Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-10-12
For Reason and Responsibility,

IOr TIE nomination Oh REPRESENTATIVE, HAS NC
parted for the Sandwich Islands, leaving moth
ing behind but protested drafts, the republicans
haven't cared TO charge democracy with hard
times. And especially since their County Treas
urer Dawson absconded with public funds last
week have the republicans become reticent.
Advocate.
The REPUBLICAN Is sorry indeed
that the above paragraph should have
found place in The literature of this
campaign. So far as the men who
have absconded are concein ned, we
have no apology. They have violated
the confidence of their fellowmeD, and
in that respect have created suspic-
ion among men that will work an in
jury to every citizen. 1t would be bet
ter far to assist in restoring conf.
dence than to promote distrust. This
is matter of vital business import
ance to every citizen in the county.
1t may be admitted that Mr.. Arm
strong would have been the republican
nominee for representative and that
Dawson would have had second nom.
ination for treasurer had they remained
here. Before the facts were known as
to their populations, both were esteemed
in the county and both have received
the suffrage of the people. We need
not recall incidents to convince the
reader that men of both parties 60
wrong. So long as Mr.. Armstrong was
in town the author of the above clip
ping Swallowed his steps and fawned
in his presence with all the dem nstra-
ton of an overwarm friend, and a res
pectful remembrance of such rela-
tions would advise nothing moro than
judicial condemnation of his wrong
full acts. Much more, then, is it dis
graceful to advertise his misdeeds and
class all republicans in the same GRIM
inal category.
Mr.. Dawson's misdeeds are without
extenuation, but the board of super
yisOrs. while not participants or bene-
ficiaries, must share the responsibility
for the county's loss. 1t is shown that
there was shortage of over $1,000 on
June 9Th, when the board occupied
several days in examining his books
and said over their own signatures
that everything was all right. Our
same esteemed contemporary says that
they (the board) were in no shape to
learn of the shortage, as he (Dawson)
covered it with wrong statements and
vouchers" and further "the board Is
not concerned and it is not part Of
the supervisors duty to ferret out the
affairs of the treasurer's Office outside
Of settling and seeing that his oouchers
and books are correct" What a search
light of information this is! What a
sumner it is to say that "it is not q
part of the supervisors duty =
outside of seeing that his vouchers and
books are correct" What profound
argument in exoneratlon of the board s
official negligence. This gem of cir.
cuitous reasoning denies and then ad-
mits that it is their duty to see that the
vouchers are correct, but as a matter
Of fact there is no chance that vouchers
that youch can be incorrect. The
board was presumed to know by the
balances how much money Dawson had
on hand, and having given him the
right to deposit in the banks, they had
the right without question to demand
| tErafac Of
vouches could not lie. The fact must
remain prominent that he was $4,000
short when the board officially approx,
ed his doings after the members had
consumed time for which they were
paid in making investigation. Dawson
was guilty and was the beneficiary, but
the board must share the responsibility
as they were provided with means and
authority to know just what he was
doing. The duty of investigation isn't
imposed upon the board by law as a
matter of recreation. 1t isn't paid to
go in there and practice the rules OF
mathematics for its own education
Its business is to see that the figures
are correct and that the treasurer has
the cash which the figures show he
ought to have. In this the board failed
In another place the editor stabs the
board this way: mo one but an expert
accountant can prevent deception in
case the treasurer chooses to be dis
honest" If that be true the board IL
obtaining money under false pretenses
when it occupies time for which it il
paid in going through the books anl
attesting them as correct. There isn't
a suspicion that Dawson has falsified
the record. 1t was and is straight
His shortage has been accumulative
and has been made possible because
the board has not demanded the evi
dences of the cash. We believe tina,
most any ordinary man is able to make
this settlement, if he employs ordinary
, business methods. The board won Id
have been safe and the county saved q
large part OF the loss II they had useC
common prudence and discretion In
the settlement. Aliens bold infer
7 ence that the democratic board is in
, Competent to make this settlement is 9
confession that must be Illuminating tt
that body.
THE REPUBLICAN regrets that the
misdeeds of individuals who are not in
the campaign have been introduced
1t has here treated the subject respect
|, fully and candidly and temporarily
: To revamp and reiterate the wrong do
/, ings of individuals not interested par
takes of the nature of ghouls and vul
lures that prey upon human disasters
and wrecks and disappaintments. Il
should be remembered that there are
; vulnerable points all round, and we car
v hn.k tba - 49, Al