The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1879-10-23
Sam. Johnson.

Sam. Johnson.
Attempts to raise damaging STORIES against s.
n. johnson, the Republican candidate for Coun-
ty Treasurer, have thus far proven very unprof-
table We believe an attempt was made to get
abroad the dreadful story that he was not trust
worthy, because be had stolen watermelons
when boy, or something Of that kind. Other
charges have been in the shape of inueudoes, to
the effect that things are not right in the Treas
ury, that there is leak and that there is an ef-
fort to cover things up. Bat they had to stop
these stories, because they were reflections upon
the wrong man. Robert Flickinger is Treasur-
er, and any wrong feature there would be charge
able to him; and as the Democratic Probate
Judge makes an examination of the Treasury
once every three months, and has thus far re-
ported everything straight, the inference would
be that be is in league with the Republican
Treasurer in stealing the peoples money. Tom
Henshall, Chairman of the Democratic Central
Committee, assisted in an examination, and re-
ported all correct. Did he assist in covering mp
q leakagei An examination was made only
couple of weeks ago. under the supervision of
the Democratic Probate Judge, and everything
reported straight. Is the Judge neglecting or
violating his dutyi This thing is not panning
ont right. However, we may as well state that
the charges and insinuations are not made by
Democrats, but by men who want Office. Scores
of Democrats are going 10 vote for Mr.. johnson.
Too late in the day, gentlemen, to attack the
honesty of Sam. johnson, after he has had full
run of the Treasury, as chief clerk, for half q
dozen years, and every examination shows the
money all there, to the last dollar Mr.. johnson
was deputy under Robert Tracy for year or
two. When Mr.. Flickinger came in, Mr.. Tracy
recommended johnson to him as perfectly relia-
ble and trustworthy, adding that he would be
responsible for him. He has done most of the
work of the Office during Flickinger's term and
half, and not dollar out of place. Mr.. Flick
niger is frequently away on business, leaving
Mr.. johnson in charge of the Office for weeks at
time-leaving him the keys of the safe, and
the secrets of the combination. Will anybody
who knows Bob Flickinger, say that be is the
sort of man who will thus put himself in the
power of person whom he had detected in dis
honest pratices, or whom he ever had cause to
suspect CT such thingi Not much. He would
choke him off at the very first sign of crooked
ness.
Such charges and Illustrations as these are
signs of desperate and hopeless contest. The
people are for Sam. johnson, and something
must be done to alarm the people. That he was
nominated without any wire-pulling, and with
out auy of the usual campaign tricks, was be-
cause he was the chsice of the Republican mass
es. 1t is easy to sse why this was so, and why
the Republicans, well as many Democrats
and Greenbackers, will vote for him. They
have seen him stick to the Office for years,
scarcely taking holiday, always calm and
pleasant, and always ready to accommodate any
man who came into the Office, whether be was
one who paid thousands of dollars of taxes, OF
only o small pittance. He has promptly sent
statements of taxes to all who wrote for them,
thus saving them the time and expense of extra
trips. In the rush of tax-paying, after standing
on his feet from morning till night, when the
day for adding the penalty was al. hand, and il
was impossible to serve all applicants, he has
permitted them TO 90 home, and has spent many
hours in the night, after the days work was
over, in making out receipts for these men, so
that they could come when the throng was over
and avoid the penalty. Besides this, he has at
tended to procuring and forwarding tax certif-
Gates from the Clerks Office, and in looking af-
ter titles. For all TINS wOtk, ne mas cnarscu ho
man nickel. It is what no other Treasurer's
Office in the State does. Many of them make
more than their salary by taking fees from tax
payers to whom they extend such favOrs. Ask
men who pay taxes in number of Counties, and
they will tell you that the Treasurers exact not
less than dollar for sending q statement OF
taxes, or receipt. They never fail to bleed
pon-residents. The Treasurers of many Coun-
ties make practice of voluntarily sending state
ments to non-residents, and demanding dollar
for it, Tho Treasurer of Shawnee County mott
fies non-residents that he will not md a tax re
ceipt by mail without an extra fee of so cents
or Sian imposition and violation of law. but
it is done. The Treasurer Of Douiphan County
has never exacted such fees. Mr.. johnson hav-
ing done all this work free, much of il after le-
gal working hours, and when receiving but
poor salary, the people have concluded that he
has a right to enjoy the full salary Of the ofce
for o term or two.
Another heavy argument made use of is, that
Sam johnson can't give bond, if elected. That
is his own lookout If he can't give bond, he
will not take charge of the Treasury. But let
us make this remark: Sam. johnson will be
elected, and he will give bond.