The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-11
COLEMAN SHOWS SIGNS.

Il Attorney General Coleman were
as busy in performing his official duty
in prosecuting Kelly and protecting the
interests of the state, as he appears to
be in prosecuting and criticising the
state journal, he would go a long way
toward earning his salary and there
would be no occasion for him to de-
vote any of his time or talents to the
editor of this paper.
MT. Coleman is nothing to US; we
mean as personality. He is simply
the attorney general, unfortunately
chosen by misguided people. This
paper has no interest in Mr. Coleman,
but 1t has vital interest in his Office
He has been elected to prosecute
those who attempt to defraud the
state, but he does not do it.
He was chosen to give valuable
counsel in state affairs and state cases.
The state has lost by his laundering
work and Governor Bailey leaned
upon him as "a broken reed.
1t Is exceedingly gratifying and re-
Iresh1ng to learn that Mr. Coleman is
not dominated by Kelly. We have his
word for it, so it may be true. His
actions IN doing just what was to KEEL
ly's interest throughout the investiga-
ton OF the treasury must, therefore,
have been due to some other reason.
On a number of occasions Mr.. Cole
man and Kelly were closeted, some
times for two or three hours at a
time. Some of these conferences were
shortly after similar conferences be-
tween Governor Bailey and Mr. Cole
man regarding the treasury shortages.
Just what took place between Mr..
Coleman nd no III
they know, but they doubtless talked
about the state of the weather or some
other subject far removed from clip
ped and missing coupons, the mysteri-
Gus "a. R. Brown or the shortages
in the state treasury!
Mr.. Coleman's opinions as set forth
in his letter are also gratifying and the
State Journal desires to thank him for
them. The supreme court and frequent
ly the public generally has "a habit of
deciding the reverse of Mr.. Coleman. If
Coleman's opinion were otherwise than
that expressed in his letter it would be
cause for regret and alarm on the
part of the State Journal, but under the
circumstances 1t is a matter of eongrat-
ulation. The public, like the court, re-
verse Coleman.
Mr.. Coleman is dyspeptic and pess-
mistic. He declares himself dissatisfied
with both the laws of God and of man.
He intimates that he would say some
thing very bad or do something very
terrible, if the strong arm of the law
did not restrain him. The laws do not
restrain one from saying anything ex-
cept what is vile or false Just which
kind of language Mr.. Coleman desires
to use the State Journal does not know
The attorney general furthermore be-
walls the fact that he has no newspaper
in which to reply to the State Journal
but it seems that he lost no opportunity
in rushing into print, and that he did
not lack for organs in which to pub
lish what he had to say. The Topeka
Capital-which claims to have circu-
lation exceeding that of the State Jour-
nal, but which the State Journal and
business men who advertise in both
publications cannot eoncede. but which
Mr.. Coleman probably believes,-hasten-
ed to publish Mr.. Coleman's side only.
A Kansas City paper has this morn
ing also helped Mr.. Coleman's publicity
and this Kansas City paper we will adj
NIT has larger circulation than the
State Journal. Other papers are freely
open to Mr.. Coleman. Let him turn lose
his jaw and his typewriter. He will find
an audience. This paper does not pre-
tend to be the only oracle or only
mouthpiece. There are double the num-
Der of papers in Topeka that are open
to Mr.. Coleman, with only one to u.s.
Mr. Coleman should shed no tears be-
cause he does not own a newspaper
There are people in this state who have
newspapers and are weeping because
they cannot let go of them. If Mr.. Cole
man is sincere in his desire for a news
paper he can be readily informed where
he car get one below cost.
Mr.. Coleman will agree with US that
a newspaper is not always an unmixed
evil. Several of the banes of a news
papers existence are the state officers
who bring libel suits against it, Just be-
fore election. This paper has three such
state officers to deal with who value
themselves at $4,000 apiece. Mr.. Cole
man is now struggling in the courts
for his $751; 900. Think of the want ads
we have to rustic for to make that!
Yet the state only pays him $4,000 a
year, and so far as the state has gone
with him, it finds him pretty dear even
at that price, to say nothing of the $500
in groceries which Governor Bailey
bought upon the order of Mr.. Coleman,
but in opposition to the after wishes of
the supreme court.
Governor Bailey found Coleman bad
man to tie to. Governor Hoch seems to
think so little Of him that he calls in
Boss Stubs, Sub-Boss Dolley and a cabal
| of other distinguished politicians, thus
| ignoring the counsel provided for him
by the state. This to say nothing of
the quick employment by the governor
of J. w. Gleed for legal advice in the
states dire extremity and present
emergency.
Mr.. Coleman refers to our "base
motives but he does not explain
what they are. His letter really needs