The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-06-29
is GAINES A FIT NAN
TO suPERINTENp THE INSTRUCTION.
OF THE YOUTH OF KANSAS?
THE ASTOUNDING LANGUAGE USED
By the Populist State Superintendent Of
Public Instruction in an Alteres-
ton with Editor Barber
of LaCygne.

Ed. T. Barber, editor of the La
Cygne journal publishes In his paper
full account of the attack made on
him at the Republican State Conven.
vention by Superintendent Of Public
Instruction II. n. Gaines. 1t appears
that Mr.. Barber had been bitterly
criticising Superintendent Gaines for
his part in the purchase of the SIC, 900
worth of fraudulent school bonds. The
report of the encounter In the La
Cygne Journal is as follows except
that blanks are used instead of the
profane words themselves rs in the
Journals report:
About half past 4 p. M, June Z,
while attending the Republican State
Convention at Topeka, we were stand
ing in the convention hall when we
were accosted by man who intro
duced himself as Mr.. n. n. Gaines,
State Superintendent of Public In.
struction, and the following dialogue
took place:
Gafnes-"I have something I want
to show to YOU"
He then produced from a pocket
book q clipping from the LaCygne
Journal which / recognized rs my
comment upon the Hamilton county
bond deal. After handing me the ar
ticle Gaines said: ibid you ever see
that before?"
Reply: "You bet have. wrote IL
myself"
Gaines: at is dirty lie,
from beginning to end, and If catch
you on the street will whip the -
stuffing out of you"
Reply: 81 believe this article to be
true. 1 formed the opinion expressed
in it from your own letter, Mr.. Gaines
and I believe it to be the only logi.
cal conclusion by the facts from your
own standpoint"
Gaines: "Well, it is a---
and 1 shall punish you the first time
meet you on the street. 1 am COM
ing down into your country soon and
I will settle with you then"
Reply: "Mr. Gaines, don't you try
to run bluff on me, and there are
few things want you to understand
thoroughly. 1 can't be bluffed. 1 am
not afraid of you, and 1 will not be
provoked by you into doing anything
here in this convention that will bring
discredit upon myself or this conven-
ton. / desire to have nothing fur
Their to do with you and 1 prefer you
to let me alone"
Gaines-"Well, 1 am going to whip
you, you --liar, and If you ever
enter my office will kick you out. 1
don't propose to have an obscure two
by four editor criticise my actions or
call me a fool and knave."
Reply:-"I have said nothing of you
1 don't believe to be true, and If have
misrepresentea you or injured you,
unjustly, L am ready to retract and
make amends, but shall tell what l
believe to be true, and 1 am not run.
ming a paper, especially to please you
fellows of the State house."
Goines,-"DOn't you ever put my
name in your paper again or 1 will
whip - out of your
Reply-"Don't you get into any
more Doodle scrapes Mr.. Gaines or
your name will surely get into the La
Cygne Journal"
Gaines:-"You are q lying
and 1 will defend my
honor at any time or place."
Reply:-"I repeat, Mr.. Gaines, that
you cannot provoke me to breach of
decorum in this convention hall dur.
ing the session of the convention. AS
to defending your honor you have no
overwhelming task; 1t is 30 very small
it needs but little" 3.
AT this point number of bystand-
ers interfered and pulled Superinten.
dent Gaines away.
MR.. GAINES AS CDR. JEKYLL."
Editor Barber then calls attention
in his paper to the address of Supt.
Gaines before the Southeast Kansas
Teachers association at Emporia last
Thanksgiving in which he said:
"No one who is not q Christian in
the truest and highest sense of the
word, whose moral character is not
above reproach nor who is not absolu.
tely pure in thought, deed, speech.
and actions should aspire to q posi-
ton of teacher, or to position on any
county or State ticket, especially that
of State or county Superintendent of
schools, positions involving the char
acter and morality of the children of
our land.n
On Saturday, June "a, 1898, the fol.
lowing synopsis of an address of Mr..
Gaines to the Shawnee County
Teachers association appeared in .
Topeka paper. "a person who has
not morals above reproach is not fit to
be an instructor for our boys and girls.
There is far more to be worked for In
this world than money and position.
Be an inspiration to your pupils; lift
them up, help them to be better and
better as time rolls on"