The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-25
FUNNY FORT SCOTT
Made Itself a City of the First
Glass
In Order to Avoid Negroes in
White Schools.
But Fell Out of the Frying Pan Into
the Fire by Having the Metropol-
itan Police System Estab-
DISQUALIFICATION to the
Governor.

Ross Williams, chief of police, and R.
H. Galloway, prominent Populist, both
of Fit. Scott accompanied by a delega-
| ton of citizens bearing a petition con-
tanning $50 signatures, are comforting
with the governor today, attempting to
induce him to change his mind and re-
appoint the police commissioners for that
city at the expiration of their term O.
office In April
The delegation arrived yesterday
afternoon and called upon the governor.
Another conference was held at the
hotel last night and the subject was
again taken up.
! 1t is not likely that the governor will
change his mind, although every inf1u-
ence that can be secured is being
brought to bear upon him.
The governor believes that Fit. Scott
is a city of the second class and here
fore not entitled to the government by
ken by Mr.. Leedy recalls the story of
how Ft. Scott happened to get into
| the list of cities of the first class.
Several years ago here arose in the
| city schools a controversy brought on
| by colored people who demanded that
| their children be permitted to attend
! the schools with the white children. The
| agitation resulted in litigation which
| was finally carried to the supreme court
| but before decision was reached in
that tribunal the city was declared eli
I
| class, which, under the peculiar word
ing of the law, are permitted to main
| tain separate schools.
The census had been taken before the
! mandamus proceeding to compel the
school board to admit a coIored pupil
| to the schools with white children was
| brought.
The city was supposed to have be-
| tween ten and twelve thousand inhabi
| tants. Should these facts be presented
| to the supreme court the case brought
4
! been won. The census showed about
| II 900 people, and while Judge J. S. West
! was in Topeka filing his case in the SUI
! preme court in he interests of his col
Ored client, a newspaper reporter took
| another census He reported to the city
| council that Fit. Scott had II, 900 people.
| It is said W. P. Dillard who is now a
| member of the state board of railroad
commissioners. is big enough to make
| two ordinary men, and he was counted
! by Mr. George twice. Mr.. billiards. fam
lily consists of four children. but he
| new census recorded him with eight
| Attorney General Boyle was credited
| with number of children, and Knute
| Try was counted several times because
| he was found in several different places.
Judge West himself was not overlooked
and his family largely increased by the
| George census. Many changes of this
! character were made, and Mr.. George
| sOlemnly reported to the council that
| the city had 1900 inhabitants.
Cities having $4,000 inhabitants are,
| according to law, cities of the first
| class.
! Accepting the George census the city
| council Immediately announced FIT.
| Scott to be a city of the first class. This
action defeated the plaintiff in Judge
| Vests case, and the city secured sep
| arate schools by Gov. Humphreys proc
| lamation, under which FIT Scott was
| declared city of the first class sub
| ject also to the government of the police
| commissioners who were then appoint
| ed
This was the first surprise connected
with the case. Fit. Scott was not par
| ticularly anxious to secure the metro
| poHtan police system, but got it any
| way.
A suit was Immediately brought in
! the district court to have the city re-
| instated as a city of the second class.
| Judge West, in the meantime, had been
| elected to the district bench and was
| called upon in his official capacity to
| decide upon the application. He held,
| however so Mr. billiard says. 'once a
| city of the first class, always a city OF
| the first class" So FIT. Scott remained
! a city of the first class, no question of
| that character having been raised until
| this time.
These facts have been presented to
| Gov Leedy, and he is more than ever
| inclined to the opinion that FIT. Scott,
which now has $4,000 inhabitants, is not
| legally entitled to police commissioners.
| For this reason the governor has de-
clined to appoint them.
The FIT. Scott citizens who are here to-
day working with the governor,
| hoping that he will consent to change
| his mind and reappoint the present
| board
Mr. Williams says the 800 signers OF
| the petition asking that the board be re-
| tanned were secured in just one hour
| indicating, as he says, that the city de-
| sires the metropolitan police system, OF
which he is the chief.
Asked today if he would change his
mind, he governor said:
| Il really don't know"
do you often change your mind
| governor"
well, sometimes, but not always"
| Twill you in this instance?"
| 81 can't tell until we get through with
| these conferences and the FIT. Scott peo-
| pie complete their case before me-"
do you expect to abolish the police
| commissioners in other cities of the sec
ond class at the expiration of their term
in April?"
"WeIl, that is another question, isn't
it?' replied the governor.
THE terms of all commissioners ex-
pire and if continued, must be reap
pointed next month, will they not?" was
asked.
Yes. that is true he replied.
will you not say what you expect tic
do then?' said the reporter.
Cant do it now, because don't know
exactly said the governor, looking out
the window.
There is, however, no reason to be-
| Ieve that the FIT Scott commissioners
will be reappointed.