People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-05-16
State Treasurer Atherton.

kOu.
Hon. A. j. Felt, at present editor
of the Atchison Champion and lieu
tenant-governOr during John A. Mar
tins two terms as governor, is the
person who gave the editor of the
Mail the details Of Otis L. Atherton's
attempt to seduce country girl for
whom he had secured a position as
enrolling clerk.
In the Champion of last Thursday.
Gov. Felt says this story is true and
that the state officer referred TO is
the state treasurer. He says further:
The Champion heartily agrees with
It's contemporaries, that the only
proper course for the Republican adj.
mlnistrdtiOn is TO turn the rascals
out, and the more promptly it is done
the better it will be for Kansas.
Good sense and intelligent, patriotic
conduct is always the wiseSt politics.
The best thing for Kansas is the best
thing for the Republican party.
The story Of the insult to the inno-
cent girl was told TO the editor of the
Champion by Governor Morrill, during
the session Of the legislature, and, at
his request, was kept out Of print.
with the understanding that the
officer would be asked to resign, and
that if he failed TO do that then pro-
ceedings would be commenced accord.
ing to law. The story as told to the
feditOr OF the Champion differed in
some minor details from the version
printed in the Hiawatha World. Tue
governor, who was thoroughly indig.
nant and fully aroused to the necessi.
ty OF immediate action, stated that
the state treasurer had secured d
clerkship for young lady las we rec.
Ollect she was from Russell county
who, upon her appointment, went to
the treasurer to tender her thanks for
the kindness. She was told that mere
thanks did not pay for such things.
She said she bad no money till she
earned it. The brutal reply was to
this effect: We do not attempt to
quote the exact language.l 81 do not
want money. have a room down the
street; you can come and stay with ME
occasionally"
The young lady, the governor said,
was in every way respectable and he
seemed in humOr to take the advice
volunteered to him, to go to that
Office and take that official by the
nape of his neck and seat of his
breeches and hurl him out of the state
house.
The Champion keeps its word with
the governor not to publish the scan
dial, as it understood steps were to be
taken to GUST him from Office. Now,
that the matter has become public
property, the Champion no longer re-
CARDS it an official secret and tells
this much of the story, We think
now as we thought thea, that Cover
nor Morrill, should have put that
officer out Of the state house, as he
deserves no further recognition from
the people Of Kansas. We do not in
tend this as any criticism upon Gov
ernor Morrill,, for we know that he
loathes the conduct of the treasurer,
and was only prevented from immedi.
ate action by what he deemed TO be
amply sufficient reason. Before Gov,
ernor Morrill, is criticised in this Mat.
ter the public should be informed Of
the steps he has taken to bring the
guilty party to justice. Probably
when all the facts are known, it viii
be found that Governor Morrill, ha.
demanded that resignation, and If il
is not forthcoming there will be sucf
legal steps as will create vacancy il
the treasurer's office. Governor Nor
rill is the last man to condOne offence,
so serious as those publicly charged
and he may rest fully assured that il
his efforts to cleanse that den OF cor
ruption he will have the cordial anC
enthusiastic support of the people o
Kansas, without distinction OF party