The Topeka state journal., 1905-07-31
WHAT'S THE MATTER,

WHAT'S THE MATIEKSI
He who hesitates is lost. Governor
Hoch has hesitated so much in the
Kelly matter and has pursued such a
vacillating and wavering course that
he is now almost losing himself below
the political horizon.
He is unfortunate in some of his
advisors. notably in the case of his
legal advisor, the attorney general.
When there has been an effort to pros
ecute Kelly, the attorney general has
advised that no warrant be issued or
pursued a policy of delay. This at
least was the case when County Attor
ney Hungate showed some disposition
to act
Other advisors of the governor are at
torneys that have recently volunteered
their services to Kelly!
Hoch does not need the many and
multifarious counsellors that have how
cred around like a cloud obscuring his
ordinarily acute vision. Look for your
self, governor, look for yourself. Your
own conscience is the safest and best
advisor you have.
Governor Hoch knows full we'll that
Kelly ought not to be in charge of the
states funds. He knows that he
ought to be in the penitentiary in
stead. Governor Hoch has had more
warning than anybody about Kelly,
and yet he persists in allowing him to
stay in office rather than use his pre-
rogative to kick him out Hoch has
all the opportunity. Kelly under pres
sure months ago gave Hoch his resig-
nation in escrow. At that time Kelly
said to the governor: "If such investi-
cation should show that there is or
has been any shortage in the treas
urer's accounts or funds for which
am held responsible, or which, with
diligence, I might have averted, then
I request you to accept this resigna-
tion.''
An investigation of one hour would
settle Kelly's lawlessness.
Kelly disobeyed the law prohibiting
the deposit of state money in banks.
The bank failed, Kelly got caught at 1t
and the state is now out one-hah mil
lion. Ordinary diligence and common
honesty could have averted this loss.
Why does Hoch hesitate longer? Why
doesn't he accept the resignation and put
a new man into office? The governor
has talked great deal, has consulted
great deal, and apparently has been on
the point several times of appointing
some honest man to take charge Of
what is left in the state treasury, but
he hesitates, hesitates.
He gave Kelly notice that he must
put up his bond within a certain time.
Kelly did not do it. Hoch gave him
more time. Kelly was unable to find a
surety company that would make up
his bond and had to appeal to his per-
sonal friends, many of whom were un-i
der obligations to him.
We don't know how much more of
Kelly's chicanery the plain people of
Kansas are going to stand. From Gov
ernor Hoch's actions up to date, the ex-
ecutive of Kansas seems to be willing
to take all kinds of personal and politi-
cal affronts from the man who is act
ing as state treasurer. Everybody seems
to admit Kel1y's guilt in one of his lat
est escapades in the taking of $4,000 to
apply on an old bond which the legis-
lature had appropriated for a new
bond It turns out that we have
state treasurer who could not get
company to go on his new bond and
consequently there is nothing to pay.
Yet Kelly used the money just the
same.
Now what is done? Does the COVER
nor accept Kelly's resignation, and does
the attorney general start criminal pro-
ceedings for the taking of the $4,000?
No! The governor says: Come now,
please Mr.. Kelly, be good and pay back
that s2,OO0.'' The attitude of the COVER
nor and the attorney general is that if
Kelly will do this all will be forgiven.
How many criminals in the state PEN
itentiary would like to return all that
they took, and many times over, and
escape the penalty of their crime. But
no, only Kelly is immune from punish
ment.
What is Hoch afraid of? Why does
this scoundrel Kelly hypnotic the gov
ernor and all who, have political ambi
tions.
Burton and Kelly are political pals.
Neither is worthy of any consideration.
Both are in the same box. They repre-
sent bad politics, disreputable methods,
| disgraceful deals.
| The state is through with them both
| but Hoch and few others are slow
to find it out. Day by day is Governor
Hoch, by temporizing, digging his own
political grave and blowing the breath
of life into the asphyxiated Democratic
| corporosity.
|