The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-28
IT DOESN'T SUIT.
Governor HOch's Statement Is
Generally Disappointing.
Suits Neither the Kellyites Nor
the Ants.
FRANK GRIMES TALKS.
Sorry Question Is to Be Taken
Into Courts.
He Doesn't Want to Hire a
Lawyer.
FRANK GRIMES TALKS

ing his plan of action on the state
treasury scandal fails to suit either
his friends or his foes. It is the old
story of the man who tried to please
both sides, and failed to please either.
Frank Grimes and Tom Kelly are
both dissatisfied, because they did not
want any judicial investigation at all.
Even the Jumps of taffy which are in
terspersed in the report have failed to
satisfy them.
on the other hand, some CT Hoch's
staunchest friends are grumbling
about the plan of campaign which
has been outlined by the governor.
They say that Hoch has missed a gold
en- opportunity to prove that he really
has a. backbone. They insist that he
should have either ordered an custer
suit or should have accepted Kelly's
escrow resignation, and let Mr.. Kelly
assume the burden of proving that he
was entitled to the office.
AS it is the proposed suits will have
to be commenced in the district court,
and will drag along until kellys term
expires. He is certain to serve out his
term in any event
w. r. Stubs was in Governor
Hoch's office when the statement was
4 made public, and was one of the first
to read it. It is possible that Mr..
Stubs came to Topeka hoping to head
off just such a statement. Mr.. Stubs
had finished reading the report, and
what went on is of course secret 1t
is known, however, that Mr.. Stubs
was very much dissatisfied with the
action taken. He was in favor of tax
ing radical action against Kelly long
before this.
John Q. Royce. state bank commits
sfoner another of the governors
friends, expressed disappointment at
the nature of the statement. It was
Royces idea that the governor should
accept the escrow resignation and
make Kelly fight for his office.
The prediction is freely made by
some of the politicians that the state
ment will go a long ways toward Guilt
waiting opposition to Governor Hoch's
denomination.
Grimes Is disappointed
A "disap appointment" is the way ex-
state Treasurer Frank Grimes char
! acterizes the Hoch statement.
Mr.. Grimes had hoped that the gov
!. ernor would allow him to settle up
! the shortages without lawsuit II
is possible that since his proposition
for d compromise has been rejected,
. he viii stand on his rights and
plead the statute Of limitations to the
whole deficit, so far as it affects his
administration. Mr.. Grimes will not
declare himself on this point.
IF it is true, as has been intimated
at times that Mr.. Grimes anxiety to
! settle without a lawsuit is due to his
) desire to keep the matter away from
legal investigation, he would perhaps
, refuse to pay any attention to what
: ever suit might De pfOuBnl JQQS-
ment would then be entered against
/ him for the full amount of the short
: age, and the state would have to col
' Iect as best it could.
f It is possible that Mr.. Grimes
2 might not have property subject to
5 execution, in which case the states
only recoursA would be through his
: bondsmen. 1t is the opinion of some
attorneys that bondsmen are not liable
/ for shortages occurring more than
2 three years prior to the beginning of
< action, in which case the state would
: have no way of getting anything at
/ all on the deficit.
= This is very likely to be the way
. in which the proposed suit against
i Mr.. Grimes would turn out.
Says He Can't Afford 1t.
II was much disappointed at the
statement given out by the governor
? today" said Mr.. Grimes, especially in
: that part relating to the Oklahoma war
, rants. I do not want to criticise Cover
nor Hoch, because / believe that he was
: acting in a thoroughly honest ana con-
scientious manner. Governor Hoch has
i treated me with fairness throughout
: this affair, and I am not the kind of a
Y man to come out and criticise him be-
cause Of this statement.
1T does not seem exactly right to me,
| however, to make me hire a lawyer and
defend myself against this Oklahoma
warrant charge. The whole matter
seems so absurd on its face that a good
9 many people have been inclined to
treat it as q joke. I don't feel that
should be required to go through the
expense of a trial on this Oklahoma
matter, which everybody understands
and with which all the state Officers
We're cognizant al the time.
: Concerning the proposed suit to de-
S tern1ine the liability for the missing
= coupons, I will say that I had hoped
e we could fix this matter up without q
t suit This plan was proposed by me
o mot because L have anything to cover
7, IN or because I have anybody to shield
e and protect, but because I am not able
to 20 to the expense of hiring lawyers
G and making a lawsuit out of it. I had
4 hoped that the governor would turn
> this over to Mr.. Coleman, and allow me
5. to go over the alleged shortages, item
: by item. and offer my explanations. u
= the governor himself might have taker
. up the items with his private secretary
Mr. Williams. who IS an able lawyer
hand determined VIVA ones / was moral
!, " under obligations to make right.
+ have said that where any intermediate
y coupons. had come into the treasurer
q office ana had been entered upon my
s records, and receipts sent on for the
n same. that if some clerk or employe o.
mine had either by mistake or deslgf
e caused a shortage; that ! stood ready
= from a moral standpoint to make tina
ssQow it seems that I shall be required
70 employ assolIles :, ~ e,,e+ nv tfen
= ton to this matter when there is a mor'
( satisfactory way of arriving at a fair de
It ssDo YOU consider that the alleged short
s aaes constitute a legal liability agains
YOU or your bondsmens or are they barrel
by the statute Of limitations wa
II don't care to express an opinion il
i that matter said Mr.. Grimes.
when this suit is fled, VIII you answe