White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1870-04-28
A Fad Scra2e.

A Isad Scra?e.
From present indications. John Speer.
Of the Lawrenee Tribune. has got himself
into bad business. We have here, ofore
rsfrsined from saying anything on the
subject. partly because there was nothing
sufficiently clear to justly it. and partly
beesuse we did not like to join in kicking
. nsu when he seemed to be down. Bat
the matter has assumed such shape and
proportions. and has become so public,
that ii msy as well be discussed.
.Speer was Revenue Collector FOR X an
sss. ior about four years. sul it was for
long time limited that his accounts were
not in q satisfactory shape. Daring the
past Winter. these charges became more
plain and frequent. An effort was made
BY Speer's friends to stifs investigation;
and for this purpese. it is alleged. at
fempts were made to bribe Supervisor
Mar, and ,h.t f.ilins. 20 have him dis
missed from Office. Two prominent ac-
tors In this business, were Sidney Clarke.
and L. j. Worden, . tool Of his. Mari
could not be bribed nor bulIied. bnt has
pushed the investigation. With startling
results. Already, over 100000 has
been .sscertsined to have been "stolen"
during Speer's term of offiee. HIS re-
turns were sent on to Washington. with
large sums reported uncollsctsbie. The
best and most substantial men in the
State were reported bankrupt" cab
seconded" or dead" and their tax IN
collectable, when at the same time they
held receipts for their taxes. Speer re-
required his Deputies to sign blank certi-
ficstes, and then filled them up to suit his
own purpose. Some Of the deputies re-
fused to do this, and their names were
forged to certificates reporting certsin
men worthless or dead, and ther taxes un-
cslectsble. Notices are now being serv.
ei npon all those parties. and they are
sup bunting their receipts. to show that
they paid their taxes.
Many persons express the belief that
speer is not the guilty party. but that he
has been imposed upon by others. But the
feet that the false returns were procured
or manufactured by himself. and sent on
to Washington BY himself. leaves bot lit
lie doubt of his guilt. The effort Of
himself and bis fiiends to hush the matter
up, slso looks bad. Sidney Clarke is on
bis bond. as are several prominent men
Of the State; and uDlsss come fne skull
duggery is played. they will have nice
little bill to foot.
Great stress is laid upon Speer's re-
ported honesty. We know he has been
called Honest john" by his friends;
but that proves nothing. In fact. when
"Honest" is stuck to q mans name. it is
cause for suspicion. In money and bus
insss matters. we have never before heard
Spssr's honesty questioned; but as a pol.
itieiau. be has been no.oiionsly dishonest
BE has been ON abject aud servile tool,
and doer Of dirty work. and Of mean and
bsfe-iaced tricks that men of common
honesty and se!f-respect would havs
scorned to do. Gen. Lane owned him.
body and breeches; and since Lanes
death, Sid. Clarke has inherited him.
The money in question has probably been
smbezzled with bis knowledge and as
sistance, bat we do not believe that be
has had the use OF sll OF it. When the
truth is known, we believe it will appear
that the shysters and skunks who used
him have had the benefit Of it, and that
il went to swell the corruption fund BY
means OF which his masters have foisted
and msintained themselves in positions
where they could misrepresent and rob
the public. We trust that the investigs-
ton will be complete and thorough. and
that the guilty ones will receive the pun
ishmeut.