The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-10
MARLBOROUGH. $4,000.

tics and party welfare above the good
of the state and of the public, and a
few party organs who rush regardless
to the defense of party men because
they happen to be on the party ticket,
are becoming greatly excited that this
paper does not set day after tomorrow
for the trial of the biggest libel suits
that have ever been instituted in
Kansas.
1t should be borne in mind that
| unfortunately the purchase of these
Comanche county bonds by the state
/ school fund commission was delayed
until a recent date. Had the commits
sioners accepted the offers they had
on these bonds in March last. or had
the bonds been refunded and the deal
consummated earlier in the summer,
It would have been an easy legal mat
ter to have tried the cases about this
time.
1t should be borne in mind that the
school fund commissioners who claim
to be in such a hurry now, have been
very dilatory up to a recent day. 1t
was long time before the commission
got these bonds as it wanted them and
after the purchase there was so much
night work and so many successful eff
forts to conceal the transaction that it
was some time after the purchase be-
fore even the State journal learned Oft,
with all it's shrewd reporters and care
full staff, gathering the news each day
with a fine tooth-rake. this little trans
action of the state involving $123,000 a
new investment in securities with q
county which was already in default
with a large number of its school dis
49,
Few papers are annoyed or compli-
mented with suits demanding so much
as these state officers would like to
have handed over to them next Tuesday
or Wednesday.
Think what they ask! $4,000 in
cash. testimonial that they have
performed their duties well in the
Comanche county transaction, and a
certificate of election. all from this
paper
OF what other papers in this great
state of Kansas would so much be
asked? 1t is not every daily paper
here that could pay out $4,000 in cold
cash. and still continue to do business.
The State Journal is grateful to Mr..
Dayhoff that he has already knocked
off $1,000 from his first claim. This
is making money pretty fast. A penny
saved is a penny earned. If Mr.. Day
hofr would like any further apologies
along the lines which we have made
since he filed his suit perhaps he can
cut down the amount a little more.
Every thousand counts with great
newspaper of large expense bills to
meet, not mentioning little incidentals
like libel suit now and then.
The public will kindly be patient
and bear in mind that it has been less
than a week since the editor of this
paper was served with the papers in
this suit; that he was at first given
until the 29th day of September to
make answer in the case; that in a
suit involving this amount of money
he felt it necessary to engage a law
yer; he regards the case as a good
one and was anxious to have a good |
lawyer interested. The better the case
the better the lawyer. After careful !
though prompt elaboration, this paper |
yesterday engaged Bale Waggener, a |
lawyer who commands the respect of |
the bar and the public of Kansas, to
represent the State Journal in these |
suits.
The State Journal is throwing no |
impediments in the way of a prompt |
trial. The most serious obstacles nave |
been placed in the pathway of justice |
by the school fund commissioners them
selves, in delaying their purchase and |
in filing a suit which they knew could |
not come up, except by extraordinary |
before January next We |
can do extraordinary things some times |
and we think this may be one of the |
things and one of the times.
The State Journal will endeavor to |
push matters along, although it is made |
a defendant for this dear $45, 900, which |
it would really like to keep in bank
till after election. This paper believes
it can promise its readers the le-
gal evidence, which the plaintiffs say
they are yearning for, in ample sea-
son for every voter to have before |
him long before he enters the booth |
on November 8. Meanwhile, the COM
missioners have not yet explained |
their own statement reciting the de-
faulted Comanche county securities
they hold at this minute, and have
held this entire year. Will they wait |
for a courts vindication on everything
and have they rested their real case
to ask the court to wash away all
their sins?
We would hate to see any of our good
$4,000 go into Tom Kelly's or Dayhoff's.
or even Joe Burrows campaign fund,
but such are the chances in running a
live newspaper in live community.
II We should not have all the $4,000
ready can we get it anywhere for Az
per cent or will have to pay and an
$4,000 bonus?
TOPEKA THE BEAUTIFUL.