The Prescott daily news., 1918-05-21

The State IS benng nooded with a campalSH cular signed by my opponent In consists of false hoods, miSrepresentations vicious nslnuatlons ana inuendoes leave it to the public to judge if this is the manly way a respectable and worthy candi- date should conduct himself towards opponent. If the charges have merit and are true, why not present them and let them speak for themselves and not becloud them with inuendo and dlsrespectful expressions. Facts will stand for themselves, and blingsgate is neither logic argument
 These circulars have been printed six weeks. and are just being sent out by and under the direction of T. J. Terral Secretary of State, whose duties of state rest lightly that he finds ample time to around into other peoples business and find fault with other departments and manage other peoples campaigns. The circular was held back until it was thought I would not have time to swer it and reach the public.
 This vicious circular contains few references to and extracts from the report of the legislative auditing committee made and published in March, 1915, which is a little than three years ago. and which has been public ever since. The auditing committee went down in history, and with it's labors and achievements. There was never anything in my official record to conceal to apologize for The records open and cean-cut, but not member of the committee ever saw asked to them. The legislative committee entered my office. The expert accountants came and did their work, and assured me that they found everything satisfactory. Not dollar was found msappro- priated, mis-spent out of place. Some few checks were on hand that had not been turned into the treasury for satisfactory reasons which were ex- planed, and the checks turned over to the ac- countants, that they might check up the same Some were not properly endorsed or made out and some were held pending registration of products which was necessary before tags could be shipped
 The transactions can be explained now just as they were then and in the campaign two years ago when the matter rehashed The funds were used in carrying the work of the department The legislature made no appropriation from the fertilizer funds to enforce the fertilizer law of t93 Inc auditor and treasurer would not pay out the funds as the law provides, claiming it was uncon- sttutlonal. The governor issued a deficiency ap- propriaton proclamation The auditor still refused to issue his warrants. The money was being piled up in the treasury to carry on the work of the in SPectlon and could not be used for any other pur- pose. We had to borrow money on personal credit or let the work go, else use the money received Tor tags, as the low provided used mart of inc money to pay part of the expenses and when the legislature met the appropriation was made tho vouchers were cashed, and the money paid back into the treasury, according to the records which had been kept so 1t might be checked I did not have or Keep the money on hand. It was in use for the State as intended and for the purpose directed bv the Legislature
 The checks for the feed fund were held over for mighty good reason. They amounted to less than "nrty uays recelpts, and happened to be on hand when the U. B. Court ranted an injunction against Ihe enforcement of the feed law and against me sehlng any more feed tags or receiving any moro money Tor feed tags, after that certain date H.v Ing shipped the tags I could not return the checks ana old not awnt to get in contempt of court bv paylng them into thetreasury after the court order was made. So kept them on hand and ,,oitod until the Legislature met in order that could bavo Legislative protection if ordered to refrrd +h ;.,
 Wy opponent will ask why the checks were mt do every uay' II he were not ignorant of the outes or the office and the many details he wou,d "o"' mere are many reasons why checks coming U departments can not be deposited It is never Proper to deposit public funds in the treasury untiI the transaction is closed because when onca mt ;r the treasury 1t cannot be drawn out again and bo returned. Cheeks could not be deposited ppt; or uorSeo' and many the treasurer would not accent so It became convenient in this as in all denartnor+ 'o turn m the checks monthly or at shorter perods such as Is the custom with some departments pou would call attention to the fact that was bondad ocer all or that time, and public funds in the hands ol one bonded officer when properly used and ac counted Tor are just safe as in the hands of an other Why don't my opponent jump on the conntv collectors for holding public funds until the dav of