Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-06
AN AFFRONT TO HIS DIGNITY.
PROSECUTOR LOWE TELLS WHY HE
DISMISSED A STATE CASE.
He Says He Was Not Consulted Prior
to the Filing of the Information,
and Refuses TO Try the Case
for This Reason.

The dismissal by Prosecutor Frank Lowe
of state charges that had been preferred
by a state officer against the members Of
the Jones Dry Goods Company for alleged
vocation of the Oleomargarine law, re-
yeals q delicate sense of personal RESPONSE
bility in the public prosecutor that will
not at al! surprise those who are acquaint-
ed with the mental fineness and political
peTspicacity of Mr.. Lowe. In fact. It would
be an astounding revelation to discover
that anyon Were surprised at any action
of Mr.. loves. He has never, since he has
held public office, performed any act that
would occasion surprise among those who
know him well.
Therefore, it was the most natural thing
in the world for Mr.. Lowe to dismiss the
oleomargarine case on the pretext that he
had not been consulted. MI. Lowe is fond
o. being consulted; when the ball team is
away he can often be found at his Office
as late as 4 O'Clock p. m, probably wait
ing to be consulted. 1t is not Mr.. loves
f1ult that State Inspector Blanton did not
call TO consult him before he took the hasty
step of causing warrants to be issued for
the arrest of men whom he supposed were
violating a statute of the state laws. Mir
Blanton Is 10 blame for not delying deeper
INTO the intTtcaCies Of the jackson county
pchticO-Judicial machinery. He should
know that in case Mr.. Lowe decides to
heaTken TO, the cldmorous appeals of a
1900 BblfIAAAE ~ Mt Nlt Idtc
for reelection. that his most formidable
opponent would be Major Blake l.. Wood
son 1t was, certainly. under the circum-
stances, a deplOrable emergency that led
the state inspector to retain Major Wood
son TO assist in the prosecution of the al
legged violators of the Oleomargarine law.
Does Mr.. Blanton presume that Mr.. Lowe
would be SO faithless to a nervous con-
stituency as TO furnish fuel with which to
feed the flame that Major Woodson ex-
poets will illumine his Journey to the goal
OF his amhifiOnP IL he does fhan ha car
ta.nly IS ignorant Of the stepping stones
OF our, dead selves that lead TO higher
things in jackson county
Just listen 10 this golden glow of gush
from the prosecutor when asked yesterday
WIZ he did not prosecute the case:
Major Woodson seemed to have taken
that duty OF my hands. and / thought IL
only proper to allow him to proceed with
the prosecution himself"
This was c~olorado-claro sarcasm on the
part of the public prosecutor. who was well
aware of the fact that the state inspector
and Major Woodson were powerless TO act
under the circumstances without his assist
aECe.
Was it not your duty as a servant Of the
people TO file an information and prosecute
to your notice. he was asked.
Il suppose" answered Mr.. Lowe, that
II would have been my duty had the mat
ter been properly brought before me, but it
never was. and / don't know anything
about the case. except what l have seen in
Continuing. Mr.. Lowe said: eff the in
is laid before me in the proper
manner. il would be my duty to prosecute |
~yiOlatOr of the law. but / cannot prose- |
ute a case when I know nothing of it. |
Neither can l bring criminal prosecution
against a corporation. as our statutes do
admit of such an action being brought"
Why was the case dismissed" the re-
porter asked /
Because Spitz is a Republican politician
and he might have continued the case an
1ther day and have given me time to send
1 representative. but for the sake of polit- |
cal capital he dismissed it."
When asked how that would make polit-
cal capital. Mr.. Lowe answered.:
1T would look as though ! was not doing |
duty and work against me at the next
lection" |
Did you do your duty in refusing to file
he in this case?' was asked.
We'll. | don't know as to that. l will
that for the people to decide