Councilman Defends His Record Amidst Public Outcry

Editor Herald: We expected this howl; it was premeditated at the time of the election. No one is deceived by their chicanery. It is too evidently a desperate effort to shake public confidence in the new members, by which means the fading ring hopes to retain their clutch upon the public purse. The object of the Bulletin editor in publishing these letters is clearly a maligner, but I fear him not. My known opposition is to making the city's business a family affair. I believe that men of contending interests should fill public places of trust, and that all public employes should be appointed solely because of their usefulness. As for the ordinance in question, I offered it without hesitation, believing that salaries should be fixed before electing our officers. To assert that I offered it to favor anyone is false. I am in the council by the vote of the people and shall serve them without favor or prejudice. If I was elected because it was supposed that I am an economist, I shall endeavor not to disappoint. I offer no apology for this language, for no other word could accurately express my meaning. It is not long since an effort was made by this same clique to get unlawful possession of some of my property; failing in this, an indignation meeting was instigated against me, the result of which was to arouse public contempt against the instigators only.