The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-25
DAYHoTF AND THE BOND DEAL.


Mr.. I. L. Dayhof's proposed libel
| suit against the State Journal for tell
ing the story of the purchase of $123.-
900 of Comanche county bonds by the
state school fund commissioners has at
tracted more attention throughout the
state than it deserves. The purchase of
the bonds is really the thing to be no
tfced and Mr.. Dayhoff's threat is of
comparatively little importance though
he might do the voters of the state a
service by filing suit and agreeing
that it shall be tried before the state
election.
This is what Henry Allen says in his
Ottawa Herald:
mr.. Dayhoff, the state superintend-
ent, and a member of the school fund
commission, says he will sue the Tope-
ka State Journal for $4,000 for pub
fishing the facts about the Comanche
county bond deal, and insinuating that
it was bad deal for the state. We
prophesy that Mr.. Dayhoff will not
prosecute this suit. Mr.. Dayhoff is no
fool. He knows that the Comanche
county bond deal is fndefensible. He
knows that there is no legitimate ex-
cuse for the state school fund com.
mission to buy speculative bonds. A
bond broker might be excused for
specializing in such securities as Co
manche county bonds, because he is in
the business. These firms can plunge
and take chances. Nothing but gilt
edged securities should be bought with
the school money. Mr.. Dayhoff is the
principal guardian of this fund. As
state superintendent of schools, it is
his sacred duty to protect it. Has he
done his duty by this fund, when he
helps to log-ron through a deal to haz-
ard $4,000 on the securities of a coun-
ty which doesn't pay it's debts? Mr..
Dayhoff knows that mistakes have been
made in the past. He knows that there |
have been thousands of dollars spent
for western Kansas bonds, which lie in
the treasury today practically worth |
less He had ample light to guide his
footsteps. Instead he went into part
nership with a bond broker. Mr.. Day.
hoff has no grievance against the news |
papers. He is public officer. His acts |
are public acts and concern the rights |
of the tax payers. He can not blind |
these tax payers by any childish ex-
plosions Of wrath, or juvenile attempts
at injured dignity. It's up to this gem
tleman to explain
William Allen White also gives Mr. |
Dayhoff's threat editorial attention in the |
following: State Superintendent Day.
hon proposes to sue the Topeka State |
Journal for libel for saying that Dayhoff |
conSp1red to defraud the state in the sale |
of Comanche county bonds. That is ex-
actly the way to get at the truth of the |
matter. Doubtless the Journal will be |
willing to go to trial at once; and certain
ly Mr.. Dayhoff would be the gamer by the
speedy presentation of the facts, and by
all means before they vote the people |
should know the truth of the charges
against the state officers. If what the
Journal charges is true, if these men did |
connive to swindle the people of Kansas,
not a man connected with the deal should |
be elected And if on the other hand the
Journal has been manufacturing news to
injure these men before the peopIe-it can
not be too strongly condemned nor too
severely punished. No party obligations
bind man to vote for a swindler, and be-
ing charged with swindlng no honest
man will lose a moments time in clearing
himself of the charge. Until the facts are
presented the people will do well to sns-
pend judgment"
The Leavenworth Times says:
Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton Dayhoff is hot because of an ar
ticle recently published in the Topeka
State Journal relative to the Comanche
county school bond deal. He shows it
by declaring that he is going to sue the
Journal. Dayhom is a bad actor He
proves that not only i'm the above in
stance but by the further declaration
that he will allow representatives of the
Topeka Herald, the Topeka Capital and
the Kansas City Journal to examine the
books of his Office, but will deny the
Topeka Journal this privilege.
Where the superintendent of public
instruction is making a mistake is in
not inviting anyone who may choose,
his enemies included. to examine his
books and to defy them to find anything
questionable or irregular about the adj
of the duties of his Of
flee.
"Dayhoff's attitude will lead to sus-
picion. Why should he refuse to show
his books to the only newspaper in To-
peka which viii publish news of the
scandals of the state officers, the only
paper which has the nerve to do it, and
still permit those papers which have
not the courage to say anything or to
do anything to examine them?
IF Dayhoff has been taking liberties,
then his course is natural. If he has
not, then his judgment failed him.