People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-11-14
Andy Richards in Wednesdays

Andy Richards IN Wednesdays
Mail, makes a clean, clear cut state
ment Of the comparative expenditures
for county printing between the years
1892 and 1894, touched upon two weeks
ago by the VOICE. While according
to the county clerks statement the
printing for 1892 cost S927.01 and for
1894 s2,785.56, the former statement
does not include the cost of the COun.
ty stationery, the publication Of the
official ballots made necessary under
the Australian system; and an addi-
tiOnal cost Of S567.22 for the publica-
tion Of an extra large delinquent tax
ist, a legacy Of the hard times. We
can't for the life Of us see the necessi.
ty for juggling these figures of ex-
penditures, and thus keeping the tax
payers in state of perturbation over
imaginary cases of thifvery and rob-
berry. There is nothing sensible or
honest about it. So far as we are
able to judge Richards has the best of
the figuring; not that he proves that
the expenditures for 1894 are less than
for 1892, but that he meets the charge
OF extravaganza made b. the VOICE by
showing that the difference in ex-
penditures between the two years are
due to circumstances over which no
county official and no political party
has any control. Editors are liable
to make mistakes, like other persons,
and we hope that is all there Is 10
this discrepancy between the claims
of the two brethren; but when the
matter Is thoroughly sifted and the
true state Of affairs is brought to
light we contend that it is the duty
Of the editor who is in the wrong, and
the honorable thing left for him to
do, to acknowledge his error. The
truth never hurts the innocent and
honest, but the truth half told is
sometimes lie. The statements OF
the two editors should be printed side
by side with their explanations and a
copy Of the document should be placed
In the hands Of every voter in the
county, that they may see both sides
Of the case and draw their own con-
illusions.
Here is an excellent portrayal Of
the double character ofRobert Louis
Stephenson's "Dr. Jekyl and Mr..
Hyde" 1t seems strange that Bro.
Branscombe would single out the
county printing feature Of the con-
troverSy upon which to stultify him.
self and show the "Mr. Hyde" in his
Characterize very question upon
which he has been so severely out
spoken heretofore. His readers will
remember how he denounced the
deal Of last year by which the print.
ing was given to the Standard and
what condemnation he heaped upon
the heads Of all those who had any.
thing to do with generating Com
missioner Faurot from blame because
thereof; then, later, how he paved
the air because the printing wa:
given to the Richards-Simons-Mc
Donald combine last January. In
order that the "Mr. Hyde" Of TIT
New Era may see himself in all hi.
hideousness, We quote an extrac
here from a three column edltona
printed in his issue Of January 90, '95
"Three Republican editors, insen
sible to the dangers Of future punish
ment, and seemingly without cOncep
tiOn Of the magnitude and intensit,
of the wave Of anti-cOmbine. anti.
trust, anti-mOnOpOly sentiment tina
has been sweeping over this land foI
the past few years. and fearing Il
stand each in his own strength aion,
and make a fair open fight Tor wha
he desired, entered into collision will
each other and formed an obnoxiou
combine, plotted, planned and schem
ed, log-rolled, wire-pulled aud button
holed to gain their ends and down tn,
other follows; and as a reward for thi
meritorious course have their name
written on the pay roll of Sumne
county to the tune of from $500 I,
$1,000. This is the work of the mel
who are managing the affairs of tn
people of Sumner county, with the fin,
Italian hand Of the ring POLITICAL
plainly manifested in the manipuls
tion Of the wires that operate the pur
pets, causing them to cut grotesou
and unseemlY aCtics when dignity an,
common sense is expected, and Jones
the fool taxpayer, foOts the expens
OF this jim-crow business, this sinpl
exhibition costing something nix
$1,000.