The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-19
STUBS IN GAME.
GovernOrEnters Correspondence
School for Writers.
Replies to Wagstaff Speech at
Independence.
IGNORES A. c. STITCH.
Chairman List OF Blunt QueS-
ti0ns Left Unanswered.
But Wsgstaff Speech Branded
as Mass of Fabrication
IGNORES A. c. STITCH

Governor EEuDDs mas II l1SL DLD AC1L
his long silence and makes reply 10
some Of the charges made against his
administration by Mr. Wagstaf and
his supporters. The governor ignores
the Stich letter and list OF questions
and confines himself strictly to a re-
ply 10 some Of the statements Of the
Wagstaf keynote speech at Independ-
euce. He goes over the same ground
that has been covered already in this
campaign. Following is open letter:
Hon. Thos. Wagstaff, Candidate for
Governor, Independence, Kan:
Dear Nj Wagstaff: on account OF
engagements which made it necessary
for me 20 be absent from Topeka,
have been unable 70 give attention TO
the charges you made against my ad-
mirlstratiOn in your keynote speech at
dependence.
No conscientious man who aspires
q hold the highest office within the
gift Of the people OF this common
wealth would make positive statements
about matters OF such great import
ance 10 the state as you made al Inde-
penGeIce without having definite. reli-
able Information which would sustain
and prove the truthfuluess Of his
statements
IN the first place you charge at IN
dependence that I have increased the
lars. and since the Independence
speech you have increased the amount
70 one and One-half million dollars
Will you please state publicly what au-
thority or power under the law the
governor has to increase state taxes
Can you as lawyer cite one single
line or sentence from our state con-
stitutiOn or statutes that gives the gov
ernor any authority or power whatever
70 increase state tax ievies2
Aharrr T.. I
Do you not know as a lawyer and a
citizen that taxes are levied by the
state tax commission for the sole pur-
pose OF meeting appropriations made
by the legisIature2 Do YOU know of
any way that the governor can ex-
pend one single dollar from the state
treasury until il has been appropriated
by the state legislature? Do you not
know as matter of fact that il is q
crime punishable by Imprisonment for
the governor or any other state Of
uclaI 10 even make contract binding
the state for any sum of money not
authorized by legislative enactment?
II not, l cite YOU to sections S964 and
1865 of the general statutes of 1909.
The governor has power to veto an
preparation bills VIII you name spec
ifcally what appropriation bill passed
by last legislature you would have We
toed Il you had been governor?
VIII you not be fair enough to state
mission increased the tax levy nearly
one million dollars when the legisla-
ture only increased the appropriations
for the same year approximately
S325,000? And will you say that the
state tax commission mtSre presented
the facts in the following statements
which I quote from a letter received
from them under date Of September
IS, 1909. and which were published al
that time:
IL To- Of
year il became apparent that the levy
for 1908 had been insufficient to meet
current expenses The increased
levy for 1903 was not made because
Of increased appropriations for the
present biennial period Of 1910 and
1911 over the biennial period of 1908
and 1909 but was made for the sole
purpose of placing the treasury as
above stated on a solvent basis
Cites J. NJ Nation in Defense.
You stated in your Independence
speech that there was no deficit at the
beginning OF my administration. Hon.
James NJ. Nation, auditor OF state.
made the following statement to me
in letter signed by himself under
date OF October 2nd, 1909
In answer TO your inquiry concern
ing the condition of our finances at
the commencement of your admins
tratiOn. will say that on the first day
Of DeCem Der, 1908. we had in the gem
eraI revenue fund about 10000 At
that time the expenses of the state
for November had not been paid. All
the taxes of 1907 on which the state
relied for the payment Of expenses up
until January l had been drawn As
the running expenses of the state at
that time apprOximated 100000 a
month. il is apparent that there was
deficit OF about S6.000.000. which had
to he paid out of the 1905 tax levy
VIII you. Mr. Wagstaff. state pub
liCly that Mr.. Nation made a false
statement about this matter. or will
you claim that he did not know what
he was talking about when he fur
nished me the above information
Do you know. Mr.. Wagstaf. that all
this talk about Revision of Taxes
Downward is ridiculous without you
elect a legislature pledged TO reduce
the appropriations for state institu-
tons and the general purposes OF the
state2 In case you do elect q Iegisla-
ture viii it be in sympathy with the
policy and political interests Of the
men who are promoting and fnanc-
ing your campaign Do you think
Dave Mulvane, head and shoulders of
the corporation lobby for years before
our state legislature, Sam Fitzpatrick.
political manager for the Standard Oil
Co, and Mort AlbauEh and a score of
other machine politicians. are spend
Ing their time and somebody's money
70 reduce the taxes Of Kansas
Driven by public opinion you seem
70 nave abandoned your original at
tack on the increased appropriations
for the state educational institutions
You stated in your Independence
speech that no one would ever hear
You Criticise expenditures for these
institutions Do you knoaw. as a
institutions Do you know, as a
increased appropriations by the last
legislature were caused by increased
appropriations for the educational in
stftutions7
Growth of Institutions.
Are you aware that the attendance
At the university. agricultural college