The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-16

SAID of the metropolitan police system.
Mr.. Taylor-No.
Mr.. shepherd-Win it be honest for
| us to oppose this resolution?
Mr.. Taylor-Honest enough. There is
question of policy in this.
W. F. Brown-Is it not policy always
to do right?
Mr.. Taylor-Yes but we should use
judgment.
Clem Fairchild then secured recog-
ntion-'The metropolitan police law
was not intended to secure the enforce
ment of the law 1t was enacted to
fool the prohibition farmers and catch
the whisky vote in the cities"
]. E. East Fly of Greenwood county
offered a substitute calling for the i'm
mediate suspension of the metropolitan
police system and its repeal a.fterward.
l. T Sheppard demanded a roll call
Then er1sued five minutes of excite
ment during which delegates gathered
in little crowds and talked excitedly.
The substitute favOring the suspen-
sion of the metropolitan police law ves
declared adopted by a vote of $50 to 81
A half dozen delegates started TO Ct
fer amendments to other resolutions
but Carl Vrooman moved to adopt the
resolutions as a whole and the motion
was carried without opposition.
This leaves the resolutions as Origi-
nally reported by the committee with
the single exception of the one in refer
ence to the metropolitan police law
which was amended only in a minor
particular.
The convention then adjourned to
The fight for a reconsideration of the
metropolitan police plank was opened
early in the afternoon session of the
Populist convention today by a motion
to reconsider made by j. c. Vogle of
Cherokee county.
Carl Vrooman of Parsons supported
the motion to reconsider 1T is wise
to do right" said he, but it is not wise
to do right at the wrong time. In the
name of the people of Kansas, 1 i'm
plore you to use your brains and not
endanger the principles of reform for a
single proposition"
County Attorney Stevens of Cherokee
county said: There is no such a thing
as doing right at the wrong time. 1t
is a dangerous precedent to adopt
something you know to be wrong. What
explanation will you give for your ac-
tiOn?'
We can repeal the law interrupted
a delegate.
Stevens Il would rather go down to
defeat than champion a measure 1
know to be wrong"
Grant Harrington of Hiawatha said:
IF the metropolitan police system is
wrong next January it is wrong now.
If you turn this down it means you
want to depend upon the liquor men for
your financial fund. The Republicans
are already gathering statistics to show
the location of the joints in cities of the
first class, but you have knocked them
out that proposition. You have
spiked Republican gun and don't un-
spike it now"
E. B. Pfost of Kansas City said:
1.-THE enemies are getting ready to
knife Governor Leedy and you are
helping them. I am against the metro
politan police law and pledge you that
if Governor Leedy is elected he will
repeal the law at once"
He said that the Democrats should be
considered but was muzzled in an
instant by Jake Shephard; who asked:
Have you ever heard of a Demo-
cratic convention that did not declare
in favor of abolishing the metropolitan
police system?''
When Pfost started to leave the plat
form w. F. Brown of Pratt called him |
back to ask:
You are familiar with the law. Can |
you point to a good feature in the |
law?''
Mr. Pfost-''Yes, I think 1 can. The !
best thing about it is that it keeps the |
police department out of the hands of |
Il Republican mayor"
This raised a laugh.
S. w. Case of Reno county attacked i
the plank adopted. We charged the !
with trying to merge the |
legislature and executive departments |
by directing the executive to assume |
the duties of the legislature.