The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-10
WHAT THEY SAY.
More Newspaper Comment on
the DeVlin Failure.
Gov. HOch's Remissness Is At
tracing Attention.
THAT ROWETT REPORT
Why Not Make It Public, Says
Hutchinson News.
Koch Should Strike Louder.
Says Will White.

Kansas newspapers are still discuss
ing the Devlin failure and the states
part in it and Governor Hoch is COM
ing in for criticism, not only because
he failed to make the examinations of
the state treasury as required by law
but because. he ignored the report of
State Accountant Rowett.
Here are some of the comments:
Governor Bailey INDICATED.
LFrom the Hutchinson News.]
When Governor Bailey employed Mr.
Rowett to be state accountant and set
him about examining the various state
Offtces-and, be it remembered, Mr..
ROWett examined the accounts of the
state board of charities, the books of
the Industrial and penal institutions,
and several other state offices, before
reaching the state treasury howl that
1T was a scheme to prosecute Mr.. Kelly
went up from the anti-machine crowd
that was heard all over the state. One
would have supposed that Mr.. Kelly
was something holy, that to touch
would defile. But Governor Bailey went
straight ahead. He knew his duty and
he did 1t. In spite of the fact that a
state campaign was on and that he was
charged with attempting to defeat the
Republican state ticket or a part Of
1t, he had the state accountant proceed
and publish the truth about the condi-
examination then revealed it. Then
came Mr.. Kelly's resignation in escrow
by the way, that resignation is still in
escrow, and hasn't Governor Hoch got
the right about now to demand that it
be brought out of escrow and delivered
over to him? Yes, then came the resig-
nation in escrow, which had the result
of salving enough eonsciences to cause
the reelection of Mr.. Kelly and bring
about the present half-million dollar
loss to the state.
But about that Rowett investigation
It went right on after the election dur
ing the remainder of Governor Bailey S
term and when Governor Hoch came in
a complete report of the facts in Mr..
KeIly's case-the Rowett report-Was on
his desk. He did not open it. He cared
too little about the affairs of the state
treasury apparently, to avail himself of
the Information contained in this report.
That this is the case. apparently is
borne out by the fact that, although re-
quired by law to make an examination
monthly of the condition Of the state
treasury, Governor Hoch has not made
a single examination during the six
months he has been in office. Now,
having ignored the law himself, he is
in an awkward position to condemn
Treasurer Kelly for having dfsobeyed
the law But that Rowett report2 Is
it still a crime to ask for. its publica-
ton? Now that the peoples eyes are at
last open, now that they know that over
8 half-mil1ion of their money is locked
up in defunct bankswith little prospect
that they will ever get a cent of it, or il
any, a very small per cent of the total
is it a crime to ask that the full light
be turned on the state treasury? Or is
it still a sin to call attention to Tom
Kelly's shortcomings? Is he still a
sacred object of veneration and worship
that must not be defiled by profane
hands? Governor Hoch says he will
demand a new bond. but what the peo-
pie would like is to feel that their money
is not going to come up missing and
that they will not have to sue bonds
men to get possession of it again.
But no matter what the outcome, ex-
Governor Bailey, who had the courage
to do his duty, has been fully vindicated
before the people of the state. A reso-
lutte ability to do ones duty is a far
higher attribute in a governor than a
weak desire to try to please everybody