Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-14
CANDIDACY on WILLIAM srUEFER.

NAAHDAbatA VI NJ ~
The practice Of depositins public funds
on private account and the loaning OF public
funds for private gain is a hagrant viola
tion OF public trust. AS a matter Of public
safety we demand that the state treasurer
and every county, city. village and school
district treasurer shall keep the taxpayers
fully informed concerning the condition
and disposition Of the moneys entrusted to
his safekeeping by the publication Of
monthly financial statements showing the
amount Of money on hand. the name Of
each bank in which 1t is deposited, with
the amounts on deposit in each.
This declaration embodied in the re-
publican state platform Of 1901 was
adopted without a dissenting vote and
is In the nature of a pledge to be full
filled by every republican custodian of
public funds from the state treasurer
down to the treasurer Of a school dis
trict. The principle enunclated does not
merely pledge republican treasurers to
abstain from depositing or loaning pub
lie funds for private gain, but also obll-
gates them to refrain from employing
public funds for speculative purposes
for the benefit either Of themselves or
anyone else.
1t is a matter of notoriety that State
Treasurer Stuefer has not only failed to
comply with the demands of the repub-
lican platform so far as it relates to
publicity of financial exhibits of all the
public moneys in his keeping, but has
been charged with using public school
funds in speculative bond purchases.
This charge has never been refuted or
satisfactorily explained away. The
most charitable construction of the bond
deals engineered through middlemen is
that all the profits derived from these
questionable transactions were absorbed
by the favored middlemen. The fact
that the Burt county bonds were paid
for with a check drawn by the state
treasurer on a national bank in which
school money was deposited contrary to
law stands uncontroverted and unde-
niable.
That State Treasurer Stuefer recog-
nized the grave mistake, to use a mild
term, made by him in the policy he had
pursued was attested by public an
nouncement that he would not be a
candidate for reelection. To that
declaration he doubtless would have adj
hered had 1t not been for the Meserve
decision and promises held out by cor
poration representatives that they would
insure his denomination If he would
stand by the railroads in the assessment
board.
Without undertaking the influence
which corporations exert in state con-
ventions of all parties in Nebraska, The
Bee deems it its duty to advise Mr..
Stuefer not to press his candidacy for
denomination. The corporations might
perhaps redeem their pledge TO force his
denomination, but they cannot guarantee
his election. Public sentiment in Ne
braska is as firmly set against treasury
manipulations as it is against treasury
embellishments. Governor Savage has
shown wisdom in gracefully bowling to
that uncrowned monarch, public
opinion, and Treasurer Stuefer would
do well to emulate his example for his
own sake as we'll as that of the party.
1t is impossible, furthermore, for the re-
publican press and republican leaders
who have denounced the state treasury
bond deals to recant or expunge their
public declarations.
Lest we forget what has been said and
cannot be unsaid, The Bee reprints else
where some Of the comment passed
upon Mr.. Stuefer less than ten months
ago. We are impelled to do this in the
interest Of republican success in the
coming campaign and with no personal
animosity toward Mr.. Stuefer. His
candidacy at this time Is unfortunate
and his nomination would not only en-
barrass the party, but jeopardize the
success of his associates on the ticket.