The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-04-24
THE DAUBERS
BY GUY FLENNER

by IO LEI~lN Eft
There ought to be an anti-daub as
ISOLATION in Idaho. It's principal mis-
sion would be to resist the organized
efforts of those who spend SO much
of their time in besmearing the
reputation of individuals, institu-
lions and communities without proof
of culpability or guilt.
The daubers are a very busy band
of buccaneers. Something should be
done about it. Violence has been
advocatd, la the dueloo, but we
favor an organized effort within the
law. In an Idaho town not long ago
a man whose reputation had been
assailed covertly by the daubers
heard of it and accosted one of the
peddlers. This party admitted re-
peating the story, without having
made any effort to get the facts, and
declined to reveal the identity of
the party telling him.
"Then l shall hold you personally
responsible" the aggrieved citizen
exclaimed. "You can't distribute
such defamatory statements about
me and hide like coward behind
some unnamed authority. You are a
deliberate, malicious, contemplate
liar, and
Three men who had accompanied
him, took the gun away.
But that is not the way to do it,
altho the temptation is no doubt
strong when character is ruthlessly
assaulted thru the "They say COL
umn of the daubers' oral publication.
1t seems to be easier to tear down
the character of an individual or the
reputation of an institution than it is
to help build. More people will
watch the tearing down of an old
building than will watch the con-
struction of beautiful structure to
replace it. That ought not to apply
to the far more desirable and beau
tiful structure of character
Maybe il the daubers could be in
terested in doing something worth
while they might become so en-
crossed in the new efforts as to cause |
a cessation Of hostilities against |
those who feel their cowardly shafts
often long after the bow has been |
sprung. So far they have not been
engaged in anything very construc-
tive. The change might work a re-
Indeed, if development had waited
upon that class, our state would have
been very shy on transportation and
communication systems, and on
farms and cities. 1t seems too bad, i
after others have built them, that
he daubers, trailing to get their
pockets full with little effort, should
De so ungenerous as to also secretly
mostly, but some times publicly
Undertake to garrote these splendid
Institutions with the knockers knot
Another way is to suggest to any
LAUDER appearing on the scene with
lis black pot and poison cup that it
S really dangerous for him to pursue
lis program without positive proof
he fellow referred to in the forego-
ng nearly paid for his daubing With
is life
The best way, tho, may be for the
to demand the evidence
put the smut peddlers under the
lrger guns Of proof and facts. Tell
lem that In all fairness they should,
efore they peddle further, go to
lie party being DETAINED, and will :
D with him, and get the facts, in
-her words, his side. Will the N
auber go? He will not. But he
light be set thinking. And, before
2 leaves you, tell him you reserve
le right to tell the dauber where "
III got the story. II
One does not have to belong to a n
aternal society, or even church to
stify him In such a curse. Tell je
e dauber you have perfect right, r
you are a life member of the &c
rand Domain of the Brotherhood of G.
an and the Fatherhood of God. sc
- G.