The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-09
Kansas Democrats Won't Let
Up on State Figures.
Discredit Turner Statement of
Saving This Year.
INCREASE OF 100 Per CENT
BOurbOns Show Up Revenue
Fund for 8 Years.
Dizzy, Dazzling Figures a Mys-
terry to the Voters.
BY A. L. sHULTZ.

1t looks as tho the Democrats are
going to do a lot of tax debating on
their own account whether the Re-
publicans join in the contention or
not. The fact that Chairman Hawk
of the Republican committee has de-
cIined to send w. Y. Morgan into the
campaign for some tax debates with
jonathan NJ. Davis isn't likely to dis
turb the resoIute course of the Bour-
hons They are now preparing to
show that Norton A. Turner doesn't
keep his books properly and that the
tax statements which he made recent
ly were not facts but a bunch of fig
ures.
A lengthy brief has been prepared
by the Democrats to show that Tur-
ners statement of the states financial
affairs was not the exact record, but
a campaign document. 1t is admitted,
of course, that the figures which Tur-
ner gave are the correct figures and
that the funds which he reported are
actually on hand. Expenditures are
also admitted to be just as the state
auditor gave them. Fact is the Demo-
crat figures were taken from the audi
tors own records. But the little in
corporations and constructions which
persons who compile figures know
how to handle so well are in dispute.
And it will probably prove just as
clear to the ordinary voter as a refer
ence to the south hill road out of
Smyrna.
Both party platforms make glowing
reference to their stand for tax re-
duction this year. The Democrats
rather infer that perhaps most of the
people for tax increases since the
Hodges administration should be WIS.,
tied by the Ku KluX Khan or volun-
teer vigilance committee. On the
other hand the Republicans merely
make light reference to the increased
cost of things during the last year
and suggest that every one spit on the
slate and start all over again.
Insist On Issue.
Light references to the tax matter
tho, won't go. 1t seems that in spite
of the platform declarations the
Democrats will insist on making it an
issue.
So, in order to be properly prepared
for the occasion, they have prepared
their own figures. None of the figures
which they are planning to put out
boost the Republican cause beyond the
mark where Auditor Turner dropped
the state financial problem. The tax
document mildly but firmly asserts
that the true facts regarding Turner'S
own books and records are as follows.
Then rows of dizzy figures. From
that point the matter is just as clearly
in the mind of the ordinary voter as
what America would have drawn
under the Armenian mandate.
The Democrat tax document de-
clares there has been an increase of
s5.911.662 in appropriations which ac-
c"unt1 for an unexpected balance of
s2,OS2.299. Then. too. the new tax
bulletin asserts that an increase of
S976,467 has occurred in state ex-
pCnscs during the last year in spite
OF the Turner claim that a good deal
of money appropriated for various de-
partments was turned back into the
state treasury. The Democrat figures
show expenses of $7.O59.632 for the
fiscal year of 1921 and sS,OS5,1OO for
1922.
If the Bourbon figures on public
expenses continue to roll in there may
really be something to talk about be-
fore election day. The statement
which has been issued shows an in
crease in county tax lev:es of Isl per
cent since 1918. Total appropriations
increased 145 per cent in the same
period, the statement shows. 1t is also
urged that total revenues to the gen.
eral fund of the state increased 100
per cent in the nine-year period. Ex-
penditures from the general revenue
fund during the period from 1914 to