The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-21

INVITES FULLEST PUBLICITY
Publisher Points Out What His
Paper Has Printed.
A Man Must Be Elected on His
Merits, He Says.

Answering the challenge OF Cover
nor Hodges for q series of joint de-
bates through the columns Of the Cap
per publications, Arthur Capper today
stated that his paper IL open to the
governor A. It has been in the past.
The squesttOn4of q debate between the
two guberna1orial candidates through
the coluninS nfsthe papers. Is not mem
toned exceptto assert that the rover
nor may use the Capper papers In his
debate with me Kansas taxpayers II
he so desires.
That the governorsfas not been mis-
represented in the past and has not
lacked for full hearing through the
columns If the Kansas press, Is the
assertion If the Topeka publisher. The
Topeka cditof-gubernatorial candf-
date points to the large amount OF
of the various departments of state
and asserts thst at all times his papers
have been fair. At no time. says Mr..
Capper. has the governor or any OF his
representa- tives sought or demanded q
statement or hearing in the papers
fered this same hearing in the future.
Is Spectacular Bunc.
In his reply to the governors chal-
lenge for newspaper debate. Mr.
Capper said:
ut seems to me this spectacular
6OAe "a OQnC. IL unworthy O1 the 6ONCA
nor and can get nowhere. The Ques-
ton In dispute Is, whether or not Gov
ernor Hodges has kept his freely made
promises OF two years ago to reduce
taxes Is per cent. Only tax receipts
and records can settle such a question.
1t Is question OF Democratic promises
versus Democratic performances. A
comparison of state balances and tax
receipts for 1911-12 and 1884 would
prove what every taxpayer already
knows, that the governors promise
has utterly failed of fulfillment.
-As have said from the start, 1t is
facts that the people want In this case.
not wind-Jamning nor argument. And
as far as nave learned. the governor
has not yet advanced one good reason,
nor even lame excuse. for his stead
fast refusal to consent to an impartial
audit by disinterested persons OF the
expenditures of his administration.
Governor Hodges, in his latest let
ter. again complains that his admin
istration has been systematically, mis-
and that their columns are closed to
him.
Says HodxeSr statement Untrue.
"The governor has been repeating
this untrue sta&Ament Tor months In all
sH S che n f6vernor. nor anyone
with his office his ever pre-
scented to the Capital any information
or statement OF facts in'Tegard to the
transactions or achievements of the
Hodges administration that. did not
find q place in this paper. There new
err has been a time that the columns
of the Capital have not been open to
the governor and his official family
for any statement of facts and figures
in regard to his administration and
Governor Hodges well knows this.
Administration Given . Hearing.
81 ynA
the Capital. in accord with its policy
of giving all the news fairly, has
printed for the benefit of its readers
342 columns of political speeches.
news matter, and other information
given out from the Office of Governor
Hodges or his appointees, to inform
the people about the work of the
Hodges administration. In addition
to the governors own speeches. this
has included forty-0ne columns in re-
gard to the work of the public utilities
commission, forty-six columns from
the educational institutions. nineteen
columns from the state fire marshal,
sixteen columns from the state grain
department. twenty columns from the
state employment bureau. forty-four
columns from tho bank commissioner.
thirty-efght columns from the state
board of control, twenty-nine columns
from the prison board-all Of which
departments are now directly under
the governors control.
Printed Columbus Speech.
The Capital even printed the best
bus speech. in which he informed the
prohibitionists Of Ohio that he was
elected two " airs ago because he was
the candidate Of the preachers and the
law and order element. while his OPP
ponent (Capper) was the candidate of
the liquor interests.
"A comparison Of the files shows
that the Capital has printed more Of
ncial information about the business
of the Hodges administration than It
has ever given any previous admins
tration In Kansas. Matter Of this ma
ture. prepared by the governor and
his political associates, which has been
book almost az large az. the Bible.
I'm his efforts to create sympathy
and divert attention from his failure
to make good his campaign promises
OF tax reduction, Governor Hodges de-
elares he has been unable to get infor-
nation before the people in regard to
the work OF his administration.
aodees' Nevyspaper 'suppost"
Every Newspaper man in Kansas
knows that Governor Hodges has the
best organised and most effective pub
licfty bureau ever maintained by 4
Hansas executive. He early appointed
twenty competent newspaper men to
various state positions and they have
been watchful Of his political interests
almost from the the beginning OF his
administration. He has had from the
beginning of his term, and stin has.
the kindly support Of not only the
leading evening paper OF Kansas, To-
Gated at the state capital. but twelve
other daily neNspapers covering every
c00GFegaS0nal disfricf In The nfafa. F4a
has had the friendship Of the Kansas
City Star. issued every morning and
afternoon. He has had the assistance
Of Judge Seatou's fAm0us press bu-
reau. maintained In the governors Of
nee 1T state e1He1lse. This bureau has
been able to qbtniu At least . column
a. space every week for the last PEAR
In nearly nnA hundred daily ana xaellx