The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-29
THOSE LIBEL SUITS.

The three state officers who bought
$123.00O worth of Comanche county
bonds have brought suit for libel
against the proprietor of the State
Journal for $4,000 each or a total of
$4,000. Mr.. Dayhoff announced
originally that he intended to sue for
$4,000, but for some reason his
lacerated feelings have been healed
5000 worth.
The proprietor of the State Journal
is not at home and has not been for
several weeks. but he will no doubt be
frightened half to death when he
hears of these libel suits. The read
ers of this paper know from past ex-
perfences that he is easily frightened
by public officials who do not like to
have their public acts aired. but new
ertheIess he feels that as proprietor
of the largest newspaper published in
Kansas he owes a duty to the public,
which is to publish the news without
fear or favor.
If the State Journal had been less a
newspaper the Comanche county bond
deal might never have been known to
the public. If the reporters of the
State Journal had been less wide
awake or enterprising the state Off
GERS might have been successful in
suppressing the fact of the investment
of S123,O0O of the states money in
Comanche county bonds.
If the State Journal had not taken
the trouble to investigate the public
might never have known that the
state school fund commissioners pur-
chased bonds bearing four and half
per cent interest when the same bonds
Of
fered bearing six per cent interest.
Had it not been for the enterprise
of this paper the people might never !
have known that the assessment of
Comanche county was raised at the
request of the broker who sold the
bonds so that the deal might be
legalized.
The fact that the school fund al
ready holds bonds of Comanche coun-
ty upon which the interest is in de-
fault might also have been kept from
the taxpayers of Kansas.
These are a few of the things that
the State Journal HAY printed for the
benefit of its readers and it is very
sorry that in so doing it has been ne
cessary to offend three members of
the state school fund commission.
The officers who have had this libel
suit commenced know very well that 1t
be tried before the election.
The men who do the voting are the
ones in whom the interest of the
members of the state school fund
centers just now. They
must understand that these three men
have been greatly outraged for if they
DO not they may vote for other candi-
dates and that might cause trouble.
The State Journal may find a way
TO give the people all The facts con-
this particular bond deal in
an official manner and if it can do
his the readers may rest assured that
t will do so before election.
This libel suit does not alter the
,acts.
The action against the proprietor of
his paper will not change it's policy
With reference to publishing the
news. ;
The State Journal VIII continue to
criticize public officials when it feels
hat they have been remiss in their
iuty to the people.
Partisan bias will never influence this
PAPER in the publication of the news.
rhe people are entitled to the facts and
hey will get them through the State
Journal just as they have in the past.
If Mr.. Coleman and Mr.. Burrow and
dr. Dayhoff can get any satisfaction
tut of their suit for $45, 900 they are en-
tiled to it. This paper would not take
rom them any enjoyment they can de-
i've from the situation. Meanwhile If
-ou want all the news read the State
Journal.