Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-06
ATTORNEY GENERAL CROW.
WILL NOT COMMIT HIMSELF IN THE
VALLINS MATTER.
He Comes to kansas City. Meets the
Labor Committees and Tells
Them to File Ahldavits-He
VIII Then Decide.

Attorney General Edward C. Crow came
to Kansas City Yesterday to confer with
representatives of organized labor over the
proposed legal proceedings to test the
right of Thomas n. Naliins to hold the
office of chief of police. The attorney gen.
eral arrived at 3:45 o'clock and proceeded
direct to the Office of Attorneys Lyman &
Brown, in the Temple block. Attorney
Brown, who Is the legal adviser of the la
boring men in the matter, notified repre-
sentatives of labor unions of the presence
of the attorney general in the city and
five men from various unions gathered at
the office to discuss the plans for ouSting
Mr.. Vallins.
The conference was short one. The at
torney general demanded evidence that Mr..
Vallins was not a qualified voter in the
state of Missouri at the time of his APP
pointment. and the representatives from
the, unions promised that it would be
forthcoming. He gave them until the first
of next week to furnish affidavits to sub
stantiate their claims. He did not commit
himself to bring action to test the right
of Mr.. Fallins to retain the office, but said
that after he had seen the proofs he would
consider the matter and announce his de-
cision. The laboring men seem to be quite
elated over the fact that the attorney gen.
eral has Needed their persistent demand
for him to come here and take legal steps
to oust Mr.. Nallins.
reporter for The Journal after the con-
ference. but said he did not care to ex-
press an opinion in the matter.
There is really nothing to say he said.
We discussed the matter of bringing quo
warranto proceedings, and / told the labor
Vallins was NONRESIDENT when he receiv-
ed his appointment"
ID" you think proceedings will be be-
Il don't care to express an opinion on
tfSt shall shall not make nal up my mind until
proceedings
they are brought
Either in the supreme court. the court
of appeals or the circuit court. All that
would be necessary would be to file in
formation that the charter of the city. or
| lated. and an order would be issued citing
Mr Nallins to appear and show by what
right he is holding the office of chief Of
How long would it take to test his right
"A very short time in the supreme court
| would be advanced on the docket and soon
DO you believe Mr. vallns was Illegally
| appointed"
- have nothing to say on that score
what office does he hoid-city or state?"
u can't express an opinion just now. The
commissioners are appointed by the govern
or and he is appointed by the commission
ers: @ & tie works I ,,fe for the city and draws his
Attorney General Crow said he had not
seen either Mr.. Scarritt or Mr.. Greg ,ry
| during his stay in the city. He is not ac-
| Quainted with Chief Vallins. but said that
| from what he had heard he had no doubt
| but that he was 4 capable man, well quail
| ified to fill the position to which he was
appointed. He said that outside of Kansas
City he heard very little: il any, talk about
| the police situation in this city, and that
| it seemed to be almost entirely a local af-
| fair having practically no political sig
| nifcance outside. The people of the state
| were not interested in 1t. He said he had
| had no talks with politicians of high or
! low degree since his arrival in the city,
| and he did not seem to be unnecessarily
| anxious about meeting any Of them. He
| would not hazard an opinion on the prob
| able outcome of any legal proceedings to
| oust Mr.. Vallins. but he left the impression
| that in case he instituted action 1t would
| be upon such sure grounds that there could
| be no doubt as to its ultimate outcome
| The friends of Chief Eallins believe that
| quo warranto proceedings will be begun.
| tention to the discussion of his right to
| retain the position to which he was ap-
| pointed, going ahead instead and conduct
| ing the affairs of his office. 1t Is said that
the commissioners canvassed the situation
| thoroughly before making the appointment
and calculated for antagonism from the
| quarter in which 1t has arisen. It is
| known that they went to Mr.. Fallins more
| than twice before he would consent to quit
| his other position for the one he now holds
| known political schemers were the real
| figures in the background who are urging
| on the attorney general to begin the pro-
| ceedings, and that the laboring men SIM
| ply come into the case because of their
| deep-rooted and old-time antagonism 'of
| the Pinkertons.
| Attorney General Crow spent the even
| ing at one of the theaters last night, and
| will leave for his home at 3 o'clock this
| morning.