Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-10-11
BOARD OF PARDONs READS THE
RIOT ACT TO HIM.
ALL THE MEMBERS RESIGN.
TIRED OF HAVING THEIR RECON-
MENDATIONs IGNORED.
The Governor Promises to BE Good in
the Future and on This COndi-
ton the designations Are
Withdrnwn-Other Kan
sns News.

leaked out to-day that Governor Leedy and
the members of the state board of pardons
had what might be termed an interesting
session one afternoon last week. The ses-
sion opened by the members all rendering
their designations. Then the riot act was
read to the governor. This was followed
by the governor acknowledging that he
had mistreated the board, and upon prom
Using to show it due courtesy in the fu-
ture, the members withdrew their resiGna-
tions and a truce was declared. The ut
most secrecy concerning the affair has
been maintained, and there are not half
dozen persons around the state house who
are aware of the strained relations ex-
listing between the governor and the board.
The board is composed of ]. V. Randolph,
of Emporia; NJ. w. Wells, of Paola, and
Mayo Thomas, of Howard.
The cause of the row was the action OF
Ieedy in ignoring the recommendations OF
the board in pardon cases. Whenever the
board would make a recommendation to
release prisoner, the governor would re-
fuse to grant pardon; if it recommended
that prisoner be not pardoned, then the
governor would pardon him. Not only
this the governor would pardon prisoners
whose applications for pardons were never
presented to the board. This thing got so
monotonous that when the board was
asked to make a favorable recommenda-
tion in a case the members would notify
the parties interested that favorable rec
ommendation would lessen the chances of
the prisoner with the governor; that the
surest way to get a pardon from the gov
ernor would be for the board to make an
unfavorable report. In proof of this, the
board produced the records to show that
in every case where it made a favorable
md ha had rpfIlSed
a pardon, while in the majority of the
cases unfavorably reported he had granted
pardons.
The members of the board were smiling
all over when they learned that Governor
Leedy had been the victim of the DR..
Homer A. Call fraud. An effort had been
made to entrap them, as well as the men,
bers of the board under the Morrill, ad-
ministration, and neither would bite. So
those interested did business with Leedy
direct and succeeded in working him to
the queens taste. The members thought
this would teach the governor a lesson,
| and that after that experience he would
pay some attention to the recommendations
of the board. Not SO, however; Leedy con-
tinued to exercise his supreme executive
power"
The revolt was hastened by the death of
| prisoner in the penitentiary recently.
| The prisoner was suffering with consump-
| ton in the last stages. His relatives want
| ed to get him out and take him home to
| die. The board knew that his days on earth
| were numbered and recommended a par
| don. Governor Leedy paid no attention to
| the recommendations, and the prisoner died
| in the penttentiary. The board would
stand the insult no longer. G. c. Clemens.
| supreme court reporter, was called in for
fnf Ac anf IN
| the governor and expressed himself very
| forcibly. He told him that his actions to-
| ward the board had been outrageous. Gov
| ernor Leedy expressed desire to consult
| the board. Clemens notified the members
| and an appointment was made for meet
ing the first of last week. When the time
| arrived for the conference, all three of the
| members appeared at the private Office of
| the governor. Before a word was spoken
| Chairman Wells handed Leedy letter con-
! tanning their designations. Then, as spokes-
man for the board. Wells proceeded to tell
Leedy what the board thought of him. II
| is said that his remarks were punctuated
| with words found only in Hefflebower's die
| tionary. He told the governor that there
| was absolutely no need for the state to
| maintain board of pardons If its recon-
| mendations were not to be followed, and
that no self-respecting person could remain
on the board under the existing conditions
| He also said that perhaps the public would
be given some inside history concerning
several cases where pardons had beer
granted recently over the protest of the
| board.
Leedy weakened. He admitted that he
had ignored the board and promised to fol
low its recommendations in the future, pro
viding the members would withdraw theil
designations and continue to serve The
members were at first inclined not to accept
the proposition. but he begged them Sc
longer.