Evening star., 1949-04-26
3 Illinois Editors
And Publishers on
Green State Payroll

Green State Payroll
Repercnssioas sttu are being
heard in Illinois from the dis
closure that - editors and pub
Hshers OF 6oicnstate neics-
papers tcere on the State pay
roll during the administration
OF Cor. Dsoioht II. Green. The
revelation tccs made by tico
nepsmen, George Them OF the
Chicago Daily Neus and Roy
Harris OF the st. Louis Post Dis
patch. iCho obtained the usa-
terial from the State Auditors
Department. Mr.. Thiem's story.
as published in the Chicago
Daily Eews. tolloins. in part:
SPRINGFIELD, H.. April 26.-
Thirty-three editors and publish
ers Of down-State Illinois neTspa-
pers were carried on the State
payrolls by former Gov. Dwight H
Green for . total Of more than
$305, 900.
Relatives of the editors. column
lists and employees collected an
additional $los.lS3 since 1912 dur
ing the Green administration,
records in the State auditors Of
nee disclosed.
The auditors records do not in
clude payments made prior TO
l943.
Nearly all the payrollers are
connected with weekly and semi
weekly newspapers. But at least
two labor magazines and several
dailies had publishers. stan men,
bers or relatives drawing State
money.
Some Held Responsible Jebs.
Several held responsible jobs in
the late administration and gave
the major part Of their time to
State work.
With few exceptions. the news
papermen. went Oh the payroll
shortly after Green was defeated
for reelection. A few stayed on
until removed by Gov. Stephenson.
who took Office in January.
Topping the list In the amount
Of money collected was former
State Senator william r. McCau-
ley Of Olney, co-owner and pub
Usher of the Daily Mail of that
city. who drew q total Of $4l. Psi.
A spokesman In the auditor q
ONCE said McCauley also had q
State car at his disposal. Nc
Cauley's payroll card listed him
rs a special investigator" and
statistical clerk"
Arnold Benson, editor and pub
Usher Of the Batavia Herald.
served as State director Of asri-
culture until recently. drawing q
total Of $22.372.72. the auditors
record disclosed.
Tive Shared Pest.
Harold ]. Cruser. publisher Of
the Elmhurst Leader and other
Du Page County newspapers. and
Herschel ]. Blaser. editor and pub
Usher Of the Aledo Times Record,
shared the post Of superintendent
Of printing in the finance de-
partment.
Among the editors and publish
ers listed as oil inspectors In the
revenue department was ]. Norris
Vallow. editor Of the Kinmundy
Express IN Marion County. whose
pay totaled $14.37S.30.
Conner Bath, columnist on the
Peoria Star. collected $5.sll.l0.
He was removed from the Labor
Department payroll November 30.
aele, after Green's defeat. VII
liam ~ Bridges. Yienns, brother
be Royce Bridges. editor Of Vienna
times, drew sS.5os ~ . state
policeman. r
Brother Alse On Payroll.
Bridges worked In . newspaper
ONCE at Marion while holding
down the State job. Another
brother, James. is . deed inspec-
tor in the Agriculture Department
who drew $500 since February
/. 1916.
In his Chicago law ONCE former
Gov. Green issued . statement
saying:
"The article cannot be regarded
as q revelation rs many Of the
gentlemen listed held prominent
positions In the State administra-
ton and rendered conspicuous
public service.
Three Of the gentlemen listed
received personal appointments
from me. They were Director
Arnold p. Benson Of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture. Harold J.
Cruser. superintendent Of print
ing, and Hershel J. Blazer. who
served both as superintendent OF
printing and superintendent Of
the Multigraphing Division. All
Of them adequately performed
their State duties. and I know Of
no criticism Of their service.
One Asked to Continue.
'.Daily News has previously re-
"a