Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-14
Elected for Better Thine..

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urer stuefer. one in Burt and one in Cum
ing county. by which the two counties or
the permanent school fund have been
worsted to the tune Of 5000 or 5000.
Treasurer stuefer was out in yesterdays
Journal with a denial. which is In effect
not 3. denial Of The Bees allegations. In
stead Of promptly bringing an action fd
libel against The Bee he weakly points to
his record and says he thinks Il COM
pares favorably with those of his predeces-
sorsi" One Of them is in the penitentiary
where he belongs, and his last predecessor
admits to having MIXED the permanent
school fund COW into his own bucket.
Treasurer Stuefer was elected for better
things. His bond was paid for by the state
on the promise that the state should have
every cent of interest to be made out OF
the funds in his care. The Bees article
shows conclusively that the promise is not
being kept. Interest on moneys in bank IL
not accounted for. and. worse than all,
bonds purchased by state funds are short
Of their coupons by way OF commission to
stuefer's business associate. Every decent
republican in Nebraska heartily endorses
the action OF The Bee and every decent re-
publican will Join in the demand that the
states attorney at once bring action
hBdluEN AuClGA y bOhu ~ wv ~ WV
pons shorn from the bonds purchased with
state money. The people Of Nebraska will
not stand for It and II the attorney fails to
do his duty he must answer for It. The
feeling is strong that Stuefer ought to be
impeached. The road which Joseph BARLEY
has trodden with bleeding feet and weeping
eyes is broad and easily found and he who
hampers with the trust funds Of the state OF
Nebraska should be made to walk it. The
last republican convention showed the tenn
per Of the republicans Of the state and
Joseph BARLEY is a monument TO the danger
OF tampering with 1t. The promises made
by the party must be redeemed and II any
man tries again 10 saddle onto the repub-
lican party q second edition OF the BARLEY
reproach he should be broken without
mercy. His name should be made a byword
In the land and another should take his
ONCE.
Plenty of Honest Men for Place.
Wakefield Republican: There are plenty
Of honest men in the state to look after the
state school funds without harboring one
who is liable to go wrong. A thorough in
vestigation should be made at once and IL
the treasurer is wrongly accused he should
be vindicated; II he is guilty he should
suffer the consequences.
Rather Suspicious.
Emerson Enterprise: State Treasurer
Stuefer should not be upheld in any under
handed methods Of buying bonds. The re-
publican party in Nebraska has suffered
enough from dishonest state officials. The
state treasurer Of all others should be
above suspicion. Mr.. Stuefer may not be
guilty Of doing anything dishonest In his
Burt and Cunning county bond deals. but
these transactions appear rather suspicious
at least.
Give county the BENEFIT.
Nebraska City Tribune: The point made
is this: II Mr.. Stuefer had state funds TO
invest at 81 per cent he should have let
otoe county have this $780, 900 last spring,
instead Of forcing us to pay Al, with the
state the final lepder after all, but only
getting part OF the interest we are paying.
It was not thought such a bad sale at the
time. as the best terms the county ever
secured was I per cent. some three years
ago. But we could have made 5000 by
getting some OF Mr.. Stuefer's S1S per cent
money direct.
Looks Decidedly Shady.
Ponea Journal: State Treasurer stuefer
is having an airing Just now on account OF
the fact that he is accused Of milking the
state school funds OF a few thousand plunks
in some bond purchases he made from Burt
and Cunning counties. The transaction looks
decidedly shady at this distance, Judging
by the published accounts. We might add
that Mr.. Stuefer denies the charges In toto
and claims to be able to prove his In
nocence.
Merits Condemnation.
Wayne Herald: The republican party has
Its woes in Nebraska, especially in con-
nection with the state treasurer's once
Why, the good Lord only knows. II seems
the greed Of men to make money overpow-
ers their sense Of right and in a few short
hours their integrity for which they stood
so high is wrecked almost beyond repair.
The purchase OF the Burt county bonds by
an agent OF Treasurer stuefer recently,
who afterward sold them to the state for a
premium Of 81, 200. II as given out by prom
inent citizens OF Tekamah is true. Is a
transaction that merits the severest con-
demnation. Why do men Of such excellent
reputation thus risk their all?
Pays to BE Honest.
ChappelI Register: The Omaha Bee is
after State Treasurer Stuefer with a hot
foot and Mr.. Stuefer will undoubtedly hnd
that II pays TO be honest. II he has acted
fairly in the matter OF purchasing bonds
for the permanent school fund and in the
investment and deposit Of the school money
he should have made q statement, as re-
quested by the state convention. II he
has been dishonest he had better make 6
clean breast OF 1t and make matters right
Nebrasks is safely republican and the re
publlcans Of the state are determined L
keep II SO II honesty and a proper admin
istration OF the affairs Of state will do 1t
and any one not thoroughly in accord with
this principle OF republieanism had Jus
as well Join the populist funeral procession
Not for Keeping Quiet.
o'Neil Frontier: The Bee has the fair
mess to publish Mr.. Stueier's statement
and at the same time gives dates and hg
urea In q similar transaction in CuminI
county. the home Of the state treasurer
The Bee may be a little bitter against NJ
stuefer for refusing to comply with tn
resolution its editor had inserted in tn
republican platform. but II the treasure
is milking public funds the Frontier ha
no inclination to keep quiet"
Governor Must Act.