Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-09-09
THAT SCHOOL BOND DEAL.

l1Al SCnUUL bUND IDEAL.
The Topeka State Journals expose of the
Comancehe county school bond deal, in which
some of the state officers have, evidently, re.
ceived a rake-of of several thousand dollars,
has caused Secretary-of-State Burrows, State
Superintendent Dayhof and Attorney-General
Coleman, the state school fund commissioners,
to put up big bluff by filing libel suit
against the State Journal for $4,000. OF
course, those gentlemen deny the statements
made by the State Journal, but the editor and
publisher, Frank MacLennan, says he is ready
to prove its statements. He says: "We will
show that the state board Of equalization raised
the assessed value of Comanche county proper
ty over $500, 900 above the county clerks re-
port for 1904. 1t will show that Comanche
county was not within the legal limits entitled
to borrow from the school fund-until the state
officers themselves raised the assessment of the
county board. 1t will also show that not only
the same people who Fought the bonds made
this Increased assessment themselves, but the
legality of the matter was passed upon by the
attorney general, for his own action as one of
the purchasers for the state; that the broker
who sold the bonds did so on an understanding
to make from $4,000 to $4,000 on the deal;
and other things will be shown in court that
will astonish the public.
"The State Journal is ready for prompt trial.
eff the good people OF this state, in the ma
ority, will vote on the evidence we will pre-.
sent, it given the opportunity before election,
or have already presented in these columns,
they will defeat the members Of the state school
fund commission who are candidates for re-
election, because they have been unfaithful to
the trust imposed or them, and they will de-
feat State Treasurer Kelly who has been
shown up in these columns, and whose bad
record has been established
The State Journal continues at length to
show up the men who have robbed the states
school fund, and dares them to proceed against
that paper. Will they take the dare?
The AG1TAToR has criticized the action Of
the recent Populist and Democratic state con.
ventions, and we have no apologies to make
nothing to take back At no time, however
have we had anything to say against the per-
sonnet of the ticket. The candidates are all
clean men-inen of high character, against
whom no suspicion rests. Our criticism was
directed against the men who manipulated the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES certain Populist leader:
who repudiated their promises made at the frs
convention, in May-against the endorsement
of Parker by the Democratic convention. Yet
we much prefer 10 support the ticket named al
Topeka, by the Populists and Democrats, tt
the one nominated at Wichita, by the Repub
licans, part of which consists of State Treas
urer Kelly and the members Of the state schoo
fund commission who worked the Comanch'
county school bond graft. AS we have stated
the men composing the opposition" tickle
(cail it what you willy are clean men, and, per
sonally, are worthy of the support of every
honest voter in the state. The men of Kansas
regardless of party, should discourage sucf
acts as are charged by the State Journal by de-
feating the participants, and their aiders ant
abettors. We believe that in order to rebuk'
these men, the only way is to defeat them a
the polls For this reason, we shall supper
the state ticket headed by Judge Dale.