Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1900 — That “Dirty Fight.” [ARTICLE]

That “Dirty Fight.”

Now honor bright, republican taxpayers of Jasper county, did you ever see in any county, state lor clinje, an alleged newspaper that could hold a candle to the Rensselaer Republican in apologizing for and defending republican law-breakers? Did you ever, see one word of criticism in that sheet directed against a republican office-holding law-breaker in Jasper county? The Democ rat has not mixed’ up in the Union tp., Trustee’s school house letting controversy, but that the said contract was let in utter defiance of the law regarding such contracts, everyone at all acquainted with the facts must know, we care not what any attorney says or how many advisory boards attended the letting. The law is plain and cannot be misinterpreted. Any public officer who knowingly violates the laws placed upon the statute books for his guidance, be he republican or democrat, isopen to JUST CRITICISM, and we have very little regard for those who seek to apologize for his misdeeds. If such honest criticism is “a dirty fight” against the law-breaker, well and good, but we believe it be a hard matter to convince any great number of people that such is the case. Mr. Comer has done a great many things during his term of trustee, it is alleged, that lay him open to just criticism. He has apparently worked the office for all he could get out of it In 1898, according tohis published report, he received direct about 8300; in 1899 about $350, and 1900 nothing is apparently known as to how much he did get, as it is omitted from the published report. Why this Omission? Another charge that is made against him by as honorable men as there are in Union tp., is the moving of a small house from a neighboring township in which a woman lay sick, from confinement the day previous, in order to secure a vote for himself at the coming election. It was the last day for importing voters and the family had to be moved regardless of consequences. It is alleged that a table was placed over the bed upon which lay the sick woman, to keep the plaster from failing upon her from the ceiling while