The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-12
STEELE'S SCALP
Sought by POpuIists Themselves
A Topeka Delegation
Composed of Eighteen Citizens
Calls on the Governor
WANT A CHANGE MADE
II. c. Lindsey Says 1t is the
Division
Of SpOils Only That Took the
Crowd There.
But There Are More Serious
Charges Floating Around
WANT A CHANGE MADE

A committee of citizens representing
Ehe Populist. Ieaa1e called upon Gov
Leedy today and 4prmally demanded
the removal of the present board OF
police commissioners and Chief OF 20
Frank Herald one of the men who
contributed to the purchase OF steele $
magnificent badge and justified the
presentation of it in published inter
view was one of the party which spent
half an hour in the governors office and
urged that such action be taken.
The delega ton consisted Of a. e
". w Alkire, P NJ. Gilbert Dee ca
Tuthers, Edward Woodruff, ]. G. Pick
ems, Charles Lindsay, James Mitchell,
J. P Berry A Mcmillan, J. p. NevelS,
NJ E. McFadden H. w. Parker. Byron
Wingett, E. S. Hunter and F. G. Hen
tig.
The members of the delegation agreed
before going to the state house that
each would refrain from discussing for
publication and with no persons other
than the governor the charges and 9th
Rr subjects which would be presented to
the chief executive. After the interview
the governor said to a Journal report
err
I will consider the things which were
presented to me and will not try the
case in the newspapers. Therefore,
have nothing to say on this subject"
"Wiu you remove the board?" said
ahe reporter.
7 cant say"
Was the removal of the commission
ers and the chief demanded by the dele
cation 2''
We'll, presume It might be con
Strued that way"
When will you make up your mind
on this matter2"
That is a question which it is i'm
possible for me to answer
Two members of the delegation stat
ed to Journal reporter that specific
charges that Secretary NJ. D. Hender-
son Of the board and Chief Steele had
received money from jointists and vio-
lators of the law for protection, would
be made.
Asked if any such charges were made
before him during the conference, Gov.
Leedy said:
NO; not directly Two or three of
the fellows hinted that something of
that kind was in their minds but no
definite charges We're made against
either one Of the men mentioned'
H C. Lindsay, one OF the speakers
and leaders of the crowd, claims that
the delegation was simply protesting
against the appointments and division
or ofhces by the commissioners, but an
other citizen said:
The members of this delegation are
taking advantage of the present Sit
uation brought about by the temper
ance agitation and want to secure the
removal of henderson and Steede be
cause we believe that we can prove that
1hey have been guilty of corrupt Drac-
tees"
Mr.. Lindsay said.
This is a committee from the Popu-
list league. We are a unit in our de
mands- You see, we Populfsts haven't
had fair deal. There is NOT a man
IN TINS delegation who wants an office
u IS true that some of them made ap-
pHcatiOn for one, but we are here to
object to the action of the police hoard
In not appointing PopuIists in Dropor-
ton to the vote The chief of police
police judge, first sergeant and first
a "a 1al
best offices in the police department nor
given to POpulists. That isn't RIGHT
Chief Steele made good sergeant
when there was someone over him But
When ms salary was increased it sweIIed
ms mead lie has been going after a
gnat and missing an elephant This
IS all toolshness, to pull little col
ored boy for shooting craps when a
uptown.
We demand that we have fair
representation If they would give US
the chief of police it would come more
nearly giving US our share
The delegation did not present the
names of men they desired APPOINTED
commissioners; neither did tbav rec
ommend to the governor the name of
any man as successor to Steele, simp-
~ asking that Steele be removed and
anyone the governor might desire to
name put in his place
ASKED II he We're a candidate for
Steele's job, Lindsay said:
Il would not have it under a,7Ir cir-
cumstances
1t was suggested also that in the
event OF new regime Fred Close would
like to be police judge or a member Of
the commission. To this he said. .sTha+
IS untrue wouldn't accept either one
of the places"
Byron Wingett. who was discharged
from the force, is the man who has
been collecting evidence against Hen
dersOn and Steele. Since he doffa6 bis
uniform, Wingett has been tall,ire
about the chief cOnsidera blv
Wingett told one of his friends a few
days ago of one of Steele's ironclad
rules 1t is said Wingett, that no.
licemen, although they see Joints and
saloons running, must pay no attention
to them and offer no interference"
One of the men who called on the
governor today said: Yes, and those
jointists are putting up to someone.
The joints are permitted to run and the
city gets no revenue. Either the com
missiOners are fools or knaves''
The o. M. B. lodges of the city have
suddenly been brought into the police
row. 1t is alleged that the crowd who
went before the governor today have
had spoilers at work among the bro
therhOods and joints accommodating evil
dence. The larger lodges, it is stated,
for example Excelsior lodge, have been
putting up $50 per month. The smaller
fry have been paying SO a month to
some one
Now the opposition to the present
board claims to have evidence which
will show that this money found its
way into the hands of police officials