F. Moore as editor of the Tribune, taking a look at the way things were going and not entirely pleased with the way public affairs were handled. He said so, from time to time, in a way that made him plenty of powerful enemies, a lot of friends, and sometimes effected the desired results.
First, he didn't like the only kind of water the people of Medford had available to drink. He declared, in an issue of the Tribune in December, 1907, (which drew comment from the Ashland Tidings of December 30) that "the water from Bear creek is so muddy that it is clogging the meters, prompting the inquiry, 'Was there any water ever made dirtier than that now being pumped into the city mains?" Putnam ended his editorial with the statement that "it is a serious question whether to sell such stuff as water is not a violation of the pure food law, as well as obtaining money under false pretenses." This was only one of a number of editorials on the subject. Results came in time. Today the Medford water supply is famous for its clear coldness.
Then one day in 1907 there occurred what has been called by other paper the "famous Barnum-Reddy fight." Putnam in the Tribune accused W. S. Barnum, president of the Rogue River Valley railroad, of attacking Mayor J. F. Reddy of Medford with an axe. Mr. Putnam, who was an eye-witness of the incident, was37 the "sole witness for Mayor Reddy in his effort to have the Rogue River Valley Railroad president indicted for assault, the preponderance of evidence before the jury, however, being to the effect that Barnum was not guilty of assault as charged by the mayor and editor. While the matter was still pending before jury and court the Medford editor published an article in severe criticism of the jury and prosecuting officials" .. . He was indicted by the grand jury, and Judge Hanna issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
"Near midnight of December 21," said the Southern Oregonian of February 5, 1908, "while the editor of this paper (Putnam, also editor of the Tribune) was speeding north to spend the Christmas holidays, he was pulled from a berth in a Pullman sleeper at Roseburg, denied communication with friends, and thrown into the Douglas county jail to remain until noon of the next day, because of the alleged libel of Deputy District Attorney Clarence J. Reames and the Jackson county grand jury in a criticism of their action in exonerating President W. S. Barnum of the Rogue River railway, who made a murderous assault upon Mayor J. F. Reddy with an ax.
Following this, the editor exposed the conditions of the Douglas county jail, which was later declared unfit for habitation.
The editor was returned to Jacksonville, tried, and convicted, in a trial whose conduct brought criticism not only from the editor's own paper but from the Portland Oregonian.
