The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-08-12
Self Condemned.

With an apology to our readers for the
discussion which has been going on be-
tween this editor and the Chronicle we
wish to close our part of it with the re-
mark that Mr.. Goodwin knows that the
amounts he has been discussing are
amounts due the school fund out Of par
ish funds, or said to be due. Mr.. Good
wyn endeavors to create the impression
on the public mind that the amount is
really shortage in treasurer's accounts,
and is 80 ungentlemanly and unworthy
of newspaper editor. We cannot argue
with a man given to use of such unfair
and disgraceful warfare.-People's De-
mauds, Aug. s.
No statement or intimation has
been volunteered by us in this matter.
We have only given the facts as they
stand officially recorded, and Editor
Dunn has drawn his own conclusions.
We said the school board committee
had discovered and pointed outsev-
eral gfaring errors and improper en-
tries, amounting in all to $841 40,
which the treasurer has been instruct
ed to place to the credit Of the school
fund.-" This is the plain unvarnished
truth. 1t was Mr.. Dunn g simple duty
to shoulder his own mistakes, obey
the instructions of the school board,
and not make himself ridiculous by
the attempt to justify his course in
misapplying public funds. He had
no warrant or authority to do any,
thing else than just exactly what the
board ordered him to do. Had he
not gone contrary to law there would
have been no necessity for the board
to issue any order at all. Itwaspure
insolence and silly effrontery for him
to tell the school authorities they
should take some other method be-
side the one they adopted to require
him to place the money where it be-
longed. The law required this money
to be placed IN the school fund. and
the law directed the treasurer to put
it there. He has not done SO = that
fact cannot be denied.
Thepublic is free to judge as to who
has adopted unfair and unworthy
methods in all the discussions between
the CHRONICLE and the Demands. We
have not said there was q shortage
in the treasurer's accounts, but We
do say that Treasurer Dunn has mis-
applied public funds, and that the
public schools have suffered shortened
terms on account Of his illegal and
unlawful acts. He owes the school
fund fully $S41 40 of misappropria.
ted money, and probably more. The
schools have done without a large
portion of this money for about two
years. The money has all been spent,
the parish treasury is empty, and
the school authorities are demanding
that the treasurer make good thu
shortage in the school fund. We say
these are facts. If we are wrong in
saying so, and anybody will point
out the error, we shall be pleased tc
be corrected. If this is not done, w
owe no apologies for discussing thu
laches of a public official.
| 1t is doubtless very regretable tt
the editor of the Demands that h
has been so imprudent as to engag'
in this discussion, and it is right ant
proper for him to apologize to hi
readers for his lack of judgment. HI
should quit his exhibitions of bat
taste in turning every contfovers.
into personalities, thus seeking tt
divert public attention and block IN
quiry. AS public official his book
and vouchers ought to be in sucl
shape as to settle all matters Of con
troversy. An array of facts and fig
ures that comply with the Law ID al
!, that is necessary to- vindicate tn
truth and satisfy ninterigentpublic
Our Prospective Free Ride.
= fhe Natchitoches Times says tn
; 1871 81 N.koh,