The weekly soliphone., 1915-06-25

the contending forces before u.s. determine for our
selves just why Hodges concluded to deny the committee
further access to his records
The investigating committee, composed of George
w. Garrett, Monroe Smith and y. A. Gentry ap-
pointed by the legislature to conduct thorough investi
cations into all the departments Of state The resou
ton provided that expert accountants should be en-
poyed to work in conjunction with the committee mem
bers and the committee to be empowered to con-
tinue its work after the legislature adjourned Hardly
had that body disorganized than injunction ap-
piled for and granted preventing the committee and it's
accountants from receiving pay for their work. this in
junction having been applied for by certain Interests
fearing the light. Gov Hays processing great interest
in the work undertaken, issued special proclamation
covering the financial end of the difficulties In hand
ing down its opinion, however, the supreme court de-
cared that the legislature had authority to maintain
the committee after adjournment of the general
bly, will be SEEM therefore, that although Gov. Hays
had power to provide funds for continuation of the
work, the committee was acting without legal authority
to demand books and papers, and lacked, also, legal
Ithory to summon witnesses and them to testify
under OATH However, heads of of the departments
professed an eagerness to have the Investigations
red on, and it not assumed that any honorable Of
fical would decline to permit these gentlemen, appoint
led by the state legislature to look their accounts
If this assumption entertained by any, how
ever let it be dispeled No had the nvestiga
tors begun their work in the secretary of states office
than that plous individual grabbing at an excuse so
1smpe that we are not surprised it occurred to him.
cosed his records to the accountants and issued an ap
peal to the public in which he assumes to believe he had
been made special target for political reasons and that
AN adverse report would be made his office regard
less of the actual findings Most certainly Mr. Hodges
is in better position than anyone else know whether
material for adverse report be found his
ords, and the natural assumption is unavoidable that
Hodges had something to hide else he would not have
denied his records to the accountants
IT Hodges sincerely believed this committee would
persecute him, he would have been justified in request
ing that he be permitted to have an accountant check
the records with the states representatives thus amply
protecting him against "a report for political reasons
But Mr. Hodges did nothing of the kind Instead
he accepted true the statement of discharged &C
countant who has been corrupted most unspeakably and
upon this weak thread he proposes to hang fall.
The discharged accountant is named Thomas. His
services dispensed with by the committee because
it found he had either permitted procured State
Auditor Dickinson and Mr.. Dickinsons assistant W. NJ
StOddard to advance money upon unpaid vouchers
Previous to this time attention of the committee had been
called to the fact that Hodges Dickinson Stoddard and
the accountant Thomas were frequently together Sus
pciOn aroused that something not entirely ethical
was developing, and when evidence Of the financial
deal between Dickinson and Stoddard was produced
the committee very promptly discharged the account
ant. WhereupOn this self-same accountant who while
serving the state special auditor permitted his vouch-
eIS to be caShed by the very officials he nVestgat
ng issued statement to the effect that the office of
secretary of state upon request of Gov Hays was to be
made a special target Tor adverse criticism Upon this
statement Mr. Hodges hedges, and appeals to the 'peo
lie" for vindcatOn.
In a matter Of veracity between Gov Hays and Sec
rotary Hodges this paper would be neutra-absouteIy
NEUTRAL and in the matter of believing either upon an
important issue involving sef-nerest we would still be
neutral in fact, under such circumstances would be
we'll to fight for the maintenance of ones neutrality
Therefore, it is of little consequence that Gov Hays de-
MES pOntblank, etc. etc. that he indicated an adj
report would be desirable regarding the secretary
of states office and it is equally mmateria that Hodges
nrOfeSSeS believe the statement of Thomas uhich