The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-10
Auditor Says Governor Is Weak
and Vacillating.
People Ought to Realize Mistake
in Defeating Bailey.
is NOT THEIR AFFAIR.
Executive Council Have No Busi-
ness to Interfere Now.
Governor May Do What He
Pleases About Kelly.
Mr.. Wells Shows Why He Was
Detained at Erie.

state Auditor Seth Wells arrived in
Topeka at o'clock this morning, in re-
sponse to Governor Hoch's telegram.
Wells is very angry over Hoch's atti-
tude in the Kelly matter.
Governor Hoch's weak and vacillat-
ing course in this NATTER said Audi
tor Wells this morning, tas well as in
all others that have come before him,
ought to convince the people more than
ever that they made a mistake in turn
ing down Governor Bailey for a second
term
Taking his watch out of his pocket,
Mr.. Wells continued: TT is now IL
o'clock. 1 have been here at my desk
ever since the office opened, waiting for
Governor Hoch to inform me what he
wants. He has sent no word that he
wants to see me, and possibly he does
not even know I am in town.
There is quorum of the executive
council present this morning, and if
Governor Hoch has any duties or re-
sponsibilities that he has been unable
to unload on his advisory committee, l
suppose he will pass them up to the
council So far as 1 am concerned,
know of no power in the hands of the
executive council to do a thing in this
emergency. The governor has been Civ
OuL 1utETNIGWS 'EOdStlIlB ME IOT not
being on the ground. 1 will agree to
compare the manner in whichI have
performed my official duty with the
manner in which Governor Hoch has
performed his, and let the people Judge.
"I would have been in Topeka last
week if unusual circumstances had not
prevented. Last Tuesday night three
business houses in Erie burned to the
ground, and one Of them adjoined the
building in which my printing plant is
located. Everything that was movable
in the office was thrown out into the
street, and it required the efforts of my
life to get out the regular weekly issue
of the paper. Besides this, my daughter
was down with a threatened attack of
typhoid fever and were it not for Hoch's
ungenerous and ungentiemanly attack
on me, would be home with her now.
"Hoch knew that 1 was having all
this trouble. He had a telephone con-
Meeting his office with mine at Erie,
but he never called me up to make in
QuirieS or to ask advice. l never re-
ceived a word directly from Mr.. Hoch
until 5 o'clock last Saturday evening
when I received the following teIe-
gram:
"'Can't you come to Topeka i'm
mediately?
(Signed "fE. w. HOCH.'
"This was certainly a brilliant tele-
gram to send a man at this stage of
the game. I wired him my answer as
1OllOWS:
Erie, Kansas, July Sth.
Your dispatch received at p. m.
today. This is the first intimation that
1 have had direct from you that you
wanted me in Topeka. I will be
pleased to come whenever you COM
mand, Sunday excepted.
(Signed SETH G. WELLS.
after Mr.. Hoch was inaugurated
governor, L called on him and assured
him that I would do all in my power
to make his administration success;
that whenever he needed my assistance
or advice he could have it at any time,
night or day. Since that time, Mr..
Hoch has never invited me to his Of
flee nor asked my advice or assistance
in any manner. In view of the fact
legislature, and for the entire first six
months of his term Governor Hoch
has never needed my advice, fail to
understand his hurry at this time.
Checks 1t Up to Kelly.
Asked today whether or not he
the state treasury, Auditor Wells said !:
81 certainly shall issue warrants as
long as they are brought to me. 1t is
not my business to say whether the
for him to decide. When he finds that
his funds have run short, he can
stamp the warrants not paid for want
of funds. That is a matter for him to
decide. l propose to go right ahead
signing the warrants as usual"
For some days the signing of war
rants was stopped in the auditors Of
flee, while Mr.. Wells was absent, wait
ing for instructions from him. He has
evidently decided that he will leave the
responsibility for "suspending pay
ment'' on the state treasurer, instead
of assuming it himself.
What should the governor do un-
der the present circumstances? was
asked.
THAT is for the governor to say
replied Mr.. Wells. eff was governor,
know mighty well I would be doing
something But I look upon it in this
way: that it is entirely and exclusive
ly the governors affair, and that the
executive council has no business to
interfere