The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-08-05
THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1875.
REPUBLICAN STATE TICK TT.
CAMPAIGN LIES EXPOSED.

We do not publish the following let
ter from Major Batz because we think
that any one believes him guilty of the
charges made against him; but now
that they have been circulated, it is but
Justice to the Major to give his plain con-
else refutatior of the vile Islander heap
ed upon him by that most depraYed of
all Wisconsin newspapers, the Mllwau-
Eee News:
MILWAUKEE, July %.
To the EditOT. Of the Sentinel: Will
Won kindly permit me to notice, through
the medium of the Sentinel, few pasl-
res in the Madison letter of Saturday s
milwaukee, News, by which the anony-
nous writer tries TO impeach my mteg-
rity rs former State officer. He says ::
The foct that BaetZ as treasurer, had some
$4,000 of the State funds in the Second Nato-
nal Bank of Chicago " hen it failed $4,000 in
the broken City Bank of this city, $1,000 in
Wisconsin Central Railroad lands, and 500 i'll
that digest of laws which was printed under a
special act, is telling stronglg against him.
70 the first charge ] plead guilty, ex-
cept that the amount is overstated.
This bank was considered sound and safe,
but the panic of 1878 forced it to GO in
10 liquidation, The State Treasurer's
Chicago account had been kept with it
for years before l. came into Office. L
continued the business connection be-
cause | had every reason to believe that
whatever State funds might go there, in
the ordinary course of business, would
he entirely secure. The panic came
upon us like thunderbolt from clear
sky. 1t took everybody by surprise and
played havoc right and left with fnan-
cial institutions, as well as individuals.
The State of Wisconsin has not lost q
farthing by its sweeping and destructive
operation. If [ should fail ultimately
to recover the sum due Inc from that
Chicago account, it would be my own
private loss. 1t does not concern the
State, but myself, and I do not think
that any tender-hearted Reformer ought
70 shed tears over It.
AS to the second charge, the writer is
mistaken. I assume that he intended
to refer to the defunct Bank of Madison.
All 7 had in that institution when it
failed was exactly S369.47 as anybody
may readily ascertain by reference to
the records in the court of bankruptcy.
The third charge, that I, rs State
Treasurer, had Sc, 600 in Wisconsin Cen
trail Railroad lands, is absolutely and
unqualifedly false. No, [ did not spec
ulate with the public funds, either in
lands, grain, stocks, bonds or horse-hesh.
the fourth count IL the Indictment is
on par with the rest. The facts are
these: Mr.. e. A. Spencer, under a
special act of the Legislature, was pre-
pairing synoptical index Of the laws
of Wisconsin, of which the Secre-
tary of State was directed and auth
orized to purchase certain number of
copies for the use of the State, at GER
tain stated price for each copy. On that
job advanced Mr.. Spencer, as special
favor, 1900. Afterward another act
was passed enlarging the scope of the
work and providing for the purchase, by
the State, of an additional number of
copies. In order to secure the compile
ton of the index and save myself from
loss, I guaranteed to pay for paper,
printing and binding, and became per-
sonally responsible for certain other
items, which it is unnecessary to safe in
detail. The index was finally completed
a warrant issued for the whole amount
due, and out of that I paid what [ had
guaranteed, and reimbursed myself for
the money actually advanced. L had no
interest in the profits, if any, and receiv-
ed none. With the passage of the acts
under which the work was performed, L
had about as much TO do as the man in
the moon.
If, in my official conduct as former
State Treasurer, I have done ought that
deserves censure or reprobation, L am
willing to suffer the consequences. But
l must be allowed to point with pride to
the fact that neither under my admins
tration, nor that of my Republican pre-
dcessors, has the State Treasury suffered
the loss of n cent by carelessness, pecu-
lation or otherwise. 1 am just enough
to admit that the present State Treasur-
or. my honorable friend, Ferdinand
kuehn, will be able to say as much for
himself whenever he shall be caliedupon
to quit the office. HENRY BAETz.