The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-28
THAI sToRY

For several months an ugly story
about Governor Hoch has been whisper
ed from mouth to mouth over the state.
It involved Governor Hoeh's personal
integrity as a man. The State Journal
first heard it early in January It was
so repugnant to the opinion this paper
held of the personal character of Gov
ernor Hoch that the editor of the state
Journal could not believe it. Neverthe-
less an investigation Of the rumor was
made. Governor Eoch absolutely de-
MED its truth, but refused to make a
public statement concerning it. Mrs
". E. Stanley, the lady whose name
was unfortunately linked with the story,
could not be reached at the time and
from what could be hastily learned this
paper was led to believe that Governor
Hoeh was the victim Of malicious and
irresponsible gossip.
Still the story would not down. It
was whispered from mouth to mouth
till it had Travelled the length and
breadth of the state. Intimation of it
got into some newspapers. The State
Journal was accused of knowing the
facts and suppressing them.
Believing the story to be untrue this
paper deemed it its duty to Governor
Hoch. to Mrs. Stanley, and to the
public. to state its belief, and shortly
before Kansas Day an editorial under
the heading, "A Newspaper Problem
was published in these columns with
that object in view In order to avoid
giving pain to the persons connected
with the story and their families, and
to avoid spreading further what
seemed to be only malicious gossip,
no names were mentioned. but the
editorial was framed so that those who
had heard the story would know this
papers opinion of it, while to those
who had not heard it. it would be
simply impersOnai. In the editorial
were these paragraphs:
"A few weeks ago there was circu-'
lated in Topeka a story about promi-
nent mana man of good private
character and excellent reputation.
The editors of this paper did not be-
lieve there was a word of truth in it.
There may have been. but it would
require more positive evidence than
whispered gossip to convince US of its
truth.
The State Journal heard the story.
of course, and although doubling it,
an immediate investigation was start
ed to discover if there was any foun-
datiOn for the report. Had the state
Journal verified the story it would
certainly have published It. for the
people of Kansas would have been en-
titled to know about it."
The State Journal regrets to say
that the story has now been verified
beyond shadow of a doubt Many
people have persistentIy refused to be-
lieve it Untrue. pointing to Governor
Hoch's reluctance to publicly meet
and deny the story as an indication Of
its verify. The resignation of Mrs.
Stanley as one Of the lady visitors to
the state institutions, recently made
public, appeared to confirm it. Be-
heving that the people of Kansas are
entitled to the truth, a representative
of the State Journal went to Wichita
last evening to see Ex-Governor STAN
ley and Mrs. Stanley. and to him they
corroborated the story.
In justice to the people of Kansas
the State Journal therefore feels com
PEELED to publish it,
In view of these facts. it does not ap-
pear to this paper that Governor Hoch
should be renominated for governor by
the Republican state convention next
Wednesday. That, however, is a matter
for the delegates to the convention to
decide. Ought the Republicans Of Kan
sas to endorse a man who SO far for
gets himself as to do what Governor
hoch did2 Without considering the
moral aspect of the affair, the Repub-
lican ticket has a pretty hard record to
face aside from this latest development.
Mrs. Stanley. the wife of a former
governor who served the state with
credit for four years, is woman of
irreproaohable character. Her name has
become involved in this matter through
no fault of her own. And distastefui as
the publicity of the affair is, she refused
to stand for anything but the exact
truth.
What does the Republican party pro-