People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1893 — MARSHALL IS WRATHY. [ARTICLE]

MARSHALL IS WRATHY.

Our Exposure of His Overcharges Ruffles His Temper. Brother Marshall takes the local editor of the PILOT to task this week for exposing his attempted steal from the taxpayers of the town of Rensselaer in the matter of legal printing for the Washington street improvement. The article which called forth his wrath was as follows: Messrs. Wasson and Spitler were appointed a committee to investigate and settle a claim of George. E. Marshall for legal printing relating to the Washington street improvement. Marshall presented a bill for $39.35, which was so clearly an overcharge of the excessive rate already fixed by law, that the board appointed the committee. The claim was cut down to $35.35, a reduction of $4, and was settled on that basis. In his wrath Marshall takes up over a column of his valuable (?) sheet in attempting to show that we are constantly seeking to “slander, vilify and disparage him,” and takes us to task for not noticing other bills which were reduced by the board. As Marshall well knows the rate to be allowed for legal printing is fixed by law and the board has no right to cut it down unless by special agreement before hand. But this rule does not apply to the other cases of which he speaks. In regard to Marshall’s bill, as presented, it was a clear overcharge, as stated by the PILOT, and was on a par with other charges made to merchants lately. At one of the town board meetings last year, the matter of expense of advertising was brought before them, and having already published two or three notices in relation to the same street, the board, in order to economize, concluded to let the work to the lowest bidder, as should be their procedure in every case. Marshall happened to be present, and as has been his plan in the past when coming in competition with the PILOT, jumped up and offered to publish the notice under consideration and not charge a cent for the work. His offer was accepted and the next day we were offered a chance at the work if we wished to pay for the privilege of publishing it. We declined with thanks. It was found necessary after this to publish two or three more notices, but for some reason the board failed to ask for bids and the work was turned over to Marshall. Six notices were published in all, five of which he put in a bill for. In the case of one or two of them the work was measured wrong and a clear steal was attempted from the town. In the case of some of the others the head was padded out, contrary to law, until it was nearly as large as the body matter of the notice. In the case of the notice which he offered to publish free a very small head was used and was pointed out as a comparison by the board. When Marshall first presented his bill, in January, the board laid it over until the February meeting for investigation, and at the latter meeting action was taken as stated in our article last week. Bro. Marshall, if your bill was not an overcharge and attempted steal why did you reduce it? In your case it is a confession of guilt, as the law fixes the rate and you could have collected the whole amount, had it been just. As to your attack upon the board for other expenditures we have nothing to say, as they are doubtless able to defend their own actions. The board did wrong in not offering the printing to the lowest bidder, how-

ever, as then at least half of the amount could have been saved, and undoubtedly all of it, as Marshall is great on doing work for nothing, when he thinks he can injure the PILOT by so doing. The board will probably observe this rule in the future after Marshall’s attack upon them. Marshall claims to have paid $180 on the improvement of the street, but fails to say that his property was increased in value that much, or more, and adds: We may also add that this $180 which the writer paid on the street improvement is probably a larger sum than the whole PILOT gang will pay to the town of Rensselaer, for any purpose, during the next twenty years, They pay no taxes in Rensselaer, yet they bulldoze and blackmail our merchants into supporting their pestiferious sheet, and yet, we will venture to say, that nine out of ten of the PILOT owners when they want to buy groceries or clothing in any quantity, and not on credit, send away to some “Farmers’ Supply House,” or similar establishment, for the goods. The writer of the above lies in every statement made therein and he knows it. The PILOT “gang,” as he chooses to call the owners of this paper, pays dollars to where the brilliant (?) editor of the “rag sheet” down the way pays cents in taxes, and a number of the stockholders of the PILOT live in town and pay corporation tax far in excess of what the editor of the Republican does. “They blackmail our merchants.” Another lie, and one which will be disproved by any merchant in town. The stockholders of the PILOT, or a portion of them at least, aim to patronize those who patronize them, a matter of business, and which is followed by Marshall when he does not do his trading with Montgomery Ward & Co., of Chicago. As to the PILOT owners sending to some Farmers’ Supply House” for their goods, they do not. The PILOT warned the people last week against trading with the Chicago merchantile agencies, and acting on this pointer the Republican comes out this week and warns its readers against the very same thing—a week behind, as usual. ‘‘This old man” Marshall’s reference to those happy days when we were his apprentice in his print shop brings back incidents to our minds which may have a bearing on his great honesty towards his advertisers. Well do we remember on a press day after hours of hard work at his old hand press, and when

only about a dozen of the blank sheets remained, that he would say: “ ‘Clarkey,’ take off one of the forms and put in that two columns of patent medicine cuts.” Inwardly cursing, we would obey, and thus be the innocent cause of his cheating his foreign advertisers. Enough papers would be printed to send each advertiser a copy, as required in the contract, to show them that their advertising was inserted each week, and that was all. The advertiser would pay for work which was never done and would be none the wiser. This was a weekly occurrence for a time, as the writer is willing to make affidavit. At other times the dates would be changed on the same issue for four or five weeks ahead. Thus the same paper would bear five different dates. Enough would be run off to supply the advertisers, and each week the number with the current date would be sent them. This was an improvement over the former method, as it saved time and trouble. This is the kind of a man who feels himself so abused at our hint at an overcharge on his part. Bro. Marshall, there is time yet to reform and be an honest man. Be honest in your business dealings, do not try to tear down your rival in business, and above all, do not be afraid of honest competition. Try this once, and see if your conscience will not bother you less. Mr. J. L. Turner gave us a pleasant call yesterday and left his own and three other names for the PILOT a year. “I came across one of your papers and like the aggressive course you are taking, especially in the gravel road question, and hope to hear more from ‘Sandlapper’ on this subject.” Thanks, Mr. Turner, you will not be disappointed.

“What is that, mother?” “An editor, my son. Some folks seem to think he has gold by the ton, but listen, my child and don’t give it away, he works like a horse for a dollar a day. He sets at his case he wears out his eyes, (and pants) then he tries writing copy to keep off the flies: in summer ’tis flies and winter ’tis chills, and his creditors cheerfully send in their bills. But at last he is mortal this editor man, and soon goes the way of all built on his plan. He turns up his toes and is quickly forgot, and goes to a place where delinquent subscribers are not.—Ex.

The meetings at the First Baptist church are increasing in interest. Eight members have been added to the church. Rev. E. C. McClain, evangelist, from Chicago, is assisting the pastor, and is preaching the word with precision and power. We want news from every post office in the county, it being our intention to make THE PILOT the most widely read paper in this section. Anything of interest that may happen in your community we will gladly publish. Fleming Phillips, a well known citizen of Hanging Grove township, died last Friday night of consumption. He leaves a wife and two children. His funeral was held Sunday morning, Rev. Ferguson conducting religious services. Interment at Osborne cemetery. There was no racing at Roby this week, the track having closed for reorganization. Racing has been going on for eightythree days at a loss to the management of $200 per day. Assurances are given that the sport will be resumed in a week or two, but it is doubtful if racing will be resumed again. We have for sale a number of standard bred stallions, including one full blood English draft, one Percheron Norman and one Clydesdale, all fine horses. They will be sold for part cash, the balance on time, or we will trade for other live stock. LaRUE BROS.

C. H. Vick, at the World’s Fair Restaurant, has the neatest place in town. He has remodeled the room this week and is now in a condition to serve you with anything you may wish. His lunches are unsurpassed, and are served both hot and cold. A good square meal will be served for a quarter and lodging will be furnished to all who desire for a like sum. Anything you may wish served to order. Charley Morlan and L. Strong were at Lowell Tuesday and were returning on the local freight. At Rose Lawn the train men were switching and the caboose was standing still. A running switch was made and the car came back with such force against the caboose that Mr. Morlan was thrown from his seat and landed with force against the hot stove. His forehead was cut and bruised severely. He came to Rensselaer before getting his wound dressed.