The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-07
w. r. sTUBBs CDEM.A

The State Journal is glad to wei
come w. R. Stubs, chairman of the
Republican state committee, speaker
of the house of representatives, and
head boss of the Republican party of
Kansas, to the ranks of those who say
that T. T. Kelly, state treasurer by the
grace of Mr.. Stubs and Governor
Hoch, is a disgrace to the state Mr..
Stubs is about a year or two late In
getting around to this acknowledge
ment, but better late than never.
1t is to be regretted that Mr.. Stubs
did not have the nerve or the inclina-
ton to make this statement year
ago. Had he done so the state of
Kansas would not have suffered the
humiliation of re-electing an embez-
zler to the highest financial position
in the state government, and it would
have been saved thousands of dollars.
More than a year ago Mr.. Stubs
knew that Kelly was dishonest. He
knew that Kellys record in Miami
county could not be defended. He
knew about some of the shortages in
the state treasury since Kelly has been
connected with it. Nearly a year ago
he knew about the Garden City short
age and the mysterious "a. r. Brown"
Nearly a year ago he knew about the
Comanche county bond outrage, and
Kelly's embezzlement of $123,0O0 in
connection with it.
But it is common report that Kelly
and his intimate friend, J. R. Burrow.
furnished large amount of the funds
for the boss buster campaign. Stubs
and Hoch and Kelly and Burrow had
a common object in overthrowing
Governor Bailey. They split over the
election of the chairman of the state
committee, but when it came to the
test of allowing Kelly to be defeated
because he was dishonest, Stubs and
Hoch came to his rescue and pulled
him through. A word from either of
them against Kelly would have over
whelmingly defeated Kelly. Even if
they had kept silent Kelly would have
been showed under. But when Kelly
gave out his resignation in escrow"
Mr.. Hoch stated in a public speech
that he would give Kelly a thorough
investigation. and Stubs demanded
that every Republican, and especially
every candidate-from road overseer
up-support the whole ticket" Mr..
Stubs, as chairman of the state COM
mittee, wrote hundreds of letters
containing this advice.
A word from Hoeh or Stubbs last
year would have done world of
good, where it can do very little now
1t would have saved the state a good
many thousands of dollars, to say
nothing of the disgrace of electing a
known embezzler to the office of state
treasurer. Mr.. Stubs now insists that
the stable be locked tight since the
horse is stolen
The statement which Mr.. Stubs now
issues sounds very much as though it
has been taken from the State Jour-
nails editorial columns of the last three
years. For making the same kind of
statements during the campaign last
year, when they did some good, the
State Journal was roundly abused and
referred to as Estate Journal Oem.). -
1t is now w r. Stubs (Dem.)."
Mr.. Stubs is about a year late with
his statement. He stood up for Kelly
when he would have done the state real
service by opposing him. Kelly has had
the use of the state funds for seven
months longer. and will have just as
much longer as the governor permits
him. He has been loaning a friend
more than half million dollars of the
states money, through the medium of
the friends bank, and the bank is now
defunct and the state is holding the
sack.
This all comes of Stubbs' and Hoch' s
standing by Kelly a year ago, when
a little opposition from them would
have obviated all this trouble. OF
course they may argue that they had
to do it in view of kelly's putting UP
a big share of the money for the boss
| buster campaign, but it has been
mighty hard on the state. It smacks
very much of what Mr.. Stubs de-
nounces-graft in politics
Still it is better that Stubs should
arise to the situation even though he
may be too late. But why does he not
instruct his governor. the only man
who can improve the condition, to act
why not accept that resignation in
! escrow now?