Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1911 — MAKES A FEEBLE DEFENSE. [ARTICLE]

MAKES A FEEBLE DEFENSE.

The strong-arm editor of the Republican, who sought to make The Democrat man out all kinds of a rascal, squirmed considerably at The Democrat’s questions to him, but is forced to admit the truth of practically every question put. He admits that he wanted us to agrde with him to each charge over SSO more for publishing the last annual tax levy notice than had been charg-

ed for several years, but attempts to justify this by saying it is worth sllß. He says we were favorably impressed, but feared old Mack would growl. There” is not a word of truth in this. In fact Healey stated to us that Marshall and Mack were afraid The Democrat would object or they would have charged that much all along instead of $65. He says that he insisted on having a $7.50 rake-off for both himself and Clarkie on that poultry catalogue because the bid was made on a page basis and was 50 per cent larger than we bid on. Not a word of truth in it. In fact the bid was made at $65 for 40 pages or less and made but 36 pages. As to the quality of the work, The Democrat’s work then and since was better in every way, both stock and mechanical work, than the Republican’s, a fact which any competent judge of good work will agree.

He admits that he wanted us to join issues with him to help kill off the Journal and Bowie, by saying that any means to that end was justifiable. But he denies that he ever, at any time, approached us on any disreputable business proposition. One who admits that any means are justifiable to kill off a competitor is scarcely competent to judge what disreputable practices are. He says the reason Clarkie charged Jasper county S4O for a set of ten bonds which The Democrat prints for $7.50 was because he had to procure sac-sim-ile signatures of the county commissioners. So did we, and a set of ten cost less than $3. He also says we use a cheaper bond and that it is poorer printed. The bond we use is precisely the same, style, number, «quality of paper and is bought of the same firm that the “superior bond” used by Mr. Clark was bought from. But perhaps our money isn’t as good with the bond maker as his, and then again if we got every other one of a run of the bond-maker’s blanks of course those sent to the Republican would be better than ours. How silly. As to the quality of the printing we would be willing to submit the work of each to anv competent judge—except Mr. Bradshaw, the high school expert, of course—and feel confident no overwhelming degree of superiority would be given out opponent. The high school annual contract was Republican -at $45 more thaff’The Democrat bid—after the former had "cut” $25 from his original bid — because of the great superiority of the Republican’s equipment. Our Babcock Reliance news press; our 10x15 Gordon and 7xll Pearl jobbers; our Boston Stapler, Reliance paper cutter, etc., etc, would not do as good work as the Republican’s presses and cutter. In fact, While our linotypes are both “Mkxlel 5” the Republican’s is the best because it is it. Now isn’t that silly egotism. He also says he defended Bader because he felt so sorry for him and Bader never asked-him to, either, as he thought The Democrat’s question inferred. (Perish the thought.) Just puer, unadultrated love for ai\ unfortunate fellowman, who had got caught. As to the silly, Childish questions propounded to The Democrat, we will take them up later. In the meantime we hope the Republican will not be too conspicuous by its silenc ein urging the city attorney to report on that alleged city printing graft and the city printing ordinance, which were referred to him a year or more ago. If it is the public will possibly have some doubt as to the editors’ sincerity.