Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-01-12
POLICE BOARDS.
Gov. Humphrey Explains His Position on
the Question of Police Commandments
Renoyais

Gov. Humphrey Explains His Position on
the Question of Police Commissioners-
Removals.
TOPEKA. Kan, Jan. Gov. Hum
pilrey has issued an address on the
subject of police commissioners for
frst-class cities At his request the re-
publican members of the boards of
Leavenworth and Wichita resigned and
the democratic members were removed.
following is the address:
have had under consideration the question
of dis5anding the police boards in the several
cities of the first class, viz: Leavenworth.
Wichita Topeka, Kansas City Atchison and
Fort Scott, but have concluded not to do so.
notwithst landing the Judgment TO the contrary
Of many o. the hes. politicians Of the state In
Guiding some of my closest personal as well as
political friends,
When l came into Office, in 1889, found only
two clues with police boards, viz: Leavenworth
and Wichita The statutes providing for this
method of governing the police affairs OF cities
of the first class make il entirely discretionary
with the governor TO appoint or not appoint po-
lice commissioners. 1t seemed to that IL
the system was wise one. and belieyedit was
il sholId apply to all cities OF that class alike,
and accordingly 1 appointed commissioners
for the other four cities of that class Having
exercised the power and discretion vested in
by. the statutes, have concluded that il
would be neither fair proper for ne to dis
band these boards in the very last days OF my
adnnnistra ton without knowing presuming
what the policy of M successor may be in this
respect. [ think it better to let the boards re-
main, that he may adopt whatever policy
and take whatever action may seem in his
judgment wisest and best feel that he ought
to have the right to exercise his discretion ana
judgment under the law, as I did, freely and
without being embarrassed or hampered By the
outgoing admins tration.
am frank to confess that while believe in
this system of administering the police govern
ment of cities, as has been the practice in many
of the older cities, from which We copiel the
Law, yet as an instrumentaiity for the enforce
nlent of the prohibitory law in Kansas in cities
where the sentiment is hostile it has proven
uns.L satisfactory. The police commissioners are
dependent upon the city council for the pay
ment OF the police force, the result being that
prohi bition III necessary appropriations
not made, driving the commissioners into
curing revenue by means which are evasion
of the Law, and which place the board IN a false
attitude before the public. This vital weakness
in the law should be curei by necessary Iegis-
lation if the policy OF administe ring police af-
fairs in these cities is to be continued
The high character and standing of the
whom have from time to time appointed on
these boards is OF itself sufficient evidence OF
my earnest desire to secure good local govern
ment by the enforcement OF all laws, including
the prohibitory law. For example. these ap-
pointments nave included such men as George
A. Eddy. j. L Alternately, D. R. Anthony. in
LeaVenworth DE-. H w. Lewis, Judge w E.
Stanley, in Wichita; Rev DR.. McCabe, Hon
P. I Bonebrake, +. Spence. in Topeka, and so
on in other cities
In mailing such appointments have invaria-
bly, selected men OF known sympathy with and
in favor OF law and order generally In EeaveE-
worth some two years ago, 1 even appointed
the two republican members designated by thu
pastor of a church out OF his own congregation.
and in Kansas City the chairman OF the police
board and the police judge were taken out o.
another church but like others. they have
found themselves confronted by the difficulty
spoken of Notwithstanding this, greet to
say, the pastors Of both OF the churches re-
ferrci to have seen d t to Indulge il some TN
kind and unjust criticism of me IN regard to
the enforcement of the prohibitory law in the
cities mentioned. for which l was in nowiSe re-
sponsible
I deem it only proper to remark generally
that the difficulties experienced in the enforce
ment Of the law in the state have been very
largely increased by the result of the elections
of lo9) and 1892 in this that the policy OF pro-
hibition has been persistently and constantly
antagonized by the democracy of the state,
with the peoples party occupying an attitude
| of neutrality or Indifference toward 1t, leaving
the republican pArtT with minority of the
| votes as its only advocate In 1881 the orators
organization called the peoples party" in
sisted and main tanning on the stump and in
the press, that prohibition not issue,
notwithS landing the fact that the party'S
membership is largely made up of the people
| in the rural districts who have been and still
! are opposed to the saloon In addition this
IN 1871 some i0,USU o. more Republicans lolQcQ
| with the democratic party in the support of
| Gov. Robinson upon platform antagonist tic to
prohibi ton with the ult that the republican
| state ticket elected, excepting the
didate for attorney general, q populist candi-
| date for that ONCE, Gen Ives, having been
| elected by majority of about 800. The sig
nificaace of this result IS in the fact that the
| statutes passed in aid of the prohibitory law
reposed in the encouragement and not in the
governor the power TO appoint assistants,
| prosecute proceedings to GUST unfaithful county
| duty of seeing that the law faithfully exc
| cutcd.
| While Gen. Ives was elected in opposition to
| the policy Of the republican partT upon this
| qUes ton, yet bear willing testimony 10 the
i fact he has ably and diligently discharged TIE
| duties Of his Office. The enforcement OF the
] criminal laws and especially Of the prohibitory
| law, after all rests and depends almost wholly
! upon the county attorneys chosen by the people
| in the 1876 counties il the state. If the people
| elect public prosecutors who not in syEl-
| paJhy with the law it is hardly reasonable TO
/ expect that state officer. whether attorney
and enforce the law. however faithful or earnest
/ he may be.
When entered upon the duties Of the ONCE
| of governor l was and still am in hearty SYM
| patty with the prohibitory law and its en-
| fCrcement. 1 to-day, as 1 always have
been, opposed TO The saloon also conf
| dent That in this express The sentiment OF a
majority of the voters OF the state whenever