Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-10

York Republican: II is well known that
J. b. Meserve was a man Of very moderate
means when he went into the treasurer's
ONCE, and he is rated now, the Republican
is told. as a capitalist. The question IL,
how?
Schuyler Sun Crep.); The more the case
is investigated the more the evidence
shows that ex-State Treasurer Meserve
manipulated the interest OF that $50, 900 de-
posted in the South Omaha bank to his own
advantage. The outlook doesn't appear any
too bright for the nnancier with the long
whiskers.
Beatrice Democrat: The republican pa
pers are throwing up a whole lot Of dust
and telling how they are hter Meserve
for stealing $500, but II he should be con-
victed and the governor should extend the
usual of1cial courtesies. he would only have
TO serve In the pen four hours and twenty
seven minutes to pay the penalty at the
same ratio BARLEY did.
Butte Gazette (rep.): Bx-state Treasurer
Meserve has been indicted for swiplng In
terest on state funds that should have been
turned into the public treasury. 1t is now
in order for our populist editors to remodel
some Of their BARLEY literature so as to
ldh6 III hOnebI y. D. nut Nuty NOh I w
it. They will hold up their hands in horror
and yelp about political persecution"
Sidney Republican: The republicans do
not seem to have It all their own way In
the matter Of defaulting treasurers. Now II
is the fusion ex-state treasurer, John b.
Meserve. who has been indicted by the grand
jury Of Douglas county on the charge Of
embezzlement of money. belonging to the
State onh0Ol fund 70 ta horinninQ IN Ink
as though the state treasurer's of1ce was a
graduating or preparatory school for peni-
Tertiary birds.
Dakota City Eagle (rep.): There is one
thing certain and that is that there is a
large amount Of circumstantial evidence
against ex-State Treasurer Meserve. He
always kept on hand a large amount Of un-
invested school money during his tenure
of ONCE. The average was about $3.50, 600,
the minimum balance being $4,000. His
books fail to show a credit to the state for
interest on any Of this money. His books
do show. however, that at the end OF each
year Of his term he credited interest with
a greater or less sum Of money on state
funds.
Lincoln Post (pop.): It's unfortunate
that Mr.. Meserve is going to question Juris-.
diction in his Indictment. We say unfortu-
nate because It will probably prevent a fair
trial for the right of the state treasurer
to handle school funds as he sees At so
long as he has them on hand when re-
quired. The Post is of the opinion that
ION hand" does not mean an unsafe vault
at the state house any more than II means
the treasurer's pockets, and having that
opinion, 1t would like to see the matter set
tied that legislation may be had for the
proper care and security Of school funds.
Wayne Herald (rep.); Meserve has no
very easy job. on hand to laugh away the
charge Of embezzling state funds that was
preferred against him by the Douglas
county prosecuting attorney after the grand
jury found its true bill against the ex-state
treasurer. His friends call It a political
move. Maybe it was. However, 1t is a
matter of record that the Indictment names
three reputable witnesses who are CON
nected with 1.-THE South Omaha bank to
whom the money was loaned, and It is fair.
to presume these men regard their business
and their friends only second to their
statements under oath.
Harrington Herald (rep.): 1t is clearly
to be seen since the indictment Of Mr.. Me-
serve, populist ex-treasurer, that the re.
publican papers OF the state make up the
true reform press. Republican editors al
most to a man have repeatedly refused to
condone or palliate the crookedness of re-
publican ~oficials, but instead have de-
nounced crookedness and corruption when
ever and wherever it has shown 1t hideous
head. Fusion editors, on the other hand,
have flown to the defense OF crooked fusion
officials whatever their fault or ofense.
They defended Holcomb and Porter and
Cornell and that thrifty guy who preceded
sizer as oil inspector, and now J. B. Me-
serve is tho recipient of their boquets.