Amador Ledger-Dispatch, 18 May 1906 — Where the Misrepresentation Lies. [ARTICLE]

Where the Misrepresentation Lies.

Two weeks ago the Ledger called attention to a list of donations published in the Dispatch ot April 27, and claiming to be a complete list of subscriptions to that date, whereas many names of contributors were omitted therefrom. We said it conveyed a wrong impression, inasmuch us it carried the idea that only such persons whose names appeared therein were contributors up to the date of publication. At this the Dispatch of lnst week jumped stiff-legged, accusing the Ledger of deliberate misrepresentation iv this statement of the case. To show who has mistated the matter, we publish the following extracts from our muchly ruffled cotemporaiy: Dispatch April 27 Dispatch May 11 Following is a The Dispatch knew list of contribu- it was not corntors to date: pltte, and had no reason or intention of representing it as such. The Dispatch published only as many names as it had room for, about forty-five of the names being crowded out, until the next issue. Last week wepublishedtbese names, together with an additional list handed in by the secretary of the relief committee. We are not apologizing for laying the names over, as no one but the editor of the Ledger, whose name was among them, was core about it.

Here are two utterly irreconcilable statements. They cannot both be true. April 27^the list U sent forth as containing the names of "contributors to date." If that did not imply that it was complete up to that time we do not understand the meaning of plain English. There is nothing in the article about names being crowded out for want of space, or any intimation that it was incomplete as far as the receipts to date were concerned. And yet, two weeks after, the Dispatch says he knew it was not complete, that 45 names were at the time ot the first [publication in bis possession, and deliberately left off, tor want of room, and nothing said about it, until May 11. Now, who was trying to twist facts. On which side does the deception lay. "Out of thine own mouth shalt thou be judged."

The San Francisco calamity will have a potent influence upon the politics of the state in future. The necessity of retrenchment is now seen as it was never seen before. The lesson has been driven home in the stern school of experience. With reduced revenues, owing to a vastly curtailed tax roll, and urgent demands for appropriations to restore damaged state institutions, something must be done to cut down running expenses. The tax rate will go skyward anyhow, under the best of financiering. The thing to look after is to make it as low as possible under the circumstances. State and county levies are bound to be materially raised for some years to come. Bunding the state for a long period of years is perhaps inevitable. Hut the most desirable reform is lopping olf all useless official*. Get down to a strictly business basis. Let us torget and forego our extravagant notions —relics of flush days of gold. What we want is to practice economy, and the fact was never so powerfully impressed upon the public mind, as in this hour of distress and destruction.

Ledger & Chicago Inter-Ocean, $2.50