The Portland daily press., 1894-01-02
LeWelling, Somewhat Profanely, Tells
Them to Go Ahead.
MRS. LEASE AND THE FEDERATION
BEGIN THE COOKING.

LeWelln& VINO IeliS Ihem TO 'hOaSG
and Be Damned
Topeka, Kansas, January Mrs. M.
E.Lease, the deposed president of the
state board of charities, made the first
aggressive movement this afternoon in
the fight to retain her position and pre-
vent the denomination of Governor
Lewelling. A meeting of the state board
OF charities was called some time ago to
be held at Winfield tomorrow morning
Mrs. Lease today telegraphed each of the
four other members of the board inform
ing them that she had changed the place
of meeting to Olathe. The governor,
hearing of her action, promptly sent
dispatch to the members of the board
saying that J. W. Freeborn had been ap-
pointed to succeed Mrs. Lease, and he
would be present at Winfield tomorrow
morning to assume Mrs. Leases place on
the board. 1t is now.quite certain that
the two Republican mem bers of the
board will meet with Mrs. Lease at
Olathe tomorrow morning. The two
Populist members will recognize the
governors action in removing her and
meet with Freeborn at Winfield. Mrs.
Lease has instructed her attorney to
commence quo warranto proceedings in
the Supreme court tomorrow morning to
prevent Freeborn from assuming the
functions of president of the state board
of charities or acting as a member of the
board. Should she succeed in securing
an order from the court, she and the two
Repu bIicans members will constitute
legal quorum and this will make such
oh q N the of tho Sfata
institutions as Mrs. Lease desires. The
governor, in peremptorily removing Mrs.
Lease, has, in the opinion of legal
authorities, overstepped his authority, for
the statute expressly states that the gov
ernor cannot remove member of the
board of charities except for cause and
then 1t prescrI bes how the removal shall
be accomplished. He may suspend a
member pending Investigation, after
formal charges have been made Then
the governor, lieutenant governor and
speaker of the house, are required to
meet and select court to consist of
three mem bers of the House and two of
the Senate who shall hear the charges
and take testimony. On the verdict of
this conrt, the governor may, if the
charges are deemed sufficient and poven,
remove the accused
While Mrs. Lease has been looking
carefully after her own interests she has
not neglected to begin the promised
warfare against the governor. Yesterday
committee of twenty delegates en- route
to a meeting OF the States Federation of
Labor, called at Leavenworth On Cover
nor Lewelling and demanded the inn
mediate removal Of State Labor Com
missioner Todd. The committee told the
governor that Todd in no way repre-
sented them, and by his acts he not only
disgraced the administration, but in
jured the cause of labor. The discussion
with the governor became heated. and
when the committee threatened to
"roast" him if he did not comply with
their demands, the governor replied,
"Roast and be damned" Mrs. Lease,
hearing of this. sent the following tele-
gram to the officers of the federation: ~
desire to join my voice with yours and
tender time and money in the denuncia-
tion Of the executive power that has
recognized rats and scoundrels and
ignored labor organizations. The prin-
cfples of the Peoples party are eternal
and unassailable. Through them we
will triumph, but the crowd betraying
the trust must be buried out of sight By
the laboring vote.
MARY E.LEASE,
president of the Board of State
Trustees"
The "rat' referred to is Labor Com
missioner Todd. 1t is reported in State
House circles that some startling charges
will be made by the governor and his
associates against Mrs. Pease, tomorrow