The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-27
ADDITIONAL LOCAL MATTERS
Pop POLICE LOOK PLEASANT
When They Found That Leedy Wouldn't
Abolish the system.

TherS Was great JOY III pOiICC NliS4SS
Yesterday when the gay cops who are
now at the bat saw in the Topeka dis
patches that Governor Leedy had weak
ened altogether, and in a rather sudden
manner, on his supposed inclination to
abolish the Metropolitan police system
IN cities Of the first class. The boys are
in for two years under the present sys-
tenn and they did not relish the idea of
having to run the gauntlet Of Mr.. Find
Law Ross, who will be the next mayor,
and who would have the power to ap-
point the police If the present system
would be abolished. They prayed night
and morning and before and after meals
that Leedy would change the alleged
condition of his mind, and they now be-
lieve their prayers were honored by
those to whom they were directed.
Their prayers had nothing to do with
Il. I4eedys mind has not been changed
in the least so far as his attitude to the
METROPOLITAN system is concerned. He
never did intend to abolish the system,
and he never will. A few of the boys
here are quietly saying that he will
abolish the commission in this city II
George Young is elected mayor. and they
have actually made a few poor fools be-
lieve what they say is correct. The man
who thinks that Leedy would abolish
the Metropolitan police of Wichita, If
Young is elected, hasn't enough sense to
come in out of the wet. Even if Young
power TO appoint a Demo-Pop police
force in opposition to Republican coun-
ell than would the wooden Indian on
East Douglas avenue. There are three
kinds of people in Wichita who are fit
subjects for an investigation in the pro-
bate court, and they are those who be-
lieve that Leedy will abolish the Metro
politan police force. and those who think
that George Young has a ghost of a
show OF being elected mayor or coming
fthin ] 500 votes Of il.
The following is the Topeka dispatch
concerning the matter:
Topeka. Kan, March 25.-(Special)-
Tonight Governor Leedy shows signs OF
weakening on his proposition to abolish
the Fort Scott police board, and it is
believed that he will rescind his order
promulgated from Port Arthur. The
Galloway Williams delegation has been
pouring hot shot into him all day. They
openly charged him with attempting to
violate fair and square agreement en-
tered into with them. and served notice
on him that, if he did so, they would
show him no quarter In Bourbon coun-
ty. The Boyle-Shepherd-D billiard crowd
insisted on the governor sticking to his
original program. The fight has been
so one-sided, however, that Leedy Is re-
ally afraid to abolish the board, and to-
night an effort was started TO get the
various factions 10 agree on a new
board
A conference was held at the Nation
al hotel, and an agreement was reached
which is said to be satisfactory TO all.
In substance it is stated that the COVER
nor shall not abolish the board, but shall
remove Ball, one of the present members,
and put on a Boyle-Shepherd man in his
place. The other two members of the
commission, who belong to the Gallo
way-Williams faction, are to be recon-
missioned. Another conference is to be
held in the morning with the governor.
Galloway feels elated tonight over his
victory. He says that he has won out.
and that the order Of the governor 10
abolish the board will certainly be re-
scindeG tomorrow or Saturday.
The governor refused 10 discuss the
question tonight. Asked If ne would
change his mind, he said: 81 really don't
know
do you often change your mind, gov
ernor?"
We'll, sometimes. but not always"
"Will you in this instance?"
II can't tell until we get through with
the conference and the Fort Scott people
complete their case before me-"
DO you expect to abolish the police
commissioners in other cities at the ex-
2iration Of their terms in April?"
We'll, that is another question"
Railroad Commissioner billiard claims
that Fort Scott has never had enough
population to make il a first-class city
and that when ii was proclaimed one
BY Governor Humphrey the governors
action was based upon false affida-
VT as to the population of the place
peculiar way" said billiard today. "Sev-
arai years ago, while city of the sec
md class. we determined 10 have sepa-
-2te schools for whites and blacks. The
state supreme court in Twenty-sixth
Kansas, Justice Brewer dissenting. had
decided that second class cities could not
maintain separate schools. But we went
ihead anyhow and built a colored school
md the board Of education ordered the
.olored pupils 10 go 10 the new building
provided for them. Judge West filed
nandamus proceedings in the district
,ourt of Bourbon county to compel the
admission OF a colored pupil 10 the CEN
raj building
This was filed TO test the matter
again. Judge French reversed the decis-
on of the supreme court by denying the
writ. He said he would bank more on
Justice Brewers opinion than on the 9TH
er two supreme judges. Judge West took
m appeal 10 the supreme court and while
The case was pending there newspaper
man. r ". George. was detailed 10
take census Of the town. He counted,
recounted and counted again, and final
iy found that Fort Scott had a popula-
ton or 1900. He made affidavit 70 the
council to this and the governor was no
tined that Fort Scott wanted 10 become
a first-class city and had over 1900 pop
ulation- The governor issued a proela-
nation declaring 1t to De a first class
city. This give Us separate schools. but
raddled the Metropolitan police force up
or US. We jumped from the irving pan
into the FIRE The fact is. Fort Scott
never had a sufficient number Of inhab-
itants 10 entitle It to become city OF