OCR Text |
Show It Is never a pleasant task to decrj the claims or the merits of a public official; and It mustr havo been with especial reluctance that the special sub-committee of the Kansas State Book Commission took the action they did, in depriving. Gen. Funston of the glory derived from the report of his swimming the Bag Bag river in the face of the enemy and winning a glorious glori-ous victory. It has been well known here, so many Utah boys being in the Philippines and present on the occasion referred to, that Gen. Ftinston did nothing of the kind. Wo do not know that he ever claimed that he did, but he allowed the story that some fool friend of his sent to the States, saying say-ing he did that act, to stand; and it la said that his commission recites that his promotion was "earned by his action ac-tion in swimming tho Bag Bag in the face of a severe firo from the enemy." Of course, if his commission reciteB that, Gen. Funston, as an officer and a gontleman and a man of honor, should have declined to rocelve it. Probably, therefore, it is an error to say that the commission recites this, for it '1b inconceivable incon-ceivable that he could have stood sponsor spon-sor for a slorj' which he know lo be false, and derive a perHonal advantage fom it; ho would necessarily have ox-plained ox-plained the mistake, and either hod that untrue statement struck out of the commission, or else refused it, |