The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-19
LEWELLING'S NEPHEW.
Kansas City Police Appointments
Causing Much Trouble.

The Kansas City Journal contains the
| Following bit of gossip pertaining to
| Populist politics in Wyandotte county.
Governor Leedy's police commission
ers have troubles of their own. The
| board has attempted to distribute the
| police pie to the most deserving of the
| faithful, competency counting for
naught. 1t has been the aim of the
commissioners to appoint men who
would strengthen the party in this city.
Several of the appointments have met
with general satisfaction, even among
their own party. When a kick would
be raised on any of the appointments,
the, commissioners would attempt to
smooth things over by stating that the
appointments were made at the dicta-
ton Of the governor. The principal
protest is over the failure of the board
to appoint Hughey Currey, city jail
er. Currey is an old-time party fighter
and was one of the union men thrown
out of employment through the strike
at Armour's. Shortly after he lost his
place at the packing house he was
struck by a bicycle on James street and
injured for life. His injuries however
were not of such nature as to incap-
ACETATE him from the position of jailer
and his friends among organized labor
set out to secure his appointment. The
commissioners were presented with in
dOrsements from nearly every labor or
ganization in the city, representing over
$500 voters.
IN the ISCo OF the these endorsements
the commissioners appointed L. D.
Hampton, nephew to Ex-Governor Lew
ellling, to the place When the friends
of Currey set up howl over the mat
ter, the commissioners excused them
selves by stating that Hampton's APP
pOintment was due to the order of the
governor. This was not accepted by the
la boring people for the truth, as they
did not think that the governor would
trouble himself over SO little matter
as the appointment of a city jailer for
this city.
In order to pacify the irate laborites
the commissioners gave a complete eX-
PLANTATION of the true state of affairs.
They claimed that Governor Leedy in
structed them to take care of ex-State
Auditor Van Prather and his assistant
Mr.. Mackey. Mr.. Prather was appoint
ed to the position of sergeant and Mack
ey was slated for jailer. Mr.. Mackey
refused to accept the position, claiming
that it was a little off color for q man
to step from the state auditors office
to jailer. This placed the commission
ers in a very embarrassing position, as
they had already promised the position
of police clerk to L. D. Hampton At
ter much manipulating, Hampton agre-
ed to take the job of jailer and allow the
board to give Mackey the position of
police clerk. This fixed things all right
as far as Mackey and Hampton were
concerned. But by this deal there was
no place left for Currey. The friends of
the latter entered a monster protest,
but to no avail. The commissioners
agreed to STRAIT a city rockpile in the
near future and make Mr.. Currey sup
erintendent of it, but it is well known
that Mark Quales, brother of Chief
Qua1es, is booked for this place. Cur
rey on account of his condition, has
been unable to perform manual labor
and as he has family of six children
he has not been able to provide for
them properly. The various labor I'M
ions are seeing to Mr.. Currey's wants.
and they claim that they have no fur
Their favors to ask from the board