The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-17
MR.. KELLY's CHALLENGE.

MR.. KELLY9S CHALLENGE.
Mr.. Thomas r.. Kelly has issued an
invitation to Frank P. M~acLennan, edi-
tor and proprietor of the State Journal,
to enter the race for the nomination as
state treasurer of Kansas.
MI. MacLeRnan is in New York and
so can not himself answer Mr.. Kelly's
communication but the writer is suf-
fciently familiar with Mr.. MacLen-
mans views to speak for him.
Mr.. Kelly evidently nisunderstands
Mr.. MacLennan, whose only aim is to
give the people of Kansas a clean, in
dependent newspaper which stands for
the best citizenship and for the integri-
ty of public officers. He has no desire
to hold Office and would not accept one
at the hands Of any political party. Mr..
MacI4ennan las always been a Repub-
lican and has always voted the Repub-
lican ticket but that fact has not blind
ed him to the faults of Republican Of
feeholders nor has it deferred him
from just criticism when he felt that
they fell short Of the high standard by
which he believes every public officer
should be measured.
There is nothing personal in the
State Journals fight on Thomas Kelly.
1t is his record as a public officer with
which the people OF Kansas are con-
ceFned, and it is the duty of this paper
to direct attention to the facts in Mr..
Kelly's career that make him unfit to
hold any Office Of trust. The records in
Miami county prove beyond the possi-
bility of a doubt that Mr.. Kelly is a
thief and a fOrger and that ne de-
frauded Miami county u of hundreds
of dollars while serving as county
clerk. Even Mr.. Kelly himself made
an admission of guilt when he paid
back to the ounty $1,000 of the sum
that he had stolen. These are harsh
things to say, but the people, to whom
Mr.. Kelly appeals for votes, are en-
titled TO the facts. The State Journal
would be dereliet in it's duty as an in
dependent, fearless newspaper if it
sought to make excuses for Mr.. Kelly
when the records at the court house
in Miami county tell the shameful
story of his guilt.
1t is therefore apparent that Mr.. KEEL
ley's letter to Mr.. MaoLennan is only a
ruse which he hopes will serve as a
decoy to lead the people of Kansas away
from the main q~uestion-is Tom Kelly,
treasurer of the state of Kansas, a
thief? Mr.. MacLennan's entry into the
race for treasurer would not change the
status of Mr.. Kelly. His minat is
not a question etwee men, but one
which concerns the integrity of the
state itself. Can the people of Kansas
afford to elect Mr.. Kelly treasurer
knowing what his public record has
been? The State Journal and Mr.. Mac
Lehman think not and will consequent
ly continue the advocacy of the selection
of a clean, honest man as state treas
urer. 1t does not matter so much who
the man is so that he is of recognized
integrity and with a record for honesty.
1t is needless to say that the State
Journal viii support such a man.
MR.. KELLY'S LETTER.
Following is Mr.. Kelly's letter:
Topeka, Kan, Feb. 10, 1904.
Hon. Frank p. MacLennan, Topeka,
Dear Sir: For more than two years
you have indicated a very great in
tereSt in the office of state treasurer,
and, during that time, I have been sub
jected to an Utmost continuous assault
through the columns of our paper, the
Evening State Journal.
You supported LewelIing both times
he ran for governor against the Repub-
lican nominee. You supported j. w.
Leedy both times he ran for governor
against the Republican nominee. You
supported w. j. Bryan for president
both times he ran against William Nc
Kinley. The Republican party has al
ways been magnanimous to those who
tried to destroy it, and gives them a
hearty weIco flNon their return to its
ranks.
Since your pretended return, you
have been free to discuss party poll
cies, and your demands on the party
that it should nominate certain men
for certain offices and defeat others
have been persistent and exacting. You
have especially insisted that 1 should
not be nominated for state treasurer,
both two years g and now; o have
urged numerous men to become candi-
dates against me at the Wichita con-
vention, March 8, and failed.
Let me suggest that you enter the
race against me. 1 know of no man in
the state that I would rather contest
for the nomination than yourself.
If 1 am guilty of the things charged
of in your paper, I ought to be easy
to defeat for the nomination. If you
are not a coward. you win not hesitate
to enter the race.
Very truly yours.
T. T. KELLY.
Minneapolis Tribune: Another COM
forting lesson from the Baltimore fire