Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1898 — BAD BREAK OF AN 'ORGAN!' [ARTICLE]

BAD BREAK OF AN 'ORGAN!'

So impatient is the ‘organ’! its creator anu dictators to get at the ‘fleshpots’ that last we k it made an attack upon the Auditor, who is not a candidate, for an erroi that is liable to occur to any one, and which was corrected a few j pages further on i the record... We never voted for Mr. Murray and he never expected us to. But ht is recognized by mem! ers of all paities as a gentleman above res pioaeh; as an official, careful, honest, competent and obliging. By request, we cheerfully accord space to Mr Murray’s reply: THE EXPLANATION. Rensselaer, Aug. 27, ’9B. Editor Democrat: Dear Sir:— In your issue of last week you made a number ot allusions to the fact of two leaves, (four pages) haying beau i emoved t’rom Commissioners’ Record in my office. 1 wish to make a statement of facts in regard to this matter, which it seems to me common tan - ness should have prompted you to give me an opportunity of doing before such publication with accomp nyi g insinuations of wrong.

.This was at the August session ot the Board for the purpose of receiving the reports of township trurtees On the first day of the session the reports of seven trustees were acted upon ind recorded on pages 467 468.'469'and 470. On the same day the Board did other business, pertaining to new court house which is recoded on pages 475 toABI 'nclusive. After having made the record of settlement with the seven trustees o erlook cd the action of the Board in ot er matters, and made an adjourning o: !-r op page 471. 1 also made a c ■ vening order for next day oh He same pa. e and proceeded to fill up he pages removed with a record of the second day’s dioceeding before discovering my oversight. The mistake had to be corrected in some way and the only way occurring to me at the moment, when I was hurried with the record work was to remove the two leaves and m ke the Record just as the tacts required as though these two leaves had not bean there. Of course the mistake should not have been gmade by me and possibly Home other and more complicated, course in correcting it might have been better, but the blama, whaG e er ii may be, is mine on’v, the record as it is, shows the facts and all the facts. I respectfully ask that you give this statement a place in your next issue as prominent as was given the matters in your last Respectfully Yours, Henry B ; Murray, Auditor Jasper Co. The above is a straightforward reply to the uncalled foi insinuations of the “organ!” Below we copy the “organ’s” reference to the explanation:

“In another column we publish a sta ement from the county auditor in regard to tho?e missing pages from the commissioners’ record... While not dis uting 'he truth of Mr. Murray’s statrment, the tact remains that the people of Jasper county simply have his w rd as to why the mutilation was made. The record pages in question ire gone from the book, and we will add that ’no ma ter what error might baen made, the auditor nor no other officer i justified in cut' ting any pages whatever from any record in his possession Public rec ords are most?secred property and should be kept inviolate. We are much surprised to h ive an offi cer of Mr. Hurra ’s intelligence and experience come before the people nnd say that he cut four pages from a county record of such importance as this one simply “be* cause he had made a mistake” in writing up the proceedings of the board.

“While not disputing the truth of Mr, Murray’s statement,” says the “organ,” “the fact re msins that the people of Jasper county sims ply have his word as to why the mutilation was made.” We have no love for Harry Mur ray’s political faith. We never voted for him; he never yoted for us. When, however, the point is made, .“that the peapie of Jasper county simply have his word as to why tne mutilation was made,” we believe we can safely assume and assert that the people of J asper cor nty will accept his statement. Then again, “Public records are mdst sacred property and shou d be kept inviolate.” In our judg* me t the author of the quoted lines would jump for joy, if he could find a “mutilation” that he could turn to advantage. We have no idea that he has any regard for the sacred character of public records. It is simply a repetition ot satan quoting scrip ture. The democratic candidates on the county ticket are before the

people on the r merits, their qualifications., th >ir good citizenship, their manhood and their demoora cy, and take no stock in the meth cds of the “organ 1” The surgeons give the commissary department. Il the blame, the commissary department gives it to the generals and the generals, give it to the war department It’s a general “give away” all ’round is it not, Mr. Marshall? Dr. Becker will lecture again at the Presbyterian church this evening Don’t fail to hear him. The opening play of the season, “Other People’s Mcney,” at the Opera House, Monday evening, was well presented, and highly appreciated by a good audience. Mr. Ellis promises to make it a point xne coming season to secure none but tlm beet talent. Will Schanlaub has returned fiom his trio to Sheldon, Monticello and other points. Tom Randle, Barklev township* lost ten head of cattle Monday night. Lightning.