The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-08-21
DoWn 70 the Bed Rock.

Down 20 the Bed Rock.
If il be true, that az whom the gods would de-
s,roy they 6rst make msd," then, the editors Of
the Troy Republican are destined for the Winters
,orl. .bsrrel of the gods Having been driven to
m scandal, lies, and all other
Grades of nsauness, they have now touched that
Lowest depth of degradation, Of violating private
set which the most degraded
Of men, with a spark of principle left, sorlnks
from: an act which that most renorseless oil IN |
stitutions, the law, hesitates TO do untii oemanu
ed by the last degree Of necessity-sn act which,
when man performs, for spite OF revenge DC
writes himself down dirty, lousy dog.
Being driven to the wall, having reiterated and
spswed out stale ISLANDERS against US until sbme Of
its warrnest friends were utterly disgpsted with
it. the RspsSIsoaa undertakes to. regain public
sympathy, and turn the tide against us, by claim
ing that we have swindied its publishers, and as
a text, gives to the public a confidential letter
which we wrote them almost two years and q
half ago. We acknowledge that letter, every
syllable, word, and sentence. Aside from the in
efable meanness Of thus violating private CORES
pondence, we are otherwise glad that they have
given this letter as the text for long, fuiunged
howl upon a subject which they have been hint
ing at for several months past; ferit Affords rs an
opportunity to expose the uieaunsss, bad faith,
and snesking dishonesty Of the men. It gives
those who are SO disposed, pretext to charge
that combination was entered into for the pur-
pose Of extOrting money from the tax payers; but
men who will befoul themselves to spite another,
take no consideration of the consequence to them
selves We are willing to stand Our share Of it;
and we propose 10 prove, by their own article,
and our letter which they submit in evidence,
that they made the first proposition on the sub
ject; that the agreement was plain and explicit
on all points; and that while they were receiving
the benefit of good faith on our part, they were
sneakiugly violating the contract ;Os their own
personal advantage. But first, some preliminary
explanations
The laws of Kansas fix the prices for all kinds
Of public printing, including tax-lists, financial
statements, and legal publications. These prices
were fixed at rates which, by careful calculation,
the lawmakers found to be fair and just, as sf-
fording the printer reasonable compensation for
his labor. For some years, the Commissioners OF
this County seemed to have particular grudge
against the printers prices, and eudeavOred on all
occasions to beat them down, while allowing ex-
trayagant sums for other purposes, without
word of complaint. We fought against this de-
terIninedly, and stood up for our prices. But it
was a losing game to us. No other paper in the
County would back us, and the result was, that
we were generally at loggerhesds with the Com
missionefs while the other papers were currying
favOrs, and taking off the cream. When Mr.
Bridges came here aud established the Repablioan,
the same men who are always so Jealous in ex-
posing our wickedness, took early occasion to
prejudice him against US, and make him believe
we were 4 regular VAMPIRE, who made it bus
mess to suck the blood out of other publish
SIS. A contest took place for the printing, Tin
which, we have ever believed, certain County Off
GERS virtually perjured themselves.) Bridges bid
down low, and got the work. But one turn at it
satisfied him. He found that he not only got
no pay for his work, but was likely to continue
at bitter enmity and ruinous OmpetitiOn with the
other papers in the County. He concluded that
it was better to maintain the prices fixed by law,
even though the pOoceeds be divided between
them-inasmuch as there would then be no strife
aud bad feeling, while at the same time each of
them would get as much, if not more, than one
could get by bidding He therefore proposed the
arrangement, which was accepted by the other
papers, and honorably carried out by him, as long
Ms he retained the Office.
Beale and saubOrn, having played ont at sa-
vannah, No. came to Troy in January or Febru-
ary,, 1871, and bought the Republicans Office OF
Bridges, while we were at Topeka, member OF
the State Senate. Upon our return home to
White Cloud, we found letter from them, pro-
posing continuance of the agreement which had
existed with Bridges. We at once accepted the
offer; and that there might be no misapprehen-
sion, we stated what the arrangement was. By
reference to our letter, which they publish, il
will be seen that the agreement embraced not
only tax lists, but advertising Of any kind This
agreement, the Republican acknowledges, it ac-
cepted in good faith. Now, let us see who kept
their faith, and who are the thieves.
In 1874, we got the tax list, amounting to about
$500. Before the account had been presented II
tie County Board for allowance, Beale & sauborn
wrote MS letter, asking us if we could not ad
vance them their share, as they were hard up. We
did not have the money, and could not accommo-
date them If we had had the amount by us, We
should have advanced it to them, without wait
inc until the Board allowed our account. We
have since thought, hundred times, Of the inev
table thanks We should have received fol
showing q disposition to accommodate them, and
help them out of q pinch. The very first time
they had got their backs up, they would have
proclaimed the fact that we were flush, and that
it was as good proof as they wanted that we had
sold out in the Legislature! As sOen as we goi
our money from the County, we directed that
$3.50 of it be paid to them, which was done. Soon
after, we made q settlement with them in person
and paid the balance, except abOut sl2, as they
say, Not long after that, we again met MI Beale
and remarked to him that we believed there
was some $40 due them yet; to which he replied
never mind; they had done some work aud re-
ceiyed nay for it, and he thought our share would
lust about square the sl2. That ended the mat
Tar with us; and we have not the least doubt
that they have since done work and got paid for
IL. that made balance Of COED many times sl2
ON their side.
The following Fall, we published the Redemp'
tion List, aud promptly ordered their third to be
handed over to them when the bill was allowed
Thus. we paid them $3.50 or over, in clean cash. OF
our earnings, in one year.
In 1872 when the present BOarSl came into Of