The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-29
ENDORSES FRAUD.
Garden City Imprint Calls Down
Republican Papers.
What Keeping Up Tom Kelly's
Name Means.
PEOPLE LIKE HONESTY
Majority of Voters Will Not
Stand for Fraud.
w. NJ. Glenn Wants Things
Cleared Up.

Cleared Up.
Is it right for a Republican editor
who believes that Thomas Il. Kelly de-
frauded Miami county out of 1,324 80
while he was county clerk of that coun-
ty, to carry Mr. Kelly's name at the
head of his editorial column and thus
give him moral support, even if he says
nothing in Kelly's defense?
The Garden City Imprint, which re-
Gently took down Mr.. Kelly's name.
says it is not right. Yet there are
many Republican editors who are fully
satisfied that Mr.. Kelly has done all
that he is charged with doing by the
county commissioners of Miami coun-
ty, who are continuing to support
man who makes no defense against the
charge that he is a defaulter-who, in
fact. admits the defalcation by paying
back the shortage when caught.
The Imprint in speaking of the matter
says:
THE question of carrying the name
of T. L. Kelly is up to every Republl-
can paper in the state. While we real
ize that to some, extent he handlcaps
the entire ticket, the. paper that carries
his name endorses fraud. The majority
of voters, irrespective of party, will
not stand for fraud
for the reason that it was suggested to
us that there might be, as promised,
some refutation or explanation that
would place this matter in q different
light. Up to the time of going to press
We find ourselves still waiting. Should
it come we will gladly give it space
Yes, and if the defense is good, we Will
So admit. and use our endeavOr to give
1t publicity.
I'm the leading papers, such as the
Wichita Eagle, Topeka Capital, Leav-
enworth Times, and others, who gem
orally have very decided views, and
usually have something to say on ques-
tions affecting, as this does, the integ-
rity of the party, and to some extent
the general success of the ticket there
is nothing being said on 1.-THE subject.
Are these papers going to swallow Kel-
ly?"
W. NJ Glenn. editor of the Greeley
Tribune, who was candidate for the
Republican nomination for lieutenant
governor and is one of the leading Re-
publicans in the Seventh district. makes
Kelly:
1T. t. Kelly, the Republican candi
date for state treasurer, has paid to Mi
ami county the balance due of the 81, 300
deficiency the con missioners found to
be due the county while he was county
clerk. We must confess we do not like
the looks of this matter. He insists
that he does not owe a cent, yet he
makes this voluntary payment of sew
eral hundred dollars. He owes it to the
party to make a satisfactory explana-
tion of this matter and to prosecute
his accusers for criminal libel. Assur
anceS We're given at the state conven-
ton that this would be done, but up to
date there has been absolute silence
There is an Independent candidate
for congress up in the Fifth district.
His name is John Gerhard Peekin and
he lives near Concordia- He has just
written to Secretary of State Clark ask
ing how to proceed to get his name on
the official ballot His letter is written
with lead pencil on both sides of half
sheet of note paper and runs as fol-
lows:
"Concordia, Kan, July 26, 1902
Hon Secretary of State, Topeka, Kan:
Dear Sir-I am one of the oldest
timers in the Fifth congressional dis
: trfct, and am by many considered the
r right man for congress from this dis
trict. l am not now political party
list and an making the race before all
the people. What is necessary for me
to do and what will it cost to have my
name on the official ballot in your un-
defstandfng of the law. Please write
me soon to Concordia, Kansas and
oblfge, Yours truly,
JOHN GERHARD PEEKIN.''
Assistant Secretary Wilson mailed
Mr.. Peekin a copy of the Australian
ballot law for him to figure out the
process for himself. With the aid of an
attorney he will probably discover that
he. must have petition signed by 3
<per cent of all the voters in the Fifth
sdistrict to enable him to get the
ballot as an independent candida te.
This will mean something more than
1000 signatures
Hereafter distinction will have to be
made between the Populist party and
. the Peoples party inasmuch as con-
vention of the Populist party has been
called to meet in Topeka on August 21.
James Lathrop, who signed the call for
the Populist state conven tion, announces
that he will ask all who subscribe to
the Populist doctrine to hold county
conventions on Saturday, August 16.
and effect a county orga aniZation and
also arrange for representation at the
state convention the following week.
AS the state convention will be a mass
convention each county will have what
ever representation 1t chooses to send.
Mr.. Lathrop is convinced that his
movement will meet with success.
A kiowa county candidate issues
something novel in the way of an an
nouncement which is extremely refresh
ling after the stereotyped explanations
which generally run. AT the earnest
solicitation of many friends John
Jones announces himself as a candi-
date" etc. The Kfowa county man an
nounces himself as follows:
In announcing myself as a candidate
Tor register of deeds for Kiowa county,
subject to the decision of the Reoubli-
can county convention in September /
do not do it at the earnest request of a
large number of my friends. nor has
there been delegation of the most
prominent citizens of the county waited
on me. and drank my whisky and
smoked my cigars and urgently re-
uuested me to allow my name to come
before the convention as a candidate
believing that / was the only man who
could be eleeted-none of this has hap
pened- have worked it up myself. In
fact, it is self-made BOOM get
ting a little too old to farm and a little
too ambitious to be thrown in the waste
basket, and would like a couple ofyears