The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-30
Pharmacy Commissioner kelz Ex-
plains in Detail Some Of the
Accusations Made
Asalns. Him.
PLAIN STATEMENT DUE
Never Before Engaged in Newspaper
Controversy Eut Feels it is
Due the People to Make
a Statement.
IGate City Special service.l

[Gate City Special Service.l
DES MONIES, March 30.-B. F.
Keltz, Pharmacy Commissioner, this
morning gave out the following state
ment concerning his side of the con-
himself. He has devoted several days
to preparing this statement and says
1t will give the people an unbiased un-
derstanding of the merits of the case.
The statement is the result of numer-
Gus conferences had by him with
friends from various parts of the state
and may be taken as an authoritative
statement of the reasons which impell-
ed Mr.. Keltz to refuse to tender his
resignation at the request OF the Gov
ernor.
The statement as prepared by Mr..
Keltz, follows:
The following statement was given
macy commissioner:
In view of published accusations
against me as an officer tending to
discredit the administration of the
affairs Of state | feel it is due the peo-
pie that ! give plain statement of
facts. | have never before engaged In
fend myself personally or to justify
my official conduct, and do SO now
because Governor Carroll has seen fit
to force such controversy. AS for my
official record, covering five years and
involving delicate and disagreeable
duties in enforcement of law and pro-
tectionAof the interests of the state,
challengeng' fdmost critical inyesti-
Ar, i,, f,f
fairness. All shall do onow is to de-
fend my own good name from
what | feel to be a wanton assault
and to give the people the simple
truth as to the careful and busi
ness-like management of their affairs
SO far as have had to do with them.
| fully realize my disadvantage, for
while B. F. Carroll and B. f. Kelt7
are both state officials, both public
servants. eacL having duty and re
sponsibility, the exalted Office he holds
at present gives him ready hearing
in any controversy, and against the
forces he can command ! am practic
ally helpless No doubt he measured
this advantage before going into the
newspapers: but having faith in the
fairness of the people l AM confiden
they will insist on justice to even th'
hunlblest of their servants.
In the article he furnished the pres
Governor Carroll admits he sought IL
telephone interview to remove m'
from Office, but states that afterward
he found he had no right to do so. thel
turned the matter over to the attoi
ney general There are inaccuracie
in his formal statement which ough
to be corrected | will briefly relat
the facts
On March 18th while at my home i
Webster City was called by phone b
Governor Carroll who stated to m
that the executive council had raise
question as to some part of my jar
uary per diem bill | did not have tn
bill before me, as the governor dit
and cou.d not then discuss it. di
not resign nor agree to resign. ! col
sented to take the matter under az
visement and to let him know b
mail, as to whether l would compl
with his demand; but | stated to hill
that if | resigned it would have to 3
with the distinct and public acknow
edsement of the fact that my bill
wer. in exact accord with the decisio
- committee Of the executive coul
eli of which he. Auditor Carroll We
Chairman Later in the day / calle
hini by phone and asked him to defi
act.ea until he could take 1t up pc
sonai!y with me the following Thur
day to which he agreed
When | reached my Office in tt
capitor Thursday ] found the new
papers had published rumors OF VIII
the governor had done but were quo
i1g him as denying the phone conve
satior. so | decided it would be be
70 have all communications i'll wr
ing ] wrote him letter in whit
asked special statement as TO n
charges and went to his Office to pc
sonally present it and take up u
matter WIN him. He was busy and
left the matter with his messeng
with request that he tell the COVE
nor | would be in my office at the ca
ltol until p. m. the next day al
would respond to call to come I
fore him at any time. Not hearll
from him l went to his Office the ne
day and was told again the govern
was busy Having official busine
elsewhere left the city, and we
later the governor gave to the new
papers his prepared statement
has not 10 this time acknowledged t
receipt OF my letter nor accorded
the courtesy of an interview.
In his statement to the 8.1ress t
Governor ignores the claim as to
executive council finding fault with l
January bill and goes back nearly
year to reopen an old account. ]
gret this because the lapse Of time i