The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-16

law. Most republicans and many
popu1ists believed that this charge
was fully sustained by proof. 1t had
a tremendous influence on the result.
wHAr WAS THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS
LAw7
In the language Of the resolutions Of
the State Temperance Union, cit was
a law passed solely for the purpose Of
enabling the chief executive Of the
state to enforce the prohibitory law
That was all it contemplated. That
was all it was passed for. Nobody
disputes this. It put the entire police
machinery of the first class cities into
the hands of the governor for the pur-
pose of enforcing the Prohibitory law
This is not, could not be, definitely
stated in the law itself. but everybody
knows that it is true.
GOVERNOR NOT REQUIRED 10 APPOINT.
The law was not mandatory. Tt did not
require the governor to assume con
troll of the police systems Of the large
cities in the state, but it authorized
him to do so. The governor could ap-
point commissioners and remove them
or any one or more Of them at his dis
cretion and at any time.
The plain import of the law is that
whenever the governor finds that any
city is suffering or encouraging the
violation of the constitution and laws
Of the state, he may, by the appoint
ment of commissioners, step in and
assume police control. This to a GER
tain extent puts the burden on the
governor of knowing whether the
different cities of the first class are re
specting the constitution or treading
it under foot. 1t is a large respon-
sibi1ity and is accompanied by a ire
mendous discretionary power. The
governor in effect has the appoint
ment of the entire police machinery in
every city of the first class, commits
sioners, police judge, chief Of police,
captains, sergeants and patrolmen.
This makes an extensive patronage.
Probably i've hundred men from pa
trolmen up, hold Office at the discretion
of the governor. All these facts we're
known to Governor Morrill, when he
became a candidate. He knew the
burdens and responsibilities as well
as the honors and emo1uments of the
Office he sought. He knew perfectly
vel what the police commissioner law
was, what it was passed for, what
duty it imposed, what discretion and
what power it conferred. He did not
become a candidate for the Office of
governor b1ind1y nor under any mis-
understanding.
CAMPAIGN OF 1894.
It was most vigorously charged in
the campaign of 1894 that Lewe1ing
had used this great police appointing
power corruptly- for the enforce
ment of law but as a means of ad-
vancing the interests of his party and
his own personal interests. 1t was
charged that instead Of enforcing law
the popu1Ist administration raised
campaign funds by permitting the
law to be violated, and that not only
were funds raised in this way but that
police patronage was used solely for
the purpose of securing friends for
Lewelling and votes for the populist
party.
In the end the fight centered about
the police affairs Of Kansas City. Pc
lice affairs there appeared to be rotten
indeed and the Kansas City police ad-
ministration became an issue in the
campaign. dwellings, record on the
police commission law helped almost
as much as the legislative war to de-
feat him.
During the campaign the President
of the State Temperance Union re-
ceived hundreds of letters inquiring
whether Morrill, could be trusted by
the temperance people. He invari-
ably replied, Certainly; you can't
make any mistake if you vote for Nor
ri1l.'