Year: 1878

IhE REASON WHY.
ihe Commonwealth Of Sunday morning
speaking for the Governor, makes known
the reason why His Excellency has discov-
cred, at this late day, that former Board
OF Trustees violated the law. 1t says:
For months these much persecuied men
have been trayersing the state, warning the
innocent and confldins public to no longer
place trust In Geo. T. Anthony.


We were coniiden that some such reason
was at the bottom OF il, Tor we know the
Governor well enough TO know that he is
never moved by motive that does not rest
upon self.


Without pretending to speak for the
Board, and without knowing what
the members Of the Board may have
TO say in their own defense
We desire to call the attention OF the Com:
rncaueath TO 4 few facts, which are matters
OF record, and with which the people OF
the State are familiar: The members Of the
Board against whom the Governor makes
his crusade, were appointed by Governor
Osborn, when the legislature was not in
session, and consequently LEY could not be
confirmed by the senate {. ii its next meeting.
which took place at the time Governor
Anthony came into Office, and one Of his
first official acts, after conyersing with those
gentlemen, and informing himself 10
their mode OF doing business, was to Scad in
TIER names fer confirmation. They are, there
fore, his own appointees, and were appoint
el by him with the full knowledge Of the
fact that they were doing, and intended to
do, the very thing which lie now prosecutcs
them for doing


When their first account was received
under the new administration, the Auditor
refused to approve it, on the ground that
they had no right to draw their pay out Of
the appropriations for public buildings
They then went to the Governor and stated
their trouble to him. lie smiled benignly
and informed the gentlemen that there
would be no trouble about that; he knew
the law in the case, he knew that their ac
tion was legal and he would send the Attor
ney-General to inform the Auditor that The
proceeding was entirely regular, and thai
the account should be audited. lie de-
send the Attorney General TO the Auditor
aud the Auditor did thereafter approve tn,
accounts.


Now, We do not pretend to say whether
the action Of the Board was regular or ir
regular, legal OF illegal, but we do say, and
the facts Will bear Us out in the assertion
that whatever wasdone, legal or illegal, wa:
done with the consent and aGyice Of the
Governor. III the members of the Board
are guilty OF any wrong, the Governor, as
accessory, is equally guilty. II the men,
bers of the Board have violated the law
the Governor has been gnilty OF an unpar'
dcnsble dereliction of duty IN not proceed
ing against them more than a year ago, for
has all the time been perfectly cognizant
OF the acts upon which he now proposes tO
prosecute. Ii his action is purely for
the public good-prompted by
motives of disinterestei patriotism,
why were these men left undisturbed,-
even aided and abetted, by the Governor,
in their irregular practices, while they
were in Office, and carrying out the Gov
ernor's instructions to stamp Anthony
upon the institutions OF the State" and
only proceeded against when the most oi
them had gone out of Office, and out of the
stamping business. If man who warns
al. 81 1,oa
trust in George L. Anthony" deserves to
be prosecuted for Irregularities, why should
the same individual, guilty OF the same ir-
regularitie-, secure immunity by helping
the Governor to stamp Anthony upon the
institutions OF the State?'


The whole truth is, as every thinking
man in Kansas knows, that the members oi
this Board did only what other Boards have
dOne-what the Governor advised them tC
do, and told them they had 4 right to do
and that is, they drew their pay out of the
funds of the several public institutions, in,
stead OF out of a special appropriation fol
their payment. 1t is not pretended by the
Governor, or anybody else, that they have
drawn 4 cent more than the law allowed
them, for their per diem and mileage, but
that they have drawn it out OF the wrong
fund. And for this the Governor bring:
suit against them, in order TO make for
himself little campaign buncomb, al
ter having, himself, advised them to do the
very thing for which he now prosecutes
them. Evidently His Exoellency thinks
his case is growing desperate.


FRAUD.