The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-09
BAD POLITICS.
John Breidenthal, ShreWd Poll
tician, Says 1t Will
Be Foolish to Go Through the
Motions
OF REMOVING M'NALL.
Who Is Popular With the PEG.
pie of Kansas,
When the Office Will Be Vacant
Anyway, July 1.
OF REMOVING M'NALL,

The latest bit of gossip which is cir
culating among the Republican politi-
clans today is that James A. Troutman
of this city has been selected to pre-
pare the charges against Webb McNall,
state superintendent of insurance. This
is the method adopted by Governor
Stanley to remove McNall.
Mr.. TrOutman is said ito be at work
upon the charges at this time and the
politicians say he will have them ready
to present to the governor this week.
Mr.. Stanley goes to Wichita next week
TO attend court and his absence will
necessitate a postponement of the ac-
ton in filing charges until the week
following, and this is the reason why
1t is expected that proceedings may be-
gin this week If Mr.. TrOutman should
not complete his work this week, then
the proposed investigation will be de-
layed in beginning for at least another
week.
The principal charge against tNIcNall
will be that he sent so-called road
agents. out to examine the affairs of
eastern companies engaged in the in
surance business. Other charges will
be made, but the work of the eXamin-
ers will be the principal issue made by
the Republicans. Upon affidaVitS pre-
sented by insurance companies will the
Republicans depend for conviction of
McNau. In support of other charges
which will be made the afidavits filed
in the federal court here against Nc
Nall Will be presented.
The investigating committee which
will sit at McNalPS inquest will be par
tiSan, appointed under the law which
provides that the governor, speaker of
the house and lieutenant governor may
select committee of five members to
inquire into any charges which may be
made against public officials
1t is easy to remove public officials,
a fact supported by the William Rogers,
Dick Chase and NJ. A. Householder in
VeStigatiOnS under the Morrill, admins
tration. Mr.. McNall expects that the
partisan committee will order him re-
moved from Office. He will insist upon
a trial. He will demand a copy of the
charges against him and then prepare
his own defense in writing and submit
it to the governor or the committee,
as the circumstances may demand. Mr..
McNan said today:
Il have seen the governor but once
since he was inaugurated. He has not
asked for my resignation nor has he
informed me that he intends to remove
me. OF course, if he wants the office
he has a way of getting it and 1 am
pOwerleSS to prevent it, but will make
a defense just the same The men I
sent to examine eastern insurance COM
panieS did their work well and brought
back valuable information. The talk
of road agents is unfair. The fees
charged by these men were less than
charges made by the examiners of east
ern companies and no more than the
predecessors. An Illinois examiner once
charged the Kansas Mutual over 81, 500
for an examination. So far as the affi-
daVitS that may be found in the federal
court are concerned the records of that
court will show that I won in every
one of the cases.
But have not been put on trial yet
and when I am it will be time enough
to prepare and make my defense"
John w. Breidenthal does not believe
that McNall will be removed. 1T would
be bad politics." he said. 'McNalPs
productive of good results and that's
the measure of a public officials worth.
The people believe in McNaIl and they
will protest against his removal. He
has had the courage to do what other
superintendent have failed to do and
the people are appIauding him. Cover
nor Stanley will make a mistake if he
turns McNal1 OUT
In this McNaH removal scheme ap-
pears the hand of the Republicans who
are also after Harry Lands, the Pop
ulist warden of the penitentiary. ]. B.
TOmlinSon of Minneapolis is to be war
den of the penitentiary, because he was
chairman of the Fifth congressional dis
trict committee AID succeeded in pull
ing Calderhead to victory.
Lands will not be bothered if he will
agree to get out July 1, otherwise he
will be investigated and fired" Lam
dis term, under the confirmation by
the senate, extends to July 1, 1901, but
If he will move out next July no inVeSti-
cation will be had.