Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-15
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY WON'T
FOLLOW UP HIS CHARGES.
FYKE, JOHNSON AN CO. IAN MUST
REST UNDER % I'D.
Right of the People to 8 : whether
the Allegations ne
False Is TO He Ig OBJ
5ect Sought Ap
Iy Accomplished.

Notwithstanding the public demand that
the investigation of the police department
be conducted by the grand jury, now that
II has been abandoned by the state senate,
Prosecuting Attorney Lowe remains in
active. The purpose of the resolu-
tion authorizing the investigation by a
senate committee seems to have been ac-
complished, and hence Mr.. Lowe and all
others concerned in making the allegations
involving the official integrity of Chief of
Police Julian and Commissioners Fyke and
johnson have apparently lost their desire
to expose the alleged rascality in the con-
duct of the police force of Kansas City.
The purpose in smirching Commissioners
Fyke and johnson was to prevent their
confirmation, and this has, seemingly, been
brought about. With the appointment and
confirmation of two new police commits
sioners, Chief Julians retirement is as
sured.
Why have an investigation that will ex-
pose the rottenness in the police system of
government from jefferson City, and there
by give the people of Kansas City an ad-
ditionaI argument in favor of home rule,
when the political bosses and the gamblers
opposed to Marcy X. Brown and his fel-
low bosses, and to Ed Findley and his
gambling pull" can substitute two Of
their own men upon the police board and
supplant Chief Julian by another of their
men through the buncombe play that has
already been made in the senate? From
the standpoint of the men who are fight
ing Chief Julian and Commissioners Fyke
and Johnson, to push the investigation be-
fore the senate or the grand jury would
be equivalent to committing political hari-
kari
There is one fact that these political
af aIa do
not take into consideration, and that is
the right of the public to know whether
the charges made in Senator Lyons res
olutions are true or false.
In the resolutions introduced by Senator
Lyons, adopted by the senate and then re-
considered under the party lash, Chief Ju>
llan vas accused of approaching an official
of Jackson county and proposing that they
(Julian and the officiaD should enrich them
selves by shielding the Findley gamblers
of Kansas City. When asked the name of
the Jackson county official who was al
legged to have been approached, Senator
Lyons said Prosecuting Attorney Frank NJ.
Lowe was the man.
This is the way the puolIc look. npcn the
anlatter: IL the charsASs Ssnade agasest Chisf
Dulian and the allegations concerning cor
ruption in the police force are true, there
can be no possible reason why they should
not be taken before the grand jury and the
guilty men indicted. On the other hand if
these charges are not true, and If Mr..
Lowe did not intend that his statements
should be construed as imputing criminal
intent to Chief Julian or criminal acts to
the commissioners or members of the po-
lice force, he should hasten to relieve them
of the suspicion under which they now rest.
MIR. Lowe said yesterday, in an incoher-
ent response to q question as to whether
he would call the attention of the grand
jury, now in session. to the charge made in
Senator Lyons resolution against the chief
of police: Il don't know anything about
it: l do not expect to bring anything before
the grand jury; there is nothing to bring;
nobody has made any charges"
1t Is now generally believed that Mr..
Lowe has become a party to the recent
compromise" the result of which has been
the reconsideration and withdrawal of the
resolutions introduced by Senator Lyons
calling for an investigation of the Kansas
City police department There are those
who say that IL looks though Mr.. Lowe
Is furthering the interests of the Shannon
O'Neill faction of the local Democracy and
the Bliler-Oldham gambling clan in their
effort to secure the defeat of johnson and
Fyke for confirmation as police commits
siOners. II he made the charge imputed to
him. Mr.. Lowe has put odium upon these
officials and Chief Julian. Mr.. Lowe either
did not make the charge against Chief
Julian which Senator Lyons says he made
or he did make it. In the first event 1t
IS due to Chief Julian to relieve him from
the cloud upon his personal and official in
tegrity. II Mr.. Lowe did make the charge
against Chief Julian, the people are entitled
10 an investigation TO demonstrate its truth
or falsity. In either event inaction is the
worst policy which he can pursue. if he
regards very highly his personal and Off
cial reputation.
II Mr. Lowe refuses to have the matter
looked into, the grand jury has it within
Its power TO investigate the charges OF
It's own motion. The prosecutor can be
summoned before that body and made to
tell all he knows. If Senator Lyons mis-
quoted him. or If he misuuoted or misun-
derstood Mr.. Julian, the people have a
right TO know whether there was any at
tempt at corrupt colluSion between Of
ficials and members of either of the local
gambling rings.
As the matter stands at present, the only
wnrrantHble suspicion when the public can
entertain is that Mr.. Lowe and Senator
Lyons cast serious reflections upon the To-
cal police department for the purpose of
furthering the political ends of one of the
two factions Of the Jackson county De-
mCcracy. Neither of these gentlemen was
elected or is paid by the people to engage
in any such business and it is the duty of
Senator Lyons and Prosecuting Attorney
Lowe to set right those against whom
grave charges have been made. II the
charges are false, or bring about their
punishment IL the charges are true.
II has been suggested that Judge Wof-
ford call the grand jurors before him and
Instruct them to make the investigation.