The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-30
She Denies the Right of the Executive
to Remove Her from Office and
Demands an Inquiry.
WILL KEEP HER POSITION
And EndeavOr to Attend the Next
Meeting Of the Board.
Her Successor to Be Appointed by the
Governor SOOn--Lively Row
Expected Next Week.

TOPEKA, Kan, Dec. 29.-Mrs. Lease to-
day sent General Leyelling. by messenger.
the following letter:
Dear Observation-Disclosures any inten-
ton OF questioning your authority, the wis
dom of your acts, or the integrity of your
have, as chief executive of this State, tried
and sentenced me without according me
that which the law of our land accords to
the viest criminal-the right OF defense.
Were | an emplOye OF yours your right to
perpetrate this act of injustice might depend
upon your inclination. AS it is, l recognize
the fact that l am an employe OF the State,
accountable as such to the people of this
State for my official record, and for them,
as well as Ior myself, l demand a statement
and investigation of the charges preferred
against me, that may have an opportunity
to concede the manifest justice of your de-
cree or defend myself from the imputation
of hireling politicians. Most faithfully yours,
MRS. LEASE.
President Board State Trustees. President
Board State Trustees State Charitable In
StitutiOns."
To guard against legal technicalities, Mrs
Lease signs two titles, there being some
question about the correct one. 1t is gener-
ally understood at the Statehouse that La
Dor Commissioner Todd, who was caned at
Florence recently, will be removed by the
Governor tomorrow. Mrs Leases appoint
ment was confirmed by the Senate, and she
alleges she is not accountable to the Gov
ernor, but to the people unless charges are
preferred and sustained.
1t Is learned on good authority that John
L. Eaton fusion Democrat is the only
name heard in the atmosphere OF the Gov
ernor's office in connection with the appoint
ment of a successor TO Mrs. Lease. Eaton
Is prominent Winfield attorney, who was
a leading candidate before President CleVe-
land for the place secured by United States
Tonight Mrs. Lease said to a reporter
that, Notwithstanding Governor dwellings
SELF a member of the board. and at the
regular meeting In January she proposed
to be present and take her usual place:
THE announcement made by Mr.. Chevault
that / have employed attorneys to make
fight In the courts" she continued, lis I'M
true. have employed neither Gleed. Ware
q Gleed, r. NJ. Chenault nor any other
lawyer. Mr.. Chenault, l believe, is posing
as lawyer, but / about to wire him
TO keep quiet and await developments.
There is no cause for excitement or frenzy.
Nobody has been hurt except Governor
LewelIing, and L guess ne is able-at least
he thinks soto take care of himself. The
real reason for the attempt at removal,
so far as L can see, is because l would not
agree TO introduce machine politics into
the board. On this account 1 became OBJ
noxious to Mr.. Householder and Mr. Waite
There we clashed, and the Governor has
chosen to take the advice of the politicians
will see about that. am not out yet.
Governor Lewelling claims the arbitrary
right of removal. Then why has he not
members, long ago? This would have put
the board absolutely in the hands of the
PopulstS, and harmony would have been
insured. There's where the trouble has
come in. The Republicans stand in with
Householder and Waite. I asked the Gov
ernor some time ago to remove the Repuh-
licans and appoint Populists, but he claimed
that he had no power to remove until the
expiration of their terms of appointment,
because they had been confirmed by the
Senate. If he could not remove the Repub-
licanS how can he remove me? The same
law applies. ! would have resigned long
ago IF this war had not been made on me
by Householder and Waite. But as L knew
to stay and give the politicians all the
trouble 1 could by continuing my labors
for the better management of the institu-
tons"
Governor Lewelling was then seen and
told that Mrs. Lease denied his right TO
remove. With bland smile, he said:
Does she? Well. she has been removed.
week. The question of my authority to re-
move has been settled by the Supreme
Court in the case of Railroad Commission
ers Anthony and Mitchell, who declined to
recognize the right of the executive coun-
Gil to remove. In these cases the court de-
cided plainly that the appointing power
was the sole judge of the cause of re-
mova1."
of course, all the Statehouse officials in
dorse the Governors action, but among
the rank and file OF the party dissatisfac-
ton is the ruling spirit. Everybody is on
the tip of expectation now waiting for the
regular meeting OF the Board of Charities,
which will take place in January, at which
Mrs Lease says she will assume the posi-
the Kansas Senate-that of president OF
the board.