Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 120, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1909 — Smoothing Him Down. [ARTICLE]

Smoothing Him Down.

"The infamous scoundrel!” exclaimed the eminent statesman. “I’ll sue him for criminal libel: I want you to begin proceedings against him right now.” “What has he been doing?” asked the lawyer. “He called me a corrupt politician and a notorious grafter.” “But look here—” “Oh, I can prove It, all right. He said It in the presence of a dozen witnesses.” “Did he mention any particular Instance of corruption or grafting?" “No.” “Then, my dear senator, I'm afraid we can’t make a case against him. You see—- “ But, good heavens! Haven’t I told you—” "Yes, but In order to make a case that will stick we must have the evit deuce that he alleged some specific act of grafting or corruption." “Why Is that?” “Because then we can make him prove It. If he doesn’t prove it we’ve got the dead wood on him. But he makes the charge in general terms, don’t you see, and if we sue him he might plead Justification and manage somehow to throw the—er—burden of proof on us, and In the present excited and prejudiced state of the public mind, senator, we might have some difficulty in doing that; while on the other hand, he might—” The rest was spoken in a whisper. “I see,” said the eminent statesman, his look of wrath giving away to one of stern purpose and high resolve. “There’s another way I can get at the Infernal scoundrel. He’s got a niece that’s a clerk In one Of the departments. I’ll have her put out of that job if it costs me a million dollars!”—Chicago Tribune.