A REMARK AND A DENIAL

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 125, 29 May 1928, Page 10

A REMARK AND A DENIAL

-• • MX. SBMPLE AND THE MINISTER OF LANDS . ■ . Tho following letter has been sent by Mr. E. Semplc to Mr. A. D. M'Leod, Minister of Lands:— ' '■ "Dear Sir, —In >an issue- of the "Evening Postj" dated 19tli of May, .i.-d of the 'f Dominion" dated the 21st of-May, a report appeared of a speeeli that you made before a Reform League gathering, in which you referred to me as : 'Mr. .Semple, of 'to Hell with Agreements'.fame. . , "I replied to this statement on the 23fd of Ma}', giving it an unqualified denial, and respectfully requesting you to produce evidence to t!w> effect that I made use of those words, failing that, to unreservedly withdraw. You have thought fit to do neither, but I notice that Mr. James has taken up the cudgels on your behalf, aud in a very feeble effort to defend you, has made statements equally as false which I propose to publicly expose. "I take' it, sir, that holding a very high position as a. Minister v oi' the Crown, you thoroughly understand the first law of common fair play in the rules of controversy. If so, you will please explain through the columns of the public Press, what grounds you had for making the statement that you attributed to me, and if there are- no grounds, surely you will agree, sir, that it is the duty of an ordinary citizen, apart altogether from a responsible Minister of tho Crown, to confine, himself to tho truth when criticising a political opponent, or otherwise honorably confess that he has been guilty of misrepresentation. '•'The reason that has prompted me to write this letter is to ask you, in tho interest of political morality and common justice, to be big enough arid fair, enough to cither substantiate your statement or withdraw it. "If you insist on doing neither, then I will be contented to let the public judge tho value of any statement that you may make in th*e future, concerning individuals or political principles. "I am forwarding a copy of this letter to the public Press."