The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-24
A WORD WITH MIR. DAYHoFF.

of state superintendent of public in
lstruction, has made public announce
ment that he intends to sue the State
journal for 100000.
This statement in itself is not par
lticularly interesting, because it is an
IoId story. Public officers who object
to having their official acts aired often
threaten to sue the State Journal
The only surprise is that Mr.. Dayhof
is so modest in his demands.
Mr.. Dayhoff probably forgets that he
is a public servant and not a car. He
does not possess the power to behead
people or even to keep the records
of his public acts from the public. He
says that the State Journal can not
inspect the records of his office, but
for the information of the readers of
the State Journal and Mr.. Dayhoff it
may stated that when the State
Journal desires to inspect the records
of the official acts of the mighty state
superintendent of public instruction it
will do so. and the people will be
given the benefit of its Investigations
But why should Mr.. Dayhoff keep
his records from the State Journal
readers? What is there in his books
that will not bear the strong light of
day? AS a paid servant of the state
what has Mr.. Dayhoff done that should
impel him to lock his records in air
tight vaults. This very act places Mr..
Dayhoff in a peculiar position before
the public. The people of Kansas who
pay Mr.. Dayhoff's salary have a right
to know what he is doing and the State
Journal feels under obligation to let
them know. Consequently when it is
necessary to drag the records of his
1rfc of hair ma
clusion it will do so in spite of Mr..
Dayhoff's protests.
The state superintendent says he is
not a boodler. The people will I'M
doubleday be glad to hear this though
1t is not recalled that the State Journal
ever charged him with being a bOodler;
but since he has rushed into the
breach and denied it. his denial must
be given all the credence which it
deserves. He also says that he does not |
intend to be abused by the State Jour |
nal. He has not been abused by the |
State Journal. His official acts have |
been criticised and so long as he is /
a public officer this newspaper will |
reserve the right to discuss his actions |
SO far as they affect the state at /
large If the State Journal believes
that he has been false to the trust i'm /
posed in him by the voters it will not |
hesitate to say so. That is it's mission
as a newspaper. The people have the
right to know what their public SER
wants are doing and the State Journal
intends to tell them just as it has done
throughout its long and successful
career.
The thing that is troubling Mr.. Day
hon right now is a certain bond deal
by which Mr.. Dayhoff as a member
of the state school fund commission
helped purchase $4,000 of bonds
with state money. The State Journal
believed that the acts of the commits
sion were not in accord with the best
interests of the state and did not hest
tate to say so.
Mr.. Dayhoff undoubtedly knew that
the market price of the bonds was not
over rs cents on the dollar. They were
bought at par
Mr. Dayhoff must have known that
the bonds were offered to the state
drawing six per cent interest only a
few days before they were purchased
at four and a half per cent. Net loss
to state S32, 900.
Mr.. Dayhoff must have known that
the valuation of Comanche county was
raised so that it would legalize the pur-
chase of the bonds by the state
Mr.. Dayhoff must have known that it
was necessary to break a long estab-
ished rule and take the assessment as
liked by the state board and not that | i
returned by the county commissioners
II Comanche county in determining the !
light of the school fund commissioners
20 buy the bonds.
Mr.. Dayhoff must have known that !
he school fund already held many Co
nanche county bonds upon which the {
interest was long in default
1t is possible of course that Mr. Day. !
1off did not know these things but If
ne did not he should inform himself
because the state pays him to keep in
formed.
The State Journal is very sorry that
Mr.. Dayhoff's feelings have been LAGER 7
ated. 1t is panied if they have been
lurt even $4,000 worth but with his G
permission his claim will not be paid '
OdaV-