The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1901-08-16

cal thought of the State, il may not b,
avoided. The Governor has taken cogniz
ance of it and has asked that the books b.
examined by anybody so disposed. o
course that is a mere bluff, for he know
quite well that n one except a competen
examiner could find anything by a cursor,
glance at the books, and that even an ex
pert would have to have access to their us
for weeks to trace out anything that will
prove or disprove the charge that the none,
OF the state has been grossly mismanaged
ir not misused. Should a committee of re-
putabled, responsible citizens appoint an ex
peat, and ask that he he given the opportu.
nifty aud proper faculties for q thorough
examination. il is doubtful whether the Gov
ernor would agree to it. For that matter
the Governor has at his disposal a fund on
of which to pay for u thorough examination
and he has the right to make such an exam
nation. If the honor of his party is at stalk,
and the confidence of the people in his own
administration is jeopardized by the charge,
so openly and generally made by the Re.
publican press, why should he not undertake
at once a thorough and impartial investiga.
ton, under the cognizance and cooperation
OF representative Republicans? Will he
dare do that?
The Democratic General Assembly hat
the opportunity to procure for the domi.
nant party a clean bill of health. in the pro.
position made during the late session to ap.
point u committee COMPOSED of representa-.
tive men of each party to go over the books
and report the truth as it might be found
The avoidance of that proposition was evil
dence to any fair minded citizen that the
Democrats are not prepared for such an in
v~estigation. 1t is too late now for them to
the opposition with unfairness.
They are manifestly unfair in rejecting that
proposition, and they lost the opportunity to
quiet the fears of the people when they
to order such an ivestigation
The books belong to the people, and they
will yet see that everything in them
is brought to the light. If, while the books
are in the possession of the Democrats, they
make them defensive of the party
honesty and economy in the man
agement of the peoples business, how will
they fare when these books come into the
hands of the opposite party? The very
fact that the Democrats do not take the
people into their confidence and make a
Fair and impartial showing of the public ac-
counts is sufficient grounds for the charge
that , there is much that needs explanation.
So far no individual has been charged with
converting the money of the State to his
use, but it is charged and openly so
hat the monies of the State have been
grossly m%isapplied and loosely squandered
~ the Democratic administrations. Certain
{ is that the more than 81. 000. 900 of the
fund have been spent for some pur-
pose, and no one has been found vet who
;an tell where the money went. 1t will be
necessary to straighten out that matter
'ure, and it will be done ut the command of
he people of Missouri. The State Teach
rs may with propriety and honor under
AXE TO turn the searchlight of rigid invcsti-
cation upon that matter.-Political Review.
N FLATS,
BYLON '. STEPHENS.