The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-04
DOES HooH ENDORSE KELLY

DOES no Oh ENDORSE KELLY
Mr. Hoch has repeatedly stated that
he is as much against Hoch machine
as against any other machine yet, if he
endorses the sentiment of the first let
ter, printed on another page, here is a
Hoch mac line attempting to dictate the
renominati on of Tom Kelly and the
other state officers, as we'll as the defeat
of Governd Bailey.
The Hoch machine. judging from its
actions soAaly, is simply a part of the
Burton ma chine-a sort of annex to it.
Reno county, which clinched the Hoch
movement. endorsed Burton and refused
to endorse Bristow and Murdoch. The
great anxiety of the Burton machine
just now, in politics, is to keep T. T.
Kelly in the state treasury. Kelly is
one of the chief cogs in the Burton ma
chine without control Of the state
treasury the Burton people would lose
control of the interest on state deposits,
amounting TO thousands of dollars every
year, which Governor Bailey wanted to
go to the state.
Isn't it an outrage that T. T. Kelly
can personally collect interest on the
thousands Of dollars collected through
and deposited in banks?
Isn't it strange that the people will
stand this graft and this CRATER in the
state treasurer's office?
ut is the desire of Mr.. Hoch and his
friends" says this anti-machine letter.
published on another page, that the
balance of the ticket nominated two
years ago should be renominated-" And
this letter is sent into Miami county
where the issue is simply Kelly and
anti Kelly
So far as the State Journal knows
there is no decided objection to the
other state officers. but there is objec-
ton to Kelly. Leaving out the fact
that Kelly was convicted by the county
commissioners of his home county of
embezzling a large amount from the
county and that he was compelled to
pay back thousand dollars, it cannot
be denied that he defeated the bill 10
give the state the interest on state de-
posits and also the Francis amendment
allowing the state money to remain
with the counties so that the counties
might get this interest. At the lowest
estimate this interest amounts to $4,000
year, and Kelly virtually beat the
state out of that much money. In adj
! dition to that he is chiefly responsible
for the large increase in the taxes on
the farms by letting the railroads go
/ free.
! Either of these reasons ought to cause
| Kelly's defeat-without considering his
record as a forger and enbezzler. Yet
/ here is the Hoch machine, making a
! campaign on an issue of purity in poll
! ties better government and lower tax
es attempting to dictate to the voters
of Miami county that they shall elect a
delegation to the state convention
which shall endorse Kelly and his meth
DDS. Have Stubs and Hoeh no sense
Of shame?
The Leland machine had some defec-
tive points, bun it tried to defeat Kelly,
knowing his record. but the Burton
machine stood by and nominated Kelly
Hoch claims to be independent and
to have "been drafted and made a vol
unteer" Why this catering to Burton
and his close political friend, Kelly?
Unless Mr.. Hooh takes a stand for
right and honesty on this state treas
ury matter he will be regarded by
those who have trusted him before as
weak-kneed and cowardly-there is
no other term. Hoch can make for
himself a record of strength or weak
ness 1t is in his hands. Why should
he take the view of Stubbs-Burton's
successor in the Jerusalem show-if he
is so Independent and upright?
Let Mr.. Hoch go to Miami county,
but denounce Kelly, instead of endors-
ing him. This twaddle and talk by
Hoch commencing Folk of Missouri is
nauseating, unless he backs it UP by
denouncing the things and people Folk
denounces. Folk is after Burton and
such men as Kelly. Hoch's Reno ooua-
ty favored Burton. Will his county
Miami favor Kelly?
The Republicans of Kansas have seen
an honest, decent, well doing man like
Bailey step down, and will they see his
opposite, Kelly, elevated and en-
dorsed by Hoch without a protest?
This paper does not take the view
that there should be an entire new
ticket presented at Wichita, but it does
not see how Republicans can ask for
the votes of Kansas people for the en-
tire ticket with Kelly on it.
If in the face of the record of Kelly
in Miami county, which repudiated him
at the polls and of his $50, 100000 rec
ord on the board of equalization, he is
nominated next month, there will be
thousands of Republicans who will feel
like remaining at home and declining
to vote-unless the opposition put up a
man who strikes them favorably.
There are many things political hap