
been mentioned or suggested, that no
statements had been made by Mr..
Brennan to the effect stated or from
which such an inference could be
drawn and that the city administra
ton was never in any such manner
mentioned in any conversation be-
tween them.
He then promised to see W. G. Knox
and to stop him and others of his sup
porters from further circulation of
these false statements and to correct
the wrong he had done.
I had supposed that this ended the
matter until the following afternoon
when one of his supporters stated that
the candidate reported that he had re-
ceived the letter, had been at our of
stateents made by him. then called
him by telephone and asked him to
come to our office which he did. |
told him that [ was most surprised at
what 1 had heard; that I could not
understand how a man would want an
office at such a cost; that [ was act
ing as an attorney in the matter;
that these false statements would
ctn ~ hot 40 o. have
privilege of signing written retrac-
ton | had prepared did he desire or,
that his sworn testimony would be
taken by adverse examination before
the election and that l felt quite sure
he would not dare testify falsely I'M
der oath He wished to know if he
might call Mr. Knox and I told him
he might consult anyone he wished.
Mr.. Knox came to my office, confirm
ed the fact that the candidate had,
made the statements but advised him
strongly against signing the retrac-
ton. | stated to the candidate that
| did not advise him to sign the re-
traction but save him an opportunity
to do so if he wished and that l
would use or publish the same as l.
saw fit to undo the wrong done. He
then stated that he would retract,
that he thought this the better way
out and he then, on March 10th,
signed the following retraction, which
| have in my possession:
RatractiOn.
In view of the fact that certain err
roneous statements have gained cir
culation and are supposed to have
originated with me, | wish to state
that Mr.. Walter j. Brennan has new
err at any time inthnated to me or
suggested to me that | withdraw as
a candidate for mayor. Mr.. Brennan
never at any time stated to me that
there was anything about the pres
ent administration that should be
covered up or that the public should
not know and never in any way in
timated any wrong doing on the part
of the present administration or any
ember Of it and did not in any way
mention the present administration
in any conversation with me.-Geo. E.
Beck.
I have been requested by the other
candidate for mayor not to publish
this retraction. He has never seen it
and. it is not under his control and
was not obtained by me on his behalf
or with his knowledge. I was and am
acting in the matter as an attorney
representing my client and l feel, in
view OF the wide circulation given
these false statements and the fact
that their circulation still continues.
that it is only fair to my client and to
the public to make this statement.
March 25th, 1924
HARRY E, CARTHEW.