The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-13
ATHERTON'S REP.
This Time Governor Morrill, and
2. B. Dawes
Come to the Rescue of the State
Treasurer
Whose Character Has Been
Again Aspersed.
THE CHARGE is MADE
That Was AthertonWhO Made
E,ldecent Proposals
To the Russell County Enrolling
Clerk.
NOW IT Is DENIED
By Governor Morrill, and Z. b.
Dawes
That AthertOn Was In Any Way
Involved.
By Governor Morrill, and E. B.
Dawes
That AthertOn Was In Any Way
Involved.

The Wellington Mail of Saturday pub
fishes the following:
Hon. A. J. Felt, at present editor OF
the Atchison Champion, and lieutenant
governor during John A. Martins two
terms as governor. is the person who
gave the editor OF the Mail the details of
Otis l. Atherton's attempt to seduce a
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
its contemporaries, that the ouiY proper
course for the Republican administra-
tion is to turn the rascals out, and the
more prom pity it is done the better it
will be for Kansas. Good aense and in
teIligent, patriotic conduct is always the
wisest politics. The best thing for Kan
sss 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 w Ould be
asked to resign, and that If hs failed to
do that then proceedings would be COM
maDced according to law. The story as
told to the editor of the Champion diff
fered in some minor details from the
version printed in the Hiawatha World.
The governor. who was thoroughly in
dignant and fully aroused to the necessi-
ty of immediate action, stated that The
state treasurer had secured clerkship
for young lady las we recollect she was
from Russell county, who, upon her ap-
pointment, went to the treasurer to ten
der her thanks for the kindness.
"She was told that mere thanks did not
pay for such things. She said she had
no money till she earned it. The brutal
reply WAS to this effect: (We do not at
tempt to quote the exact language. / do
not want money; 1 have 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 a humor to take the advice
volunteered to him, to go to that off ce
and take that official by the nape of his
neck and seat of his breeches and huri
him out of the state house.
The Champion kept its word with
the governor not to publish the scandal.
as 1t understood steps were to be taken
to Oust him from Office. Now that the
"
Champion no longer regards it an official
secret and tells this much of the story.
We think now as we thought then. that
Governor Morrill, should have put that
officer out OF the state house, as he de-
serves no further recognition from the
people of Kansas"
The Governor interviewed.
10 a reporter for the Kansas City
journal, Governor Morrill, said:
fu : h~f 7
Mr. Atherton, and it is also true that I re-
peated it to ex- Lieutenant Governor Felt.
He came into my Office shortly after I had
first heard what purported to be the de-
tails OF the case. | talked with him about
1t, as friend whose advice l valued. not
for publication, for l was shocked beyond
expression and felt that something ought
to be done in the premises. This was
along in the early part of the session of
the o'ature l set on foot an iuvesti-
RaSEsSsI q the matter, and very shortly
%sSe-@a6I[en Governor Troutman and
others reported to me that there was ab-
soluteiy no truth in the charge against
Ar. Atherton; that it had been set af1oat
by his enemies, without even the shadow
OF basis, and that there was no such
girl and no such occurrence. OF course.
1rropped 1t right there as canard and
nave since heard nothing of the story
ontn IL appeared IN the Hiawatha World
apd the Atchison Champion"
Statement by G. neral Dava..
The following statement was nre,,ared
by Attorney General Dawes and handed
to the journal correspondent for Dnbli-
cation; In January last there was a
romor about the state house to the affac,
.hat some girl had been insulted and
that State Treasurer Atherton was the
guilty man. Governor Morrill, and
talked the rumor over and it was ag.reed
that the truth or faIsity of the charge
should be hunted down. and that Il
found to be true, action should he ts lar
against Atherton, made diligenl
search and inquiry in regard to tbs n
matter and could find no one who knew
anytnrng any ag,at about it After Investigating
conclusion that it was simply a rumor ,u'
without one shadow of foundation tc
slater Developments have convince,