The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-13
lie, SAYS HODGES
Former Governor Replies to
Charges by Motter.
Denies He Spent States Money
for Groceries.
PHI NhES WARM IETIER
PUBLISHES WARM LETTER
Nearest Thing to Fighting
Word in Present Campaign.
Challenges Hotter to Give Proof
of Charges.

George H. Hodges. former governor
and Democrat nominee for United
States senator, today made short,
snappy response to charges against his
administration by H. H. Motter, Re-
publican state chairman. Hodges de-
MED he had used his funds for pay
ment of grocery bills or other per-
sonal expense. He branded Motter's
Icharge as "a deliberate falsehood
WITHOUT foundation"
Last week Motter made a counter
charge against the Democrats when
Forrest Luther, Democrat chairman,
produced figures TO show that $5,-
921.79 had been spent from the con-
tingent fund of Governor Allen in is
months for payment of wire tolls
Motter said newspapers had repeated
ly called public attention to use of
Governor Hodges's funds for personal
expenses and for payment of grocery
bills. Now Hodges declares the state
ment is a falsehood and places upon
Motter the responsibility of proving
his charge.
Invites Examination.
1.-The statement by Chairman Mot
ter, or anyone else, to the effect that
I used any of my contingent fund
while in office as governor for pay
ment of my grocery or other personal
| expense is a deliberate falsehood with
out foundation" Hodges told the State
Journal Il never used a penny of the
funds for any sort of personal expense.
Furthermore out of that contingent
| fund for my use as governor, there
was constructed a sleeping porch at
the governors house and several
rooms were equipped with furnishings.
| There were "a vouchers drawn on my
| contingent fund. Examination will
show no money from that fund was
1rnNMriaa athaT raFGnnal
expense"
Hodges statement TO The State
| Journal was really mild in compari-
son to a letter which he sent to Demo
cratic Chairman Luther. In that let
ter which he authorized for publica-
ton, Hodges laid down the warmes'
defy handed a man in Kansas polite;
in many months. The former gov
ernor said:
A "Putrfd Political Lie".
'I challenge Motter's statement thai
I used any funds to pay grocery bill:
as a putrid political lie and demand
that he publish the date. amount ant
! the articles so purchased or stand
branded by me as a common, chea
scoundrel."
Chairman Luther today gave tbs
Hodges challenge to the press 1t is
| perhaps the nearest thing to the fight
| ing word passed openly in politics ir
| LnlS state since hodges nanOe0 Lnt
lie to Sen. Henry Ganse of Emporia
during a debate in the state house iT
1911. Hodges was then state senator
| from Johnson county. The clash re
suited in a personal encounter in the
state treasurer's office after adjourn
ment. That was two years before
Hodges became governor.
In defense of Hodges official recorC
as governor, Chairman Luther todal
made comparison of wire expenses o
the Allen and Hodges administrations
He says Governor Allen spen
$5,921.78 for telephone and telegraph
service in 8 months. while Hodges
expense for a similar period was bu
$4S3.15 and less than 800 for hi
two years as state executive.
state records show that during tn
whole two years of his administration
| Governor Hodges did not spend a
imuch money on telephone and tele
graph bills as Governor Allen did il
one single month"; said Luther
During one month Governor Allen
telephone and telegraph bills ran NOR
than s1.I0O and during the entire tw
years of Hodges administration tn
telephone and telegraph bills Of tn
governors office were less than 500.