At the very time when they are slandering me in the newspapers, and denying to me any share in the Magazine which my unpaid labor built up, Mann and DeFrance have the cynical indecency to continue to use my name as a writer for their magazine.
Turning to “Letters From the People,” a Department which owes its creation to me, I find letters praising “Watson’s Magazine.”
The dates are not given. These would have disclosed the fact that the letters were written before the severance of my connection with the Magazine. The writers were my friends, and by their letters they had meant to encourage me in my work.
The cover of the Magazine bears the name
“Watson’s Magazine Company.”
The two individuals who compose this “Company” are Col. W. D. Mann and C. Q. DeFrance—a very precious “Company.”
Of my Magazine, Mann took half, and DeFrance took half.
By what right?
Concede that Col. Mann was entitled to grab half of the Magazine because of the money which he had lost through the stupid mismanagement of the Business Department—where did DeFrance get his right to the other half? He has never done a lick of work for the Magazine that wasn’t paid for at full price.
Where, then, was HIS right to seize, under legal form, one half of the Magazine?