The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1881-11-03

For weeks have patiently aud silently Ia
ken the vitupsration, mud and lies hurled at
me by the one idea clique, styling themselves
the Peoples Party. They have been repeat
eddy warned that 'schickens come home to
roost." desire, in ~ few words As posi-
BILE, to answer the vile insinuations Of venal-
ity the trHly good peoples candidate through
the Bsaeas as to the faithful discharge OF my
duty while County Treasurer:
When Sedgwick county was first organized
the then treasurer, Mr.. johnson, made the
deposits of county funds in the Emporia Ma
tional Bank, then the nearest public deposit
DRY for public funds. In 1872 when the First
National Bank Of Wichita was established
the funds were transferred toll found the
funds of the county, when took the office
In 1874, on deposit in the last above-named
bank. BY and with the consent of the Com
missioners the funds were left just where l
found them. We were at that time subject
to removal from one building to another al
most any week. The county had neither
lock, key, drawer Or safe for the security OF
the public funds. These facts we're known
to the entire people Of Sedgwick county.
The money was kept in the generaily-sup-
posed most secure place in Sedgwick county.
But unfortunately the First National Bank
failed, involving Sedgwick county 900.
Now these righteous reformers would saddle
on me the responsibility Of the bank failure.
Why not, with like logic, brand the sixty or
seventy individual depositors who lost money
,t, 50 hen tha CHI osxy.lo A
nanciers) with criminal negligence 10 thus
defraudng their families of bread and
clothes? The Beacon sells up specious howl
that should have made special deposit.
Now l say that no man, not q dcmagogue, with
thimble full of sense would make any such
statement. The veriest tyro knows that a
special deposit must be made either in look
ed receptacle or sealed package. Now let
us see the logical sequence of this statssmdn's
theory: In the first place banks are not re-
sponsible for the loss Of special deposits by
theft or otherwise. Again, suppose treas
urer, compelled to deposit in q bank, should
make special deposit, sealed as required,
in ten minutes the treasurer Of school dis
trict, township, or other creditor of the
county should come in and demand of the
County Treasurer the money due them or
him. The treasurer must 90 with the party
to the bank, demand his deposit, unseal it,
make his payment, re-seal the package and
take new receipt for the package. Let the
immaculate statesman point out the bank or
bankers in this State who would take dspos-
its under such circumstances as Especial"
There are twenty counties in the State to-
day that are as poor Us We were in the early
days, without permanent Offices and without
safes, that are compelled to make deposits as
we were. Doubtless these counties would
like to find the banks that will take spec al
deposits and allow drafts against such depos-
its. Every man of ordinary business capacity
knows that the argument Of the Beacon in
the premises is the merest clap trap, the va
carries of loony demagogue.
The Beacon and Mr.. Jocelyn have accused
me with having taken interest on the public
funds in the National Bank. l emphatically
deny the charge and challenge them to pro-
duce the proof. They have secured the
whole country for something damaging, and
they have attempted to coerce some Of the
officers of the bank into making statements
they knew were false. Charges are no proof
any renegade can make charges. Men of
honor do not make such charges without the
proof to back them. They lie, anG they know
they lie.
Let me illustrate why know they are cog
infant OF the lies they are telling: When
Mr.. Jocelyn was securing the county for del
egates to the Republican convention, he lied
about every opposing candidate In tho field.
He said to my friends in Grant township that
had been specializing in the county funds
and couldn't be elected if nominated. Hav-
ing heard this, and meeting Mr.. Jocelyn in
the postoffice said to him: .'Mr. Jocelyn, If
you are fair-minded man and gentleman,
you will consult the books of the First Ma
tional Bank, not half block away. and il you
find these things so, go ahead. If you find
you are wrong, you will, US gentlemen, cor
rect your statement" Why, he says, l have
heard these things, but if you say they are
not SO, l will say no more about them. Two
days later, some friends from Gypsum came
in and said Jocelyn was there the day before
and accused me of taking 800 per month in
terest frem the bank, and that Ed. Wright
would swear to it. ! at once dropped to the
fact that was wasting my time appealing
to mans fairness who would lie, when he
knew he was lying.
The editors space will not permit me to
follow in detail the scurrilous attacks of this
coterie Of skunks, but will say they are all of
piece: either absolute lies, or facts SO dis
torted as to entirely obscure the truth.
In conclusion, allow me to say that never
took, or offered to take, a bride. never
forged another mans name. l never cheat
ed, or attempted to swindle, the scar-worn
veterans of the Republic out of their war
claims or their pensions. I never attempted
to swindle Sedgwick county in coal or other
contracts, and cover it in expenses as erpense.
Gentlemen of Sedgwick county, am the
Republican candidate for County Treasurer,
II you doubt my honesty, integrity or ability,
do not, in the name of goodness, vote for me;
but IL you believe otherwise, and support
me, and should be elected, promise you
that SO far as my ability goes, you shall find
in me for the future, as in the past, prompt
and efficient officer.
My postofice address isl Wichita, Kansas.
L. N. WOODCoCK.