The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1876-01-20

Leland, being the only member elected as o Re-
publican, it could not be expected in fact, would
not be polite, to make him Chairman; and that
Larzelere, having been SO long in the political
squabbles in the County, and too arbitrary and
selfish withal, it would not be pleasant TO have
him for Chairman. Harpster at length consent
ed to take it, if the Board should consent They
then consulted Mr.. Leland, and he expressed
him self satisfied with the arrangement, and
promised to favor Mr.. Harpster.
At the time of the December meeting of the
old Board, Larzeere spent a couple of days in
Troy, and took pains to let it be known that he
was on his way out to see Harpster-intimating
that he was going out TO train him, and give
him his orders. He went, and opened the inter
view by proffering his vote to Harpster for the
Craftsmanship, for which Harpster thanked him
which reception evidently soured Larzelere's
stomach, as he doubtless expected proffer in
return. Then Larzelere opened on the printing
question, by saying that it was time to draw the
line, and to reward their friends. He proposed
giving the County printing to the Reporter.
Harpster thought the Chief ought to have some.
"No, (" replied Larzelere, ~ am not in favor of
giving it d-d centw Did he propose to let
it to the lowest bidder, and save hundreds of
dollars to the County, as he sets forth in his
hypocritical protest Not bit of it. Give it
all to the Reporter, whether anybody got to see
it by that means or not. Harpster replied, in
substance, as follows: That he did not think
they were elected TO favor only the men who
voted for them, but to look to the interests of
the whole people. That the Chief had always
treated him fairly and gentemanly, and he had
no occasion to make war upon it. That the Chief
had very large circulation in his Township,
while he did not know whether the Reporter had
any or not; and he thought that the people
would demand that the printing be done in a
paper where they would have chance to see it,.
Larzelere came back to Troy in very bad hu-
NOR, and freely cursed Harpster for id fool" !"
In his estimation, a fool was one who had a mind
of his own. and did not depend upon Larzelere
for brains.
The next move was a letter from Mr.. Stewart
himself to a leading Democrat of Severance, ask
ing him to negotiate with HaIpster. What was
his proposition Was it TO let the printing TO
the lowest bidder, and save hundreds of dollars
to the County, Not much. He proposed, if
Harpster would give him the printing, he would
move his Office to Troy. Larzelere had made
him all the promises but now he found it neees-
sary to ask the consent of some one else. Harp
ster thought that his moving to Troy would not
help the matter, as there was already paper at
Troy, with large circulation in all parts of the
County, and 1t was not necessary to hire paper
to come here to do the printing, So that nego-
tiatiOn failed.
The next move was by Larzelere. He caused
messages TO be carried to Mr. Leland, on various
occasions, informing him that he could be Chair
man of the Board, if he desired il. These mes
sages continued up 10 the very day Of the meet
ing of the new Board. In order to spite a man
elected on the same ticket with himself, because
he would not become his tool, he was in favor of
electing the only Republican member Chairman
of the Board. Remember that this was done,
too, after he had voluntarily pledged Harpster
to vote for him for Chairman. He thought, by |
offering this bait TO Leland, he could induce him
to break faith with Harpster, and mortify him /; |
and that Harpster, in fit of revenge, would |
hen unite with him IN his schemes, to spite |
Leland. But Leland had the good sense TO de-
line the honor, and that trick didn't win.
At this stage, let us take a review, and see how
he lies, inuendoes, and slauders of the Reporter
tand. Who was it sold his principles for the
promise of patronage. Who was it tried to "fix"
darpster, and induce him to do mean trick by
promises and pledgesf Does it look like trying
o form an alliance with Larzelere, when his
to betray member of his own party
vas rejected with scorni And after their plot
ing and schemi ng failed, this shyster and his
nOuth-piece have the cheek TO insinuate that
In fer WA innu c,.d I,t-c
We now come to the order relative to printing
he law does not require that the printing be-
iven to the lowest bidder, OF let to bids The
aw governing the matter is found in Chapter
os, page 246, of the laws of 1872, and reads as
blows:
The boards Of County Commissioners of the several
ounties of this State shall have exclusive control all
pendtures accrung cit her in the publication of den
uent tax lists Treasurers notices. County printing or
~ other County expenditures.
The law formerly required the printing to be ,
t to the lowest bidder; but it was repealed.
ecause it was found to be an imposition. In |
any Counties, when there was fat tax list to
3 published, some adyenturer with a patent a
Inside and a few fonts of worn ont type would
me along, and being at no expense, could put q
q bid at very low price. When the work :
as done, he would light ont with his money a
he work was done cheaply, and but few !
the people were any the wiser. To cor r
ct this evil, the clause was repealed and the /
after left to the good sense of the Commission
5. And in most of the Counties they are tax
e a sensible view of it. In Crawford County, Il
9 printing was given'to the Girard Press, with t
I any bidding, because it had the largest cir r
lation. The Peoples party have large ma s