The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-13
GRIMES, ATTITUDE.

The State Journal has repeatedly
pointed out to ex-State Treasurer
Grimes that he is making a mistake
in his attitude concerning the short
ages that have been uncovered in his
administration of the states finances
Mr.. Grimes claimed to be able to ex-
plain all but something over $1,000
of the shortages, and that amount he
offered to voluntarily pay back to the
state but he has constantly insisted
that no suit shall be brought against
him.
This attitude, the State Journal be-
lieved, was too much like that of the
Individual who is wrongfully in pos
session of stolen property, and who,
when about to be cornered, is anxious
to return it to its owner and have no
questions asked
Mr.. Grimes insisted that his reason
for not desiring a suit was that he
would have to hire an attorney and he
cannot afford it, yet he is anxious to
turn over to the state over $1,000 and
have no questions asked as to where
the money went to. He insists that
he did not take the oney-but some
body must have taken it. It would
appear as though Mr.. Grimes would
be only too glad to have the state
bring court proceedings and determine
where the money went to, because
that is the only way he will have to
recover his $1,000 from the party or
parties who took it. The small
amount he would have to pay an at
torney would not be much beside
$1,000.
Or is someone else putting up that
$1,000 for Mr.. Grimes in order to
have the matter hushed up?
Mr.. Grimes cannot complain or be
surprised now because some people
and some newspapers insist that he is
more culpable than his personal
friends have believed. Here is an edi-
torial from the Smith County Journal
which indicates the very natural view
some people take of Grimes attitude
1.-THE people of this state spent S1O,-
600 and more for the purpose Of max
ing a thorough examination of the
state treasufss On completing the
report it was shown that $4,000 of
the money belonging to the people
was missing and could not be account
ed for. The present state treasurer,
Tom Kelly, says he did not take it,
/ but Frank Grimes, the treasurer be-
fore him and for whom Kelly was
deputy, says there might have been
shortage of S17S5 during his four
years administration of the office He
says he will pay this sum into the
state treasury as an evidence of good
faith, and not because he is sure that
he received the money. But he stipu-
lates his generous offer by demanding
/ that no court proceedings shall enter
into it. That is. he will not pay if
suit should be Instituted which might
show that both he and Mr.. Kelly
would have to serve term in the
penitentiary. The man the people
elected as governor refuses to make
move OF any kind in the matter be
cause the shortage amounts to SIS 600
and Grimes will only plead guilty to
stealing something less than $4,000.
I There is a great Satisfaction however
in the fact that as soon as Kelly pleads
guilty to taking the other $4,000 Gov
Z ernOr HOch will shake up the heaFens
and earth with a vigorous prosecution.
+ Grimes has done his part and has en-
/ tered plea of guilty 10 a part of the
/ stealing; now what the people want
I is for the balance of the state treasury
raiders to come forward and plead
( guilty
Under the heading. "He has Just
Awakened the Horton Headlight
I publishes this.
''Ex-State Treasurer Frank E.
! Grimes still insists that he is willing
4 to pay S7.215, which he says is the
| amount of unexplained shortage of
his administration but that he does
not wish to go to law about the mat
4 ter. 1t Will be remembered that the
state treasury report of the special
examiners found that the treasury was
1 short in clipped coupons about $50. 900
/ most of which was during the Grimes
/ administration. Mr.. Grimes says that
I he has ahdavtts from the bond brok-
/ ers showing that they had clipped the
/ coupons from the bonds in value Of
/ the entire amount except S72I5
/ Grimes says that a lawsuit would in
volve large expense in costs and the
/ bringing of witnesses to Topeka, and
I that as the 1925 IS the entire amount
Of his shortage he would prefer to