Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-04-29
FIGHT ON CHEF vALLINs LIKELY
TO PROVE SUCCESSFUL.
ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL ACT
SENDS TELEGRAMs TO OFFICERS OF
LOCAL UNION LABOR BODIES.
A Vigorous Contest WaSed Against
issioncrs Scnrritt and
Gregory lIay Resign IL the
Chief Is Ousted by the
Supreme Court.

1t now looks though the fight made
upon Chief of Police Thomas n. Vallins
by the union labor organizations and a
certain clique of Democratic politicians in
Kansas City, and Democratic newspapers
throughout the state, will prove successful
Three kilograms were received last night
by officers of labor unions Trom Attorney
General Crow. in which he announced that
he would begin proceedings TO test the right
of Chief Vallins to hold his office. One of
the kilograms was as follows:
Jefferson City. Mo-. April IS, 1Ss7-
n. d. MILAN. Secretary Painters Union
No. 4, Kansas City, Mo.
viii take up the Val!ins matter.
EDWARD c. CROW.
Attorney General"
1t was stated by members of certain local
unions that the other kilograms We're more
explicit than this. one of them saying that
the attorney general would begin proceed
ings against Valiins to-day. and the other
saying that proceedings would he begun
Immediately"
The law provides that the right of an
official to hold an office, except where u suit
is brought by an opposing candidate who
was shown by the returns of the judges
and clerks to have been defeated at the
polls. shall be tested by quo warranto pro-
ceedings. These proceedings must be
brought by the prosecuting attorney. and
may be tried upon an agreed statement of
facts or upon the answer of the official
cited into court to defend his title.
1t was plainly evident within twenty-four
hours after Thomas n. Vallins was ap-
pointed chief of police that the Democratic
bosses who We're turned down by Police
Commissioners Scarritt and Gregory would
not rest until they deprived him of the Of
flee. They began the assault upon him by
inducing one of the labor unions to adopt
resolutions denOuncing the appointment.
The reasons given for this denuneiation
We're that Chief Vallins was for over twen-
ty years n the employ of the Pinkerton De-
tectiye agency, and that he was not cit
izen of the state of Missouri and a voter
of Kansas City, as required by the state
constitution and the city charter. Other
unions took up these resolutions and adopt
ed them. Finally the Industrial Council,
the central body of the labor organizations
of Kansas City, adopted similar reso!u-
tions. These were followed by still more
vigorous resolutions adopted by Switch
mems Union No. l. These reSolutions We're
as follows:
Whereas, In all communities in this
country. no matter how remote, the very
name of Pinkerton or his hirelings. either
patrol or detective, is stencil in the nos
trils of all law abiding people, and we be-
lieve that the selection of an employe Ct
the Pinkertons by Police Commissioners
Scarritt and Gregory as chief of police
was a base betrayal of the people; and
therefore be it
Resolved. That we demand that Attor-
ney General Grow or Prosecuting Attorney
Lowe Immediately proceed to test the right
of Billy Pinkerton's man Valiins to hold
the office of chief of police of Kansas
City"
Since the adoption of the above by the
Switchmens Union. kilograms and letters
have been sent by local union labor lead
ers to unions in St. Louis. ST. Joseph and
other cities in Missouri. asking them to de-
nounce the appointment of Chief Vallins.
and resolutions, accompanied by kilograms
and letters, have been sent to Attorney
General Crow. The kilograms received by
local union labor officials last night show
that the attorney general has decided to
comply with the demands made upon him
and begin quo warranto proceedings.
1t was stated by n prominent Democrat
yesterday that should Chief VaIlins be
ousted by the supreme court. Commission
ers Scarritt and Gregory will tender their
designations to Governor Stephens. They
feel that they cannot remain at tho head
of the police force after such q repuKe,''
said this gentleman.