The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-12
LEWELLINC'S
EXPLANATION.
Gives a Statement to a Wichita
Paper,
In Which He Declares the Boo
die Charges
ARE ALL ACONSPIRACY
Is AstOnished That Lands
Should Knife Him.
Says Titus Is Stupid and Am
bilious Puppet.

Wichita, April 12.-The Eagle prints
the following:
. Ex-Governor Lewelling returned from
Topeka on Saturday and on being
asked by an Eagle reporter what he
had to say in reference to the charges
made against him by Warden Lands
and Titus of Harper county, replied:
Il have this to say: I am thoroughly
convinced that I am the victim of a
conspiracy, the ultimate aim of which IS
my removal from the railroad board.
The manner in which Lands dragged
my name into the Topeka investigation
was wholly unnecessary and entirely
unWarranted in fact. While I was in
the senate a business man of eastern
Kansas laid before me a proposition for
the purchase by the state OF addltlOna1
coal lands He recited that the state
is yearly paying a royalty to private
owners of coal lands which amounts
to as much as the interest on the pur-
chase price of such lands. He inform
ed me that he had an option on a tract
of land near the prison and which he
would sell to the state and that II the
state should pay the same price per
acre which had usually been paid Tor
similar lands there would be a margin
of $3.50 in it.
I told him that I knew nothing of
the needs of the penitentiary, but that
I would mention the matter 10 the war
den and ascertain whether there was
need for additional lands. I did meet
Mr. Lands and related to him what
had been said to me. did not ask him
to join me any scheme to purchase the
land. Nor did urge or suggest that
II should be purchased at all The
whole circumstance was commonplace.
Mr. Lands remarked that he would
make inquiry as to whether more land
was needed, and if so would advise me.
From that time we were both much oc-
cupied with Our respective duties and
the matter was not referred to- L have
learned that the institution. not only
owns all the land needed, but that the
states land has heretofore been neg
lected while the prison management
has paid royalty to private owners
do not know the motive which inspired
Mr.. Lands thus to endeavOr to cast
Odium upon me. 1 met him in the morn
ing of the day ne testified before the
committee 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 to the empty buildings of Wichita on
two or three occasions his friends were
nightly wrought up because I alluded
to him as the gentleman from the short
grass regions of the west I received a
most abusive letter from one of his
constituents because of this remark,
and it was Harper county which petit
toned for my removal from the rail-
road board.
No. 1 don't know whether Lands
signed the petition for my removal or
not I believe Judge Mckay carried
it to the governor, and, by the way,
the judge was a very warm supporter of
]. P. Campbell for the same position.
1t has been suggested that Mr..
Campbell 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?"
Yes, I see by the papers he says
wanted him to report a substitute for
the text book bill and in reply to this
I Will say that as for Titus. he is
dense and stupid and ambitious pUp-
pet He is the tool of other men and
don't know it, but he is ambitious and
is trying to win fame by parading his
own virtues in comparison with those
of the men he ISLANDERS. After all. he is
an adept at stupendous lying
I did not know Titus until 7 met him
in the senate, and have very little ac-
ouaintance with him now. It is pre-
pOsterOus that 1 should go to
stranger, much less a representative
from the camp of political enemies and
seek his cooperation in any scheme of
questionable legislation.
The only scintilla of truth in his
statement regarding me is the fact
that 1 once handed him a bill which 1
believe was sent me by some one from
Wichita L distinctly stated to Mr.
Titus that I had not time to examine
the bill and did not know what it con-
tained, but that I gave it to him be-
cause he was member of the commit
tee on education; that he could exam
inc the bill and use so much of it as
was, in the judgment of the committee
wise We exchanged a few remarks
in reference to text book legislation not
a dozen sentences in all and in il ali
there was no word, syllable letter or
sign which, if truthfully repeated could
reflect upon the integrity of anyone
Il am not surprised at Titus He was
the fellow who cast reflections lIDOr q
dozen senators last winter and arter-
wards had an apology printed in the
journal but I am surprised that Lands
should seem willing, in cola blood to
stab the reputation of a fellow citizen
equally worthy with himself"
But what about the cOnspiracy?''
"Oh, I have only given you one end
of it, that which relates to Harper
county and the Wichita contingent It
is too long a story for one writing, and
] must be excused for the present. The
hopes, ambitions, struggles and jealous
les OF any political party for a single
year would ill a volume. A political
party is like a clock; you only see the
hands move; the force of the mechan-
ism is behind the dial plate
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