Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-02
BIG FIGHT ON JOHNSON.
ing to Prevent His Confirma-
tion to Succeed Bird,

Topeka. Kas., March 1.-(Special) The
night against the confirmation of Lee John
son. OF Kansas City. Kas., state labor
In the past twenty-four hours each mail
from Kansas City has brought Senator
hold the appointment up until the labor
| ing men can be heard. 1t is proposed to
| have sort of trial of the case before the
confirmation committee.
Frank Shannon, one of the defeated can
didates. came up this morning with some
evidence which he believes will cook John-
sons goose. Among other things he has a
| copy of the charges now pending in the
Brothsrhood of Boilermakers and Iron
Ship Builders of America against johnson.
who is the grand president of that organ
been been filed by William ]. Gilthorpe. " seeres ae
charge johnson with gross violation of his
obligations to the constitution of the or
der with hat attempting TO- betray the Brother
bankrupt condition of the order. with re-
ceiving money on account of the Brother
matilating the records, with wilfulIy de-
ceiving the grand secretary, with wilful at
to ordpa the With Sa on
positive attempt to disrupt the order by
issuing scurrilous and defamatory letter
calculated to create strife within the Broth
erhood. and other things too numerous to
mention.
containing the proceedings of the sixteenth
annual convention of the American FEEDER.
alton of Labor held last summer in Cincin-
natl. which has johnson credited with
Shannon also charges that during the
cent campaign Johnson did all he could to
that johnson bet against them.
Shannon presented this evidence to the
9aay ior the tind purpose o S of
he had appointed as labor commissioner.
The interview between them was very
rs there anything we can do said
Shannon. TO appeal to your conscience in
regard TO this case?"
well. l am open for conviction. replied
.'Well. then, if we can substantiate these
charges. will you recall the appointment"
II will not state" was the reply:
That's Just what thought" said Shan
non. You would put many of us to the
expense of coming here to fight this VI
cious appointment and then do all in your
power to defeat our wishes, II you want
licans to office, that is your own business;
but two years hence you will have to look
TO the ,goldougs for votes not to the silver
I.eedy's ire was aroused by this time and
he told Mr.. Shannon that ne would appoint
IS Shannon ann kept pumping it into the gov
ernor right and left until Leedy showed
signs of weakening.
no. sir was the reply. and the papers
We're grabbed out of the governors hands.
ave want to use them in the senate and
don't propose to have you keep and smother
them"
Il would like to look them over careful
ly'' said the governor.
You can't take them: but to show you
that we are in earnest for the best inter-
ests of the party, 1 will have a copy made
The governor said that was all right
Shannon then left the governors room and
made a bee line for the senate to lay his
plans to defeat confirmation.
81 am satisfied that the governor will use
his Influence with the senate to confirm
Johnson. hut we hope to defeat him." said
Shannon to The Journal correspondent this
evening.
. There will be a crowd up tomorrow to
oppose the confirmation.
ton of hackers. headed py Chief of Police
Quarles, to work for his confirmation. He
denies being goldbug Republican and de-
ciares that he supported Leedy in the cam
paign As to the charges filed in his BROTH
erhood against him. he says they were in
spired by party jealousy and that he was
exonerated long ago 81 was cleared entire
" of the charges" said he "and have
since been reelected three times as grand
president of the order" He will have an
interview tomorrow morning with the gov
ernor. Quarles says thai Representative
Armstrong; objection to Johnson's ap-
pointment is due to the fact that he was a
candidate for that place himself.