The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-09-21

of printing or the price that shall be
charged for it since the Populists came
into power. Col. Closes attempt to
defend the administration occupied a
large part of his time and was very
weak. The Blind Asylum at Kansas
City, KS. is the one charitable institu.
ton of the State in which there has
been no scandal; and it is the only one
that Mr., Close referred to. He had
not a word to say about the barberous
outrages at Winfield, nor about the
boodling at the penitentiary, nor
about the rotten meat at the Soldiers
Home. nor about the scandals at the
Insane Asylum and at the Deaf and
Dumb Asylum. In fact what Col.
Close did not say was quite as signifi-
cant as what he did say. He talked
good deal about the partnership be-
tween the Republicans and the rail-
roads; but he failed TO explain why
the Populists reduced the assessment
of Pullman cars from $4,000 to $500.
He denounced the Republican speak
ers for riding about the State on pas
ses; but he failed to say that he him
self and all the other Populist officials
also ride on passes He asserted that
the Republicans used to travel about
the State ON political business at the
expense of the State; but he failed to
State that the Populist campaign
committee uses room in the State
house for headquarters, to save rent;
that the chairman of that committee
draws salary of $500 a year from
the State although giving nearly If
not quite all of his time to political
work; that Col. Close himself draws a
salary of$1500 from the State although
most of his time now is spent in max.
ing campaign speeches for the Popu-
list party.
Col. Close denounced the Republic
cans for abusing the POpulists, and
then forthwith made the most out.
rageous charges against Maj. Morrill,,
Cyrus Leland and Mr.. Troutman.
The charge made against Mr.. Trout
man was that he recently"built flne
house i'm Potwin, an aristocratic addi-
tion to Topeka, "-and by the way Mr..
Close himself lives there,-and when
it was finished failed to pay the men
who built it, but put them off one day
after another until it was to late for
them to file lien on the house and so
they never got their pay. We wrote
to Mr.. Troutman about this and the
following is copy of his reply:
TOPEKA, KS. Sept II. 1894.
Hon. CHAs. F. SCOTT lola, Kas.
DEAR SEEAToR:-I have your favor of the 18th
inst: The one reply necessary to be made to
Mr.. Closes charge is that never built house
in Potwin. In lSs6 l bought a house already
built in which lived until December 1891, when
l sold it. l afterwards rented the house in
which | now live, and continued to pay rent
until February 1884, when bought that prop
erty. This is all the property have ever own.
years ago my sister and myself built two hous-
es in North Topeka, and as soon as they were
built the contract price was paid to the car
penter and never was any question raised by
him or any of his laborers
The statement made by Mr.. Close has not a
shadow of foundation. l called at the Office TO
see him this morning but he is out Of the city.
have written him stating that if he can give
me any substantial fact upon which this charge
is founded. / will withdraw from the Republi-
can ticket j don't owe solitary bill in this
town that know of, except some large amounts
that are amply secured, and take some pride
| in the fact tina among business men in this city
my credit is exceptionally good.
Yours Truly,
JAMES A. TRoUTMAN.
That certainly settles one of Mr..
Closes charges. And we have no
doubt that the charges against Major
Morrill, and Mr.. Leland are equally
groundless.
But we cannot spare space tor far
Their analysis of Mr. Closes speech. II
there is any portion of it which we
have not touched upon that any OF
our readers would like to have our re-
ply to, we shall be glad to have it
brought to our attention.