Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-08-05
A DIRTY FIGHT.

L
County Commissioners is being made
by the editors of the Register of this
city and the Leader of Ellinwood.
1t is without foundation, and without
backing except by few politicians
and a few men who have been dis
covered making false oaths to escape
taxation. The commissioners have
been making an effort to secure an
equitable assessment of all property
for purposes of taxation, and have
had the temerity to act independent
of the opinions of those who would
condone wrong and wink at perjury
for financial consideration.
Editor Clark, of the Register,
makes his attacks on the commission
ers, first for purely political effect,
and second, for the purpose of injur-
ing this paper business by
preventing if possible our collec
ton of $50 for publishing the per-
sonal property statements. He is
seconded in these efforts by puerile:
pussy, punch-bag who bobs about on
a swivel of alleged political indepen-
'dence at the beck and call of few
ultra politicians who want to CONTROL
republican politics in Barton county.
The description makes it unnecessary
for US to name him. He is simply an
echo of nothing, repeater of vapor-
ings. and is so considered by most of
his readers.
The Register makes, and the
Leader echoes, three "charges'
against the commissioners, and asks,
.Who will defend?" A man is walk
ing along the street attending to his
business, and a measly cur-or
brace of them-come barking at his
heels. He does not need any defense
he is in no danger of harm from the
attacking ours. Their noise is an
annoyance, it is true; but if he or his
friends should kick them into next
week, the howl would be louder and
the racket greater. So, what we
shall say concerning "charges"
against the commissioners is not said
in defense, for they need no defense
for doing right.
AS to 'charge l." The commits
sioners compromised bad debt, to
the best interests of the county, as
every fair minded man who has post
ed himself on the facts in the case
knows.
AS to "charge q" They did that
which they believed would
add thousands of dollars
to to the personal property valuations
in the county, and which the returns
of the township assessors show HAS
added upwards of $4,000 to the
personal property returned, at an
of $3.50, the payment of
which Clark has enjoined. And the
commissioners went no farther out of
the provisions of the law to do this
than did the board at the time D. J.
Newton was hired to get after the tax
dodgers, when Mr.. Dick of Ellinwood
(who has been often quoted by
Cooke) was chairman of the board.
"Charge 81 is a garbled and very
untruthful statement of the alleged
action of the board concerning the
county repositories. It tells only
part of the matter, and attempts to
reflect on the honesty of the board of
commissioners, and to make it appear
that they are not acting for the best
interests of the people. In making
the three Great Bend banks the Off
cial repositories of county funds the
board is following the example of
former boards, with the exception of
one year; and that year proved even
to the board then in CONTROL, that the
safer and more satisfactory plan to
the people was that now pursued.
The commissioners need no ode
tense" or defenders" If. by chance,
this article has administered kick
where it is deserved the readers of
the Register and its Ellinwood echo
will hear the resultant howl