The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1902-01-31
LET'S HAVE THE TRUTH.

LET'S HAVE THE TRUTH.
We give below an article which
appeared in the Bethany Democrat
and was copied by the New Flor
cncc Leader. purportcd to be from
John II. Kirk. Following the arti-
Gle we publish n letter received
from Prof. Kirk by Geo. w.
Millikan, of Big Spring which
speaks for ITSELF In regard to the
article.
State School Fund.
The following is the text OF an
interview with President John X.
Kirk OF the Kirksvillc Normal
School. Prof Kirk IL n lifc-long
Republican. lie served four years
as State Superintendent of Public
Schools-from '9j to 30. lie has
accurate Official knowledge of the
matter he discusses and speaks by
the card This interview with u
Republican cx-Statc olicial ap-
pcarcd in the Bethany Democrat: -
New Florence Leader.
Prof. Kirk said: al am perfectly
disgustcd with the course OF tho
Globe Democrat In reference to
the school fund. II knows better
and Is misleading the people and
some country newspapers. The
facts are, that after the war the
State School fund was invested In
United States bonds. and M they
were maturing or likely to bc call
cd In at any time, there could be
no permanent investment Of the
school funds In government bonds,
arrangements were made upon
good terms by which the school
funds were invested IN our State
bonds. II these bonds had been
held by bankers or bondholdcrs
the State would have paid the
scmi-annunl interest ON them, but
after the bonds were held by the
State the interest was paid To the
school fund for the support Of the
schools. One thousand bonds Of
81. 900 each would amount To ST.
000, 900. and each bond had from
ten To forty coupons attached.
The care of these bonds was at-
tended with considerable trouble
aud attention. and they had To he
counted occasionly and particu-
larry when there was change of
State Treasurer, besides the
danger Of their being lost or stolen.
So the Legislature wisely provided
that these bonds and all coupons
should be cancelled and pasted in
books for reference and permanent
preservation, and that one bond
or certificate should be issued
providing for the same principal
and interest and turned over for
the permanent use of the school
fund OF the State. do not think
there was dollar lost To the
school fund in the change OF form,
and the matter Is left in n safer
and much more convenient and
business like condition.-Bethnny
Democrat.
State Normal School,
Kirksvillc, Missouri.
January %, 1902
GEO. w. MLLIKAN.
Big Spring, Mo.
DEAR SIR; You send an nrticl,
quoted from the Bethany Democrat
purporting to be what said abou
the school fund. To that nrti cl,
! replied through g Globe Demo-
crat and the Rcpu lie as follows;
"As to the quo ed article, fully
nine tcnths of 1t came from som,
other man and not from me.
said nothing at 'dtioning or i'm
pugning the mot vc OF the Globe
Democrat. IcxI essed no opinion
as to the legal or constitutions
aspect Of the controversy. I salt
privately to friend at Bcthan,
six months ago that ! did not thinl
the State had lost any part OF tn,
school moneys or the schools an.
OF the interest by changing tn
form OF the funds from bonds t.
certificates OF indebtedness"
, You may make any use of thi
letter you please.
Very truly yours,
JOHN II. KIRK.
; The w. c. +. u. will meet wit
} Mrs. Mollie johnson next Monday