The Saloonkeeper’s Open Letter to Seattle’s 'Hounds of Malice'

Permit me through your columns to say a word publicly in regard to the abuse and scandal that has been heaped upon me here by a ring of miserable political demagogues who unfortunately hold the reins of power. As to how I have been singled out as the object, and have been made a target for their shafts of malicious mischief, you and the public are well aware. They were wont to make it appear that they were hounding me because, as they claimed, I was conducting a lottery. But their hypocrisy was too apparent. Had they wished to suppress gambling in toto, they would have found abundant material to operate on which they left untouched. But this is a matter which I will not worry you to explain. I have given up the lottery, and am now proprietor of a legitimate saloon business. But the hounds of malice are not content. Why is this? Ah, Judge Lewis knows full well. He hears already the power at work behind the throne. To be short, last evening an attorney of his court called on me and warned me to be careful how I acted toward Judge Lewis, saying 'You know there is a law against selling liquor to minors, and Lewis has heretofore decided that the full penalty is due, if liquor was sold to such, even under belief of their being of full age.' He warned me to look out or Lewis would find means to make it hot for me. I leave it for the reader to draw his own conclusions.