The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-11
CONSPIRACY
LEWBLLING SAYS IT'S LYING AND
PREJUDICE.
Lands AND TITUS
AND JUDGE M'KAY WANT BIN OFF
THE RAILROAD BOARD.
i. p. CAMPBELL is CONCERNED
COMBINATION HAS ANOTHER END
SOMEWHERE.
Lands Is Prejudiced and Titus is stipend
list Friends Have Found Mares Nest.

Ex-Governor Lewelling returned from
Topeka on Saturday, and on being ask
cd by an Eagle reporter what he had 70
say in reference 10 the charges made
against him by Warden Lands and
Titus Of Harper county, replied: Il
have this to say. am thoroughly con-
WINGED that I am the victim of a con-
epiracy, the ultimate aim Of which IS
my removal from the railroad board.
The manner in which Lands dragged
my name into the TapeiIa investigation
was wholly unnecessary and entirely I'M
warranted, in fact. While L was in the
senate a business man of eastern Kan
sas laid before me- a. proposition for the
purchase by the state of additional coal
lands. He recited that the state 5 year
iy paying 4 royalty 70 private owners Of
coal lands which amounts TO as much as
the interest on the purchase price of
such lands. He informed me that he
had an option on tract of land near
the prison and which he would sell 10
the state and that If the state should
pay the same price per acre which had
usually been paid for similar lands there
would be a marsine Il $500 in it.
Il told him I knew nothing Of the
needs OF the penitentiary but taat l
would mention The matter 10 the warden
and ascertain whether there was need
for additional lands. I did meet Mr..
Lands and related 10 him Wha. had
been said 10 me. I did not intimate or
suggest that he or I should proft 10y
any transaction, but merely related
what had been said to me. I did not
ask him to Join me in any scheme u
purchase the sand, nor did I urge or
suggest that It Should be purchased AZ
all The whole circumstance was COM
mon place. Mr.. Lands rc57ar&ed ti5at
he would make inquiry rs to whether
more land was needed and If so would
advise M. From that time ne we're
both much occupied, with our respective
duties and the matter was not referred
TO. 1 have learned that the institution
not only owns ali the land needed, but
that the states land has heretofore keen
neglected while ne prison management
has paid royalty = private owners do
not know +he motive which Inspired VI.
Lands thus to endeavor 10 cast odium
upon me. l met him in the morning Of
the day he testified before the commit
tee and he seemed out Of humor and
blamed me because the salaries Of
prison officials had been reduced by the
legislature
He may also have taken offense at
my reference to Titus in the senate last
winter. Titus is from Lands old dis
trict and after he had sneeringly allud- |
ed the empty buildings of Wichita on
two or three occasions his friends were
wrought up because 7 alluded
10 him as the gentleman. from the short
grass regions Of the west / received A
most abusive letter from one Of his
because of this remark. and
ii was Harper county which petitioned
FOR my removal from the railroad board |
NO, don't know whether Lands
signed the petition for my removal or
not. 1 believe Judge Mckay carried ii
10 the governor. and, by the way, the
Judge was a very warm supporter of 1. |
p Campbell for the same position.
ut has been suggested that Mr. Camp |
bell really inspired the movement |
against me anyway his friends down /
there say so. but don't know that this !
Was the case"
Are you aware that Titus has made !
an additional charge against YOU
Eyes. I see by the papers he says I /
wanted him to report substitute for the /
text book bill. and in reply 10 this I viii 1
say that as for Titus, he is a dense and /
stupid and ambitious puppet. he IS the /
tool of other men and don't know it, but /
he is ambitious and is trying t. win I.
fame by parading his own virtues in 4
with those of the men he /
ISLANDERS. After all he is al adept at /
lying.
Il did not know Titus until l met him /
IN the senate, and have very httls &C /
luaintance with him now. It is prepos-
ferrous that l should go to a stranger. !
much less a representative from the
camp Of political enemies and seek his
cooperation in any scheme Of question
able legislation.
THE only scintiHa Of truth in his