Beginning in 1950, Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin became the most visible face of a time in which Cold War tensions spread fear of communism across the nation. McCarthy made claims that there were large numbers of communist and Soviet spies inside the government and elsewhere.

It took a modest senator from Maine, Margaret Chase Smith, in her “Declaration of Conscience” speech to take down the political powerhouse McCarthy, whose forum of hate and character assassination of innocent Americans had taken its toll.

In the town of Lisbon, there is The Lisbon Reporter and newly elected Councilman Roger Cote, making allegations about the Lisbon Police Department and Chief David Brooks, regarding illegal drug activity. Brooks called the Maine Attorney General’s office and, after months of investigation, was cleared of all accusations made by Cote.

Now devoted businessman Conrad Davis is being slandered with allegations on The Lisbon Reporter’s Web site. Davis made the issue very clear at a recent council meeting. At the meeting, Councilman Dale Crafts also reported he had been recently the subject of allegations by The Lisbon Reporter.

I believe the citizens of Lisbon should stand up and say, “Enough.” We need to bring back integrity, just as Sen. Smith did.

Bob Strout, Lisbon Falls