The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17
THOSE LIBEL SUITS.


concerned and with the hope that the
newspapers into further ungainly
spasms of disappointment and disap-
prova1 of the State Journals vigorous
exposure of the Comanche county dis
graceful bond deal and over the selec-
ton of attorneys, it may be stated that
the editor of this paper is not placing
obstacles in the way of the prompt
prosecution of the suit, although the
dangled in court before the greedy
eyes of Burrow and Dayhoff quite so
soon as day after tomorrow.
Election day is still fifty-two days
off. The world can be circled in forty.
The editor of this paper is both serene
and confident. He has noted no general
effort to advance the case on the part
of the attorneys and newspapers VINO
defend the nefarious traffic in the
sacred school fund through odoriferous
Comanche county securities.
The court has not been advised that
Messrs Dayhoff or Burrow are ready
for trial whenever the defense may be.
There is nothing but t3lk-nothing be-
fore the bar or bench to show that the
school fund commission is actually
craving for legal proof before election.
On the contrary, we are thirsting for
the gore of the unfaithful official of
whatever politics, and in ample season
for the voters purpose-although this
is no political move on the part of this
paper to get speedy justice unless those
who are prosecuting and should push
the case, prevent an opportunity to pre-
sent testimony.
The commissioners all this time are
hanging on to past due bonds and in
creaSing their store of securities from
the same delinquent and debt burdened
county. We are defending this papers
course confident in the worthiness of
the action. The State Journal deems it
a public duty to expose official negIi-
gence. Our attorneys, Bale Wag-
gener of Atchison and Topeka, w. P.
Hackney of Winfield, j. G. Waters of
Topeka, and last but not less the State
Journal, the biggest, best, fearless and
Independent newspaper in Kansas will
do their best to this end. 1t is a source
of deep regret that more lawyers could
not be engaged.
The Comanche county end of the
case has three, we have three. There
has been an actual embarrassment in
the way of tenders of legal talent
which is itching to get into the defense
in this suit. Disappointment could
thus only be offered to some of the
states and Topeka IS most eminent bar
Thanks are here extended for num-
berless kind newspaper and individual
notices and even for defense money
sent and returned. The reader will
bear in mind that the State journal has
charged and will prove, by sworn tes-
timony if given chance, the follow
ing: ,sn
That the state school fund commits
sioners purchased $123.00 of Comanche
county bonds bearing Az per cent in
terest, when the same investment had
been offered them bearing 6 per cent. Il
That the bonds were of doubtful val
ue as an investment and were purchas- |
ed at more than their market value by |
the commissioners, which is expressly |
prohibited by law.
That the assessed valuation of Co
nanche county returned by the county !
clerk would not allow the bonds to be
purchased by the commission, because
he Indebtedness of the county was far
n excess of fifteen per cent of the val |
lation, and that the valuation was
therefore, largely increased by State
Treasurer Kelly and Secretary of State
3urrow, of the state board of equaliz-
Ltion to an amount that would Just
ct the bonds in.
That Attorney General Coleman ov-
former precedents by hold
ng that the bonds could be purchased
IN the valuation fixed by the state
BOARD instead of that returned by the
county clerk.
That the records which would show
he purchase of the bonds were kept
rom the State Journal.
That the bonds were registered out
# business hours.
That Comanche county securities al
eady held by the state school fund
we're past due and unpaid. {