People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-05-16
Investigate, Then Act.
The Hiawatba. World of this week

We feel like submitting few re-
marks on the Rogers investigation.
We believe 10 it, hut we do not care to
see investigation stop there. We ia
vOr unlimited investigation. The
Topeka Journal says a state officer
was drunk on the streets Of Topeka
last Sunday. He should be subjected
10 the same Investigation and punish
ment accorded POpulist officers. The
Republican party has promised a
clean ind businesSlike administra-
tiOn. If there are unclean men in our
own ranks we should attend to them
first. We have heard graver charge
than drunkenness brought against one
state official and suggest that it be
proven false or true right now.
We have been told that during the
legislative session, through the infu-
ence Of a Republican state official, a
pure young girl from country town
secured a place as enrolling clerk.
She felt grateful to her benefactOr
and called on him to express her
thanks and the old brute told her that
be wasn't in the habit of receiving
that sort of pay for his services.
The girl replied that she had not
yet received her wages, but when she
did she would pay him whatever COM
mission he deemed proper.
The cur then turned upon her and
told her that she could pay him by
coming to his room that night.
Words failed the shocked young
woman, but when he started towards
her she ran from the Office in terror.
Holding her hands to her face to hide
her shame and crying as il her heart
would break, she told her story to an
other officer. Where was the man.
hood in that state house when this
shameful story was heard? Is there
no father therein who dares to defend
stranger even as he would his own
child?
Was there no brother within the
walls Of the state house of Kansas
manly enough to resent such conduct?
We do not at this time know the
name or position of this officer. but
we are told that Governor Morrill,
knows of the officers misconduct and
this instance or Others of similar
character caused him to recommend
and work for the adjustment of the
enrolling clere system. If this story
be untrue, we shall hope to hear it so
branded. There are those who know
the truth. Let them speak.
An eX-lieutenant governor of Kan
sas told this story to the editor of the
STAR during the state league meet
ing, using almost the exact words that
Mr.. Hubert uses, so far as he goes.
But our informant went further. He
said that the gentleman who found
this young lady weeping in the hall
way, after learning what had occur
red, went with her to the executive
office and she told the whole occur
renee to Governor Morrill,. Our ex-
lieutenant governor friend being in
Topeka, Governor Morrill, sent for
him, related the incident to him and
asked his advice. "Kick him out.
Force him to resign" was the advice
given and insisted upon. 1t was not
followed. Had it been, the Topeka
Journals sensational article about a
drunken state officer never would have
appeared.
We scarcely know how to express
ourSelf upon this subject. No man
in the state did more, according to his
ability, to bring about the nominal
tion of E. N. Morrill, for governor
than the editor of the STAR; no man
worked harder for the election of the
Republican ticket We knew the
Republican party, as a party, repre-
Sented the very best element of the
state. We had unbounded confidence
in the honor, prObity and stability of
Governor Morrill, and the several can
didateS for state offices. We consid-
cred it the best ticket nominated by
the Republicans for years. We have
kept pretty we'll posted on state house
affairs since the Inauguration. Sever
al revelations have come to US. We
have been astounded, shocked. dis.
gusted, with just such discoveries as
the above. Our idols have turned to
clay and some OF them mighty rotten
clay at that.
Now, what is to be done? We know
no legal methods to compel the gov
ernOr or any ether officer to act in
the premises. But there is no ques-
tlon that the policy thus far pursued
along this line will not meet the
approval Of the Republican party
at large when the facts are known.
The Republican party stands as the
representative of honesty, morality
and decency in official as well as pri.
vate life. We cannot afford to follow
the POpulist theory of attempting to
cover over or hush up scandals that
have foundations 10 facts. The per.
manent success Of the Republican
party is far more important than the
fate OF any state officer or all Of them
combined. The only course left to
every true Republican and loyal citi-
zen is to expose and condemn wrong
doing, within the party as well as out.
side of it. in high places as we'll as in