The Mena weekly star., 1918-05-23
JNO. H. PAGE. Commissioner Mines. Manufacture and Agriculture
An Answer to Slanderous Circular

Inc oJdte IS Delug HOOueu WttH d cdItl- paign circular signed by my opponent. 1t consists of falsehoods, misrepresentation vicious insinuations and inuendoes. l leave it to the public to judge if this is the manly way a respectable and worthy candidate should conduct himself toward an opponent. If the charges have merit and are true, why not precent the mand let them speak for themselves and not becloud them with in- uendo and disrespectful expressions. Facts will stand for themselves and billingsgate IS neither logic nor argument.
 The Reason.
 These circulars have been printed six weeks, and are just now being sent out by and under the direction of + J. Terral, Sec retary of State, whose duties of state rest so lightly that he finds ample time to nose 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 would not have time to answer it and reach the public.
 This vicious circular contains a few refer ences to and extracts from the report of the legislative auditing committee made and published in March, 1915, which is little more than three years ago, and which has been public ever since. The auditing con- mittee went down in history, and with it's iabors and achievements There was never anything in my official record to conceal or to ap0logize for The records were open and clean-cut, but not member of the com mittee ever saw or asked to see them. The legislative committee never entered my of fee. The expert accountants came and did their work, and assured me that they found everything satisfactory. Not dollar was found misappropriated, mis-spent or out of place. Some few checks were on hand that had not been turned into the treasury for satisfactory reasons which were ex- pained, and the checks were turned over to she accountants, that they might check up ghe same. Some were not properly endorsed or made out. and some 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 then and in the campaign two years ago, when the matter was re- hashed The funds were used in carrying on the work of the department The leglsla- lure made no appropriation from the fertll- ner funds to enforce the fertilizer law of. I9lS The auditor and treasurer would not pay out the funds as the law provides claim ing it was unconstitutional The governor issued deficiency appropriation proclama- zion The auditor still refused to issue hls warrants. The money was being piled up in the treasury to carry on the work of the inspection, and could not be used for any ether purpose. We had to borrow money on narsonal credit or let the work go or else nse the money received for tags, as the law provided. used a part of the money to pay mart of the expenses. and when the legisla- fure met the appropriation was made, the vouchers were cashed, and the money paid back into the treasury. according to the rec ards which had been kept, so it might be checked. i did not have to keep the money on hand. It was in use for the State as ln-l tended and for the purpose directed by the Legislature
 The cheeks for the feed fund were held nver for a mighty good reason. They amounted to less than thirty days receipts, and happened to be on hand when the U. ;. Court granted an injunction against the en- forcement of the feed law and against me selling any more feed tags or receiving any more money for feed tags after that certain date. Having shipped the tags 1 could not return the checks, and did not want to get in contempt of court by paying them into ahe treasury after the court order was made. So kept them on hand and waited until the Legislature met, in order that could have legislative protection If ordered 10 refund the items. My opponent will ask why the checks were not deposited every Jay. If he were not ignorant of the duties af the office and the many details he would know There are many reasons why checks coming to departments can not be deposited. It is never proper to deposit public funds in the treasury until the transaction is closed, because, when once put in the treasury it cannot be drawn out again and be returned. Cheeks should not be deposited until en- dorsed and many the treasurer would not