The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-18
For the Removal of All the PO-
lice Boards
Goes Into Effect on July 1st as
Stated.
ASKS FOR MORE TIME.
Chief of Police Steele Wanted
Thirty Days
But Governor Leedy Says the
Change Must Be at Once.

the metropolitan police system in all
the cities of the first-class in Kansas.
The proclamation is as follows:
By authority of law, conferred upon
me by paragraph g. chapter a. of the
compiled statutes of 1897, proclamation
is hereby made that the operation of
the metropolitan police law will De Sus-
pended in the state of Kansas at II
o'clock, noon, on the 1St day of July, A.
D., 1898. And I also revoke the APP
pointments of the boards of police COM
misSiOnerS in all cities of the firSt-claSs
in the state of Kansas, to take effect at
the hour and date before mentioned.
In testimony whereof 1 have here
unto subscribed my name and caused
to be affixed the great seal of the state
OF Kansas. Done at the city of Topeka
this 18th day of June, A. D., 1898.
J. w. LEEDY, Governor.
w. E. BUSH, Secretary of State
Before the proclamation was issued
the Topeka police board and Chief of
Police Steele called at the governors
office. Governor Leedy had not return
ed to the office and they went to the
hotel in search of him.
The Topeka authorities wanted more
time. They thought that they should
be given at least 80 days to prepare for
the change and incidentally they
though that Governor Leedy might
make an exception in favor of Topeka
ana leave 1t out of the list when he is
sued his proclamation.
After the conference with the COVER
nor the police authorities were crest
fallen Governor Leedy refused to do
anything but follow the instructions of
the convention and sweep all the police
boards OF Kansas out of existence at
one stroke. When the proclamation
was issued there was no exception in
When Mayor Fellows was seen last
evening he said that he had not made
up his mind who is to be chief of po-
lice. There is one thing sure" said
he, land that is that if a man wants a
position he had better not make APP
pl1caton. have seen only two men
who wanted positions, or that is what I
think that they wanted but when they
started to talk about police affairs l
told them that if they knew any people
who wanted positions on the force they
had better advise them not to apply be-
cause 1 would not consider any appli-
cations. am determined to get the
best men that are to be found"
Among the possibilities for chief of
police are John Gardiner and John NJ
Wilkerson, but Mayor Fellows said that
he had not considered any names. 1--WE
Will find some one" said he, who will
be able to handle the affairs of the city
all right"
The city council will meet Monday
evening and the police affairs will come
up for discussion 1t has long been the
desire of the council to have the police
affairs where they could manage them
and the members hail the new move
with enthusiasm.
It will take some time to reorganize
the police force and there will not be
sweeping changes Immediately. 1t is
doubtful if more than two or three pla-
ces will be changed to start with.
Chief Steele will resign without being
requested to do so. The chief says he
is going out in a. dignified manner, and
will not permit himself to be discharged
by Republican city administration.
Mayor Fellows and the city council
have seen the evil effects of partisan
police forces and they will not make
the mistake that has been made by
others.
There is already a demand that the
greatest care shall be exercised and
Mayor Fellows has shown a disposition
to do what is best for the city by an
nouncing that office seekers need not
apply.
Topeka wants a good police force
that will protect the lives and property
of the citizens and the people do not
care to what party they belong. If
the city council established a civil ser
vice system for the selection of police
men it would be a first step in the
right direction. This is what should
be done. The mayor will please all the
people by selecting the most exper-
fenced policemen without regard to
their party affiliations. He need have
no fear that the people will reward him
for such a public spirited course.
Il don't believe in practical politics
basis,'' said Mrs. Annie Diggs today in
discussing the abolition of the metro
politan police.
1.-The metropolitan police law is in
herentIy wrong in that it takes the re-
sponsibility away from the people. We
were confronted with more or less dan
ger by the nomination of Senator
PETER but the action of the convention
was Indicative of it's desire to solve the
temperance question. There is re-
newed temperance feeling in the state
The revival in the temperance spirit
is due to the efforts of the State Tenn
perance union, but it is stronger today
than it has ever been before.
IF the convention had not taken the
have gone to Senator PETER but now
they will vote the ticket because of the
temperance sentiment displayed The
state of Kansas got its prohibition law
from the country people and the mem
bers of the Populist party live in the
country.
THE result of the convention will be
to strengthen the Populist party. 1t
has been said that we would lose votes
because many Populist appointeeS
would lose their places and would go
out and work against the ticket But
these people who feel that they nave
been aggrieved have no place to go and
indeed, while on the other hand many
votes will be gained because OF the
genuineness and courage of the Popu-
list party We will not lose the votes
of the policemen because they owe their
positions to Governor Leedy and it was
through no fault of his that this change
was made. 1 firmly believe that we
will not lose one vote from this cause
while he will save US 5000"