I hereby agree that if your two friends can point out to my two friends the word or phrase in question, I will quit the borders of your State within twenty-four hours and never return to it. Upon your acceptance of this proposition, I shall name my two friends.
This letter was mailed to the Governor on Monday night;
also copies were mailed to the newspapers. At ten o'clock
Tuesday morning, while dictating my article for the "Appeal
to Reason," I called up Mr. F. G. Bonfils, editor in charge and
one of the owners of the "Denver Post." The following conversation
occurred:
"Good morning, Mr. Bonfils; this is Upton Sinclair. Did you receive the copy of the letter which I mailed to Governor Ammons last night?"
"I did."
"May I ask if you intend to publish it?"
"I do not."
"May I ask what is your reason for refusing?"
"The reason is that things have been stirred up enough, we think. The people in this city want peace."
"Does it seem to you that this is fair journalism?"
"Now, listen, my boy, don't try to argue with me; you have had plenty of room to spread your ideas in our paper."
"You are entirely mistaken, Mr. Bonfils. You have not reported a single speech that I made in this town. You did not even print my telegram to President Wilson. But you print the Governor's answer to it."
"Well, now, we don't want to stir up this question any further. We think this State is very much in need of peace. We are not looking for trouble. If we printed your answer to the Governor, we should have to print the Governor's answer to you. And so it would go on indefinitely, and we don't want people calling each other names in our paper."
"If that is the case, why did you print the Governor's attack upon me?"
"Now, listen, kid, don't get excited."
"I was never less excited in my life, Mr. Bonfils. I am simply asking politely for an explanation."
"Well, now, we don't care to argue this question with you."
"You have called me a liar in your paper, and refuse me an opportunity to defend myself? Is that correct?"
"Yes; it's correct."
"Well, then I simply wish to tell you this one further thing.
