Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-10-20
LEE MONROES LEGEND.


There is between Mr.. Lee Monroe and
w. S. Triton that feeling Of mutual re-
spect which precludes any possibly desire
upon our part to speak bitterly of his
work in the present campaign. In Mr..
Monroe's own conscience turks the con-
viction that the ringsters in their political
work of this year have made serious
blunder. But he, on account Of his close
association with the caucus-packing dis
trict-court judge and few others Of the
boss ringsters, has been drawn into max
ing some speeches for their ticket. The
nature of these speeches points very
strongly to the conclusion that he has
devoted large amount of study to le-
gendary lore. For instance, he has
scanned the list of allowances i'll the
county clerks office, and there found that
W. S. Tilton has, during the latter's resi-
dence in this county, drawn from the
county treasury, upon the order OF the
commissioners, the magnificent sum OF
S3,O64. He finds that other men, who are
personal and political friends OF Hilton,
have, as county officials, drawn various
sums of money from the county treasury
upon the order of the commissioners. Mr..
Monroe, at the ring meetings, draws upon
the blackboard ring. This ring he calls
the ring of a wagon wheel. He guesses
at the center of the inner space, there
makes chalk hub, and calls it Tilton.
He then proceeds to draw tie spokes
calling one of them Pinkham, another
Baker, another Robb and so on. He then
asks the people to believe that this COM
bination is the political ring in this coun-
ty. The request is not likely to be grant
ed when the people consider that, with
the exception of Mr.. Tilton, these men
ace all out OF Office. Furthermore, they
drew such pay as was allowed them by
law, made worthy officers, and contribU-
ted largely toward placing Trego county
In the front rank which she has ever been
conceded financially among Kansas coun-
ties.
Mr.. Monroe does not assert-he assures
us that he never has thought of doing so
that Tilton has drawn from the county
any illegal fees. Now, let us,see whether
he has not been moderate in his charges
for county printing. He has been the
county printer for upwards of nine years,
and averaged to draw annually from the
county S34o.44. In Ellis county, where a
strict observance of the legal requirements
certainly would result in the county
printing costing but little more than in
Trego county, our recollection is that it
has for years past cost considerably in
excess OF 81 eco annually. We have been
just to Trego county. For about five
years OF this time. no other paper than
the World was in this county. Mr..
Monroe knows he wants pay for his work.
10 receive legal compensation for public
work, implies no such thing as ring
combinations or trickery. If, as Mr. Mon
roe intimates in his speeches, we have
charged legal rates in some years, and in
other years smaller rates, this has been
because circumstances were such that it
was an object to do SO in both cases. We
are now doing the county printing for less
than legal rates. This does not prove
that legal rates are high any more than il
proves that the salaries OF the county
commissioner are too high. Mr.. Monroe
understands this. When MIR. Monroe
changes his mind, and concludes to prove
that we have overcharged for our services
as county printer. then, aud NOT until then,
will he have even shadow OF the case
against us with which he would hood
pink the voters;