The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-15
WILL NOT PAY up
County Candidates Won't Hand
Over Assessments.
Big Row Brewing in the Repub-
lican County Committee
AGAINST II. VAN SAINT.
Renewal OF the Old fractional
Fight on the Chairman.
Meeting of County Committee
Called for Next Saturday.

Republican candidates for county. Of
fices and Chairman Van SAINT, which
started over the assessment made on
the candidates before the primary in
November, has broken out anew and
some Of the candidates will refuse to
pay the assessment made for the pur-
pose of conducting the present cam
paign.
Assessments aggregating between
twenty-five and twenty-three hundred
dollars were levied against the candi-
dates before the primary was held. A
few months later the primary election
law was passed at the special session
OF the legislature and the necessity
OF Republican primary was obviated.
Then a number of the candidates led
by E. L. O'Neil, candidate for county
commissioner and S. Zimmerman, cam
didate for county clerk demanded that
their assessment be returned.
The matter dragged along for
awhile and so per cent of the assess
'ment which had been levied was re-
turned to the candidates and later 33
per cent of the remaining fund in the
hands of the county central commit
tee was promised to the candidates.
This did not apply to the precinct
committeeman and their accounts were
placed in the hands of Robert Stone
for collection. A suit was threatened
and Reese Van SAINT, chairman of the
county central committeeman paid
Robert Stone $SS to quiet these claims.
Several of the candidates who received
their dividend of 33 per cent of the
assessment following the so per cent
returned delayed presenting them and
have been compelled to hold them
for want of funds in the hands of the
county central committee.
The last assessment levied against
the successful Republican candidates
in the recent primaries amounts to
something over $4,000 and the can
| didates feel that this is out OF all rea-
son and accordingly refused to pay
their pro rata. Judge Dana of the
district court was assessed $3.50 and
this has not been paid. Sheriff John
Wilkerson was assessed $3.50 and this
has not been paid. The candidates for
were each assessed $225 and none Of
them has paid the assessment.
The assessments against the candi-
dates for county treasurer and county
clerk were $3.50 each and Zimmerman
and Medlicott have not paid. The as
! sessments for the remaining county
officers vary 'FRONT.' fifty to eighty dol
lars and none of these has. been paid
as far as known with the exception of
a $50 assessment levied against A. M.
Harvey, candidate for representative.
1t is said that T. D. Humphrey has
paid one-hauf of his assessments of
$3.50.
O'NeiI Refuses to Pay.
The candidates have but little to
say about the matter other than that
they have not paid their assessment
and do not intend to do so, with the
exception of E. L. O'Neil, who was
the leader of the insurgents a year
ago when the assessments were made
for the primary.
81 am tired of paying money into a
fund to be paid to grafters and ward
heelers.' said Mr.. O'Neil today.
There is no sense of such an assess
ment as has been made by the chair
man of the county central committee
and I for one am not going to pay.
"Of course there will be some legi-
innate expenses connected with the
campaign and l am willing to pay my
part of these expenses. This can be
handled in an easy and open and
above board manner by having these
bills presented to the committee.
Vouchers can be issued for the money
due for legitimate expenses and as
sesSmentS made on the candidates to
pay all honest bills and then we will
know what has become of our money.
II paid my first assessment for the
primary and came near not getting it
back and some of the fellows are
holding the sack yet. while they have
vouchers issued by the county central
committee which hare been presented
and turned down because there is no
funds in the treasury with which they
can be paid. There will be no more of
that kind of work in the campaign
as far az I am concerned and 1 know
that majority of the candidates feel
just as l do about the matter"
Can Get Money, Says Van SAINT.
When asked about the failure of the
candidates to pay their assessments,
Chairman Reese Van. SAINT of the Re-
publican county central committee
said: II know nothing at all about the
matter. Some have paid their assess
ments and some have not but as far as
I know none of the candidates have
positively refused to pay the assess
ments which have been made by the
county central committee.
THE assessments for the campaign
are not yet due. They do not have TO
Candidates have paid in their money,
bur the majority of them. as usual, are
a little slow. ISknow that some of the
candidates are ready to pay IN their
money but are simply waiting to see
what others will 90.
I'VE can get plenty OF money TO run
this campaign, even if the candidates
refuse to pay their assessments. There
are enough loyal Republicans in To-
nelxa to nut up the money, If the can
didates do not see fit to do so.
Call Committee Meeting.
A meeting of the county central COM
mittee has been called by Chairman
Reese van SAINT for next Saturday at
m. This meeting is for the pur-
pose of taking up general matters OF
business relating to the campaign, but
the chances are that the assessment
row will be injected into the proceed
ings-