The courier-index., 1918-05-24

The State is being flooded with campaign circular signed by my opponent It consists of fasenoods ms representation vicious insinuatons and inuenuoes. leave it to the public judge this is the manly way
 respectable and worthy candidate should conduct h- self towards an opponent If the charges have merit and are true why present them and let them speak TOT themselves and becoud them with inuendo and ds- respectful expressions Facts will stand for themselves and bllingsgate is neither logic nor argument
 THE REASON
 These circulars have been printed three weeks ana are just being out by and under the direction or T Terral Secretary of State, whose duties of state rest so lightly that he finds time to nose around into other peoples business and find fault with other depart ments and manage other peoples campaigns The cir cular was held back until it thought would not have time to answer it and reach the public.
 This vicious circular contains few references lo and extracts from the report of the legislative auditing committee in March, 1915 which is little than three years ago. and which has been public ever snce The auditing committee went down in history and wh it's labors and achievements There was never anytnmg fin my official record to conceal apologize for The records were open and cean-cut but not member of the committee asked to see them The iegs- atiye committee entered office The expert ac contants came and did their work and assured me that they found everything satisfactory. Not dollar was found misapproprated, msspent or out Of place. Some few checks hand that had not been turned into the treasury for satisfactory which were ex- ulaned and the checks turned over to the ac- countants that they might check up the same. Some were not properly endorsed made out and were held pending registration of products which was neces sary before tags could be shipped
 The transactions can be explained now just as they were thsn and in the campaign two years ago, when the matter rehashed. The funds were used Tn carryng on the of the department. The legislature made no appropriation from the fertilizer funds to en- force the fertilizer law of 1913. The auditor and treasurer would pay out the funds the law pro- yides claiming it unconstitutional. The governor issued deficiency appropriation proclamation The auditor still refused to issue his warrants The money was being piled up the treasury to carry the work of the inspection and could not be used for other purpose We had to borrow money personal credit or let the work go else the money received for tas as the law provided used part of the money to pay part of the expenes and when the legislature met the appropriation made, the vouchers were cashed and the money paid back into the treasury according to the records which been kept might be checked I did not have keep the money on hand. It was in use for the State intended and for the purpose d rected by the legislature.
 The checks for the feed fund were held over for a mighty good They amounted to less than thirty days receipts and happened to be hand when the U S. Court granted injunction against me selling any more feed tags receiving any money for feed tags after that certain date Having shipped the tags could the checks and did not want to get in contempt court by paying them into the treasury af ter the court order was made So kept them hand, and waited until the Legislature met, in order that could have Legislative protection if ordered to refund the items My opponent will ask why the checks were not deposited every day If he not ignorant of duties of the office and the many details he would know. There many why checks coming to departments not be deposited It is proper to deposit public funds in the treasury until the transac ton closed because, when put in the treasury 1t can not be drawn out again and be returned Checks could be deposited until endorsed, and many the treasurer would accept it became convenient in this in all departments to turn in the checks monthly or at periods is the custom with departments would call attention to the fact that bonded officer all of that tme and public funds in the hands bonded officer when properly used and accounted for just safe in the hands of another Why don't my opponent jump on the county collectors holding public funds until the day of set clement? Isn't he afraid they will be tempted to keep it? Any sane man knows that public money is safe
 IL III