Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-09-05
cAPPER OFFERS HIS COLUMNS TO
HODGES

Hodges continues his famous side
stepping movement whenever con-
fronted by Chairman Gafford's propo-
sition to submit the records Of the
expenses of his administration 10 a
committee of experts. His latest
dodge is second letter TO Arthur
Capper, Republican candidate for
governor. 1t is another challenge
to Mr.. Capper, personally yarla-
tion of the governors joint-debate
idea, and quite ignores the real point
at issue. Instead of the proposed ex-
animation of the states balances by
an unprejudiced committee OF &C
countants to settle the question OF
the half million increase in state
taxes-two of Nthese accountants to
be named by the governor himself
and one by the Republican chairman
the governor again challenges"
Mr. Capper. This time it is to writ
ten debate in the columns OF MI
Capper's newspaper, The Capital
Referring to the governors letter,
Mr.. Capper said today:
ssIt seems to me this spectacular
sort of bunk is unworthy of the gov
ernor and can get nowhere. The
question in dispute is whether or not
Governor Hodges has kept his freely
made promises of two years ago to re-
duce taxes 25 per cent. Only tax re-
ceipts and records can settle such a
question. 1t is question of Demo
cratic promises versus Democratic
performances. A comparison of state
balances and tax receipts for 1911-'12
and 1924 would prove that every
taxpayer already knows, that the
governors promise has utterly failed
of fultillment.
HAs / have said from the start, it
is facts that the people want in this
case, not wind jamming nor argu-
ment. And as far as l have learned,
the governor has not yet advanced
one good reason, nor even a lame ex-
cuse, for his steadfast refusal to con-
sent to an impartial audit by dis
interested persons of the expendi-
lures of his administration.
Governor Hodges, 1nhis latest let
ter, again complains that his adj
ministration has been Systematically
misrepresented by the Capper publ
cations and that their columns are
closed to him. !
1.-The governor has been repeating
this untrue statement for months in
all his political speeches.
Neither the governor nor anyone
commissioner, thirty eight 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.
1.-The Capital even printed the best
part of the governors famous Colum
bus speech in which he Informed the
prohibitionists of Ohio that be was
elected two years ago because he wa:
the candidate of the preachers ano
the law and order element, while hi!
opponent (Capper) was the candidate
of the liquor interests.
"A omparison of the files shows
that The Capital has printed more
official information about the bust
ness of the Hodges Administration
than it has ever given any previous
administration in Kansas. Matter o
TINS nature, prepared DA LIE SVNei
nor and his political associates
which has been printed in The Capt.
tai, would make book almost a
large as the Bible.
ssIn his efforts to create sympath,
and divert attention from his failur
to make good his campaign promise
of tax reduction, Governor Hodge
declares he has been unable to ge
Information before the people in re
connected with his Office has ever pre-
: scented to The Capital any informa
ton or statement. of facts in regar'
to the transactions or achievement
tof the Hedges administration tina
did not find place in this paper
There never has been time that Tn
columns of The Capital have not bee
; open to the governor and his officis
family for any statement of fact
and figures in regard TO his admin.
o tration and Governor Hodges we
O knows this.
u "A careful tabulation shows tina
n The Capital, in accord with its polio
q of giving all the news fairly, Ina
printed for the benefit of its reader
y 342 column of political speeches, new
10 matter. and other information give
~ out from the office of Governor Hot
% ges and his appointees, to inform III
10 people about the work OF the Hodgt