Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-09
LON IS A DISTURBER.
GOVERNOR STEPHENS Is RAPIDLY
DIsRUPTING HIS PARTY.
ALLoPATHs LOOKING FOR GORE
WHY THEY WERE oUsTED FROM
THE FULTON ASYLUM.
Said Mt the State Capital That His Ex-
ceIlency Will Leave Commission
ers Scarrftt and Gregory to
Fight the Battle With
Union Labor.

Jefferson City, Mo-, May s.-tSpeciaL)
Governor Stephens and party returned from
a trip TO Hot Springs and Nashville last
Monday, and the capital has resumed its
wonted state. Mrs. Stephens and the gov
ernor both show unmistakable traces of
grief caused by the untimely taking off of
their beloved little pet terrier. Their sor-
row is somewhat assuaged, however. by
the fact that the dog was in no way re-
sponsible for the distressing accident. Its
death was due wholly to the short-sighted-
ness OF the governor and the surprising
ferocity of the wolf. A great many friends
of the governors family have offered to
furnish substitute for the dog and no
doubt the aching void will soon be filled.
His excellency has been very much an
noyed and chagrined by the bitter and
persistent attacks Of the allopaths, and his
anger sometimes gets the best of him..
and he breaks out in dire threats against
the whole tribe of what he calls "blue
mass" doctors.
He declared few days ago that IL they
didn't cease their uncalled-for assaults on
his character he would retaliate by
removing every allopath from the public in
stitutions of the state. He has become
resttve and sensitive under the calling fire
of ridicule and denunciation which has
been directed against him, and henceforth
will defend himself. He claims that the
homecpathists are citizens and taxpayers
and are therefore entitled to recognition.
The weak point In the governors posi-
ticn lies in the fact that he recognizes the
homeopaths by appointing relative by
marriage to the position. A leading allo-
path physician. in reply to the governors
statement, said: IF the governor had in
tended to recognize the homeopathisrs he
would have appointed some man of reputa-
ton and character instead of the brother
in-law to Paul Moore, his sisters husband.
No one is foolish enough to think that
young DR.. Coombs was appointed because
he was a homeopathic or because he was
qualified for the place. He was appointed
because he was relative Of the Stephens
family.
He would have been appointed just the
same had he been an allopath. Instead of
fits being a recognition OF the homeopathists
It was a fragrant and inexcusable case of
nepotism. There is not the slightest dan
ger of the governor removing any of the
allopath physicians, as they were appointed
not on account of their fitness, but because
they were henchmen of the governor. The
leading allopaths were not consulted in
regard to these appointments
The war is on. the die is cast. The old
school doctors have unsheathed their seal
pels and showed their snickersnees up'their
sleeves. They are going after the COVE. nor
with blood in their eyes. They will dissect
this administration and expose its weak
and diseased parts. They insist that the
governor holds his office as one who Sc
cures goods by false pretenses. They say
that he claimed to be a silver man and
scattered his little nuggets" over the
state and deceived the genuine Democrats
and Populists into believing him to be in
sympathy with Bryan and the new Democ-
racy.
They say that he is running his admins
tration solely in the interest of the Steph-
ems family and the 'tgoldbugs" and corpo-
rations. They point to the fact that L. C.
Nelson, a brother-in-law, dictated the ap-
pointment of Charles P. Higgins as excise
commissioner of st. Louis an office worth
at last $4,000 per year. They, call attention
to the fact that Paul Moore. his brother-in-
law, was made private secretary, and DIR.
Coombs appointed superintendent of the
Fulton insane asylum. To show that he
has been treacherous to the silver people
they cite the appointment of Miss Perry
Dave Francis sister-in-law, on the state
board of charities. They call attention tc
the fact that all the friends of Congress-
man Dick Bland and Ex-Governor Stone
have been turned down in Kansas City
and that his principal champions are Colo.
mel Nelson, of the Kansas City Star, and
Wiley o. Cox, of the Times. They will
turn every country doctor in the state loose
after him, and il is expected that the next
legislature will contain more allopath doe.
tors than any one in the history of the
state. The war between Lon" and the
doctors will be watched with interest.
The visit Of William c. Scarritt and r
L. Gregory, police commissioners at Kan
sas City. TO the state capital on Friday las
Set the tongues of the political gossip
about the state house wagging. Their ses
sion with Governor Stephens was an ex
ecutive one, and the details of wha
transpired during an interview are un
known, as all the parties declined to talk
1t is currently rumored that the purpos
of the commissioners in visiting the chic
executive at this time was to obtain the in
fiuence and prestige OF the governor 1,
fighting the labor unions who are trying Il
oust Chief of Police Vallins, who is ailege,
10 be ineligible on account of not being
citizen of Missouri.
Commissioners Scarritt and Gregor-
reached the executive Office early in tn
morning. but Governor Stephens was on
gagged, SO he sent out word by his brother
in-law, Colonel Paul Moore. who oficiate
as private secretary, for them to return a
IL O'Clock. The commissioners We're 4
consultation with the governor the create
part of the afternoon on the Kansas cir
muddle. and in explaining the animus a
the attacks upon the official acts of IN
board.
An attache of the present Administrative
who is known to enjoy its confidence ;
authority for the statement that Commits
sioner Scarritt demanded that Governo