Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-10-31
From Treasurer Jones.


As the election is drawing nea'
l desire through the columns o
the REGISTER to- make an appea.
to the citizens of Iron County, re.
CARELESS of politics, to assist mt
in my candidacy for re- election tt
the Office of County Treasurer.
This may seem unusual but
feel that the conditions under
which l have been placed fully
Justify it.
A few individuals in Ironton,
misrepresenting the Republican
party in this County, started and
circulated the report that my BOOKS
as Treasurer were out of balance
in other words that | was an en-
bezzler and short in my accounts
all the way from four thousand to
twenty four thousand dollars.
Many good people, after hearing
the charges against me repeated
time and again, were made to be-
lieve that something was actually
wrong and signed petitions asking
that my books be examined. An
investigation soon followed by two
sets of expert accountants and
when they had completed their
work, the County Court summed
up their findings and went into
the matter themselves with there
suit that my books were found
to be out of balance SEVENTY
NINE CENTS. An order was
made and entered of record in the
records of County Court to that
effect, signed by the Republican
President of the Court, Mr.. w. T.
Gay, completely refuting the
charges made against me, after
hundreds of dollars of the County's
money had been spent in a useless
investigation merely to crafty
the malice of a few character as
sassins in this city.
Various law suits we're wrong
fully instituted against me and
I was dragged from court to court
and compelled to pay costs and
Attorneys fees amounting to sew
eral hundred dollars.
1t is conceded now by all con-
cerned that this unjust attack up
on me was without warrant, q ter
rible mistake and availed nothing;
but a great injury has been done
me, nevertheless, and many who
signed the petitions asking that
my books be examined, say that
they will never again be, deceived
into signing another.
A few years ago l came to IRON
ton an inexperienced country boy,
reared by good parents and who'll
ly incapable of believing that Iron
County contained such people as
l have been compelled to fight to
save my good name; but being
dragged into it against my will,
1 did the best | could under
the circumstances, with the result
stated above If the infamous
charges have been reiterated in
this campaign I am not aware of
it, and l I'm of the opinion now
that my a%ccusers, believing that
they have injured and perhaps
killed me politically, are content
to let the matter drop. in order
to secure my defeat, however, Mr..
G. Collins a well-to-do lumber
man, farmer and Merchant, per-
haps the strongest and most infu-
entail Republican on the county
ticket in this county, was induced
to make the race against me.
l hold no malice or i'll will
toward the Republican party for
the outrageous treatment l have
received from certain individuals,
and many prominent Republicans
have already assured me of their
support.
But few realize what / have
gone through and the prosecutions
l have borne have made it impos-
sible for me to give the close at
tention to thel Office l could other
wise have done, but if I I'M re-
elected my office will receive
prompt and careful attention.
1t is not a question of official
emoluments, but my good name
is at stake, and as citizens and
friends: I asksyou by your vote to
disapprove of the methods prac-
ticed against me and assist me in
obtaining a just and complete vim
dication which will, to some ex-
tent, serve to right the wrong that
has been done.
I would refrain from treating
my worst enemy in the manner in
which I have been treated. You
could probably better understand
my situation if your brother, son
or any other intimate friend were
placed in my position.
Any assistance the voters Of
this county may see their way
clear to render me will be greatly
appreciated.
Yours, Truly,