The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-04

If fOrgeries were committed the micro
scope will show it Kelly's offer to stand
trial doesn't avail What he should do
is to show with the microscope how the
forgeries were made and arrest the forg-
ers. When candidate on the Repub-
lican ticket is called thief and the
alleged evidences of his stealing are
specifically set forth. that candidate
to do something more than to make
faces at his accusers, and call them hOr-
rid things. When a man alters a county
record as Kelly's accusers seem to have
done, Kelly should be a man and go
after them with all the wrath of an
honest man. This is no time to put his
thumb to his nose and wiggle his fng
ers. 1t is the time for Kelly to poke a
rev heads toward the penitentiary.
Atchison Globe: Thomas T. Kelly,
nominated by the Republicans
for state treasurer. recently devoted a
great deal of newspaper space to an
attempt to clear himself of the charge
of embezzlement while clerk of Miami
county. His story sounded plausible,
but it was Kelly's word against the
county, who repudiated the nomination
and who now tell their side of the
story Kelly duplicated warrants and
raised vouchers, and made 1900 by it.
The fraud was not discovered at the
end of his first term. Because of the
belief that the man was honest. no
thorough investigation was made at
that time. When accused of the short
age, Kelly paid it back, which is re-
garded as an admission of theft. Kelly
claims that there is a. prejudice against
him; naturally there. would be. There is
always prejudice against a careless or
dishonest man. The Republicans who
put Kelly on the state ticket owe an
apology to the state. There are too
many good and honest men in Kansas
to make it necessary to nominate
man whose word and integrity are in
doubt. There was no excuse for noni-
mating Kelly. He refuses to leave the
ticket, and should be defeated, as
warning to future Republican conven-
tions.
Wilson County Citizen: In response
to the demand which threatened to be-
come a clamor- T. T. Kelly. candidate
for state treasurer, has had published
two or three column statement in re-
lation to the charges filed against him
by the commissioners of Miami county,
and the payment of 81, 300 into the
treasury of that county in restitution
of funds Illegally realized while county
clerk, as set forth by the boards find
ings. We have not time to comment
on it this week nor to print it in full
but will try to give the substance of it
has been practically extorted weakens
it. But there will be a complete presen-
tation of the whole matter in time for
each voter to determine for himself as
to the truth or falsity of all a1lega-
tions touching Mr.. Kelly's official rec
ord in Miami county. Mr.. K. concludes
by saying he will not withdraw as a
candidate for state treasurer.
Stockton Record: The Record took
down the name of T. T. Kelly several
weeks ago, without. saying anything
about it. but the omission was noticed
very quickly by several of our ex-
changes. Since then large number of
Republican papers in Kansas have
dropped Kelly's name, giving the re1-
sons therefor: that Kelly has made no
explanation whatever of the apparent
defalcations perpetra ted ~byS- him while
clerk of Miami county; that he has paid
back the amount of the shortage will,
which he is charged, thereby in a way
acknowledging his guilt; that his own
county has almost unanimously gone
back on him: and that all the evidence
of experts and the board of commits
sioners goes to show that he deliberately
falsified records. raised drafts and du-
plicated warrants Very few of our peo-
pie want to see dishonest officials elect
ed, if they are their party nominees,
hence the action of certain newspaper
men in demanding the withdrawal of
Kelly from the ticket and refusing to
support him in the election The move
ment is likely to become general with
the Republican press before long. As
the papers reflect pretty accurately pub
lie opinion, the committee will very soon
be compelled to accede to the universal
demand for Kelly's withdrawal from the
ticket T. T. Kelly the Repub-
lican nominee for state treasurer, has
made his explanation of the apparent
defalcations with which he is charged,
but it doesn't seem specific enough for
us. He of course enters an emphatic
denial of having ever received money
unlawfully from Miami county, and
offers to test the matter in a court trial.
This should have been done at the start
His best point is that the county treas
urer and the chairman of the board OF
trustees who were in office at the time
he was county clerk are involved a.
deeply as he in the Irregularities Kelly