The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-05
FROM MIR. MATTHEWs.
ExPolice Detective Intimates That
He Might Tell Some Things"

To the Editor of the State Journal:
Inasmuch as several published inter-
views have recently appeared concern
ing my connection with the police force
and my recent resignation it is due
those in whose interest I was supposed
to be employed that the facts be
known. In the first place, it is not
true that I was employed at the re-
quest of the committee of 200. had
been employed by Mr.. Strauss for a few
weeks during the last of his admins
tratiOn. Mr.. Ramsey requested me TO
remain for awhile, and in the meantime
two members of the committee asked
Mr.. Ramsey that be retained, but
they inform me that they distinctly
stated that they did not ask it as mem
bers of the committee 1 am turther
informed by the chairman of the COM
mittee that after it had been made
known to them that the mayor proposed
tive of the committee of 200 and Good
Citizens league of the Young Peoples
societies, that the committee OF zoo de-
cided that if they were formally re-
quested in regard to the matter, they
would make no requests or recOmmen-
datiOns for a representative IN the city
government short Of an assistant city
attorney.
note in your issue of August 8 an
interview with Mayor Drew am eX-
ceedingly glad to have an expression
from him or someone connected with
the present administration, although
do not think Mr.. Drew competent, or,
rather, perhaps, possessed of a sufh-
Gent amount of knowledge upon the
subject of joints, to speak knowingly
and intelligently, although have the
highest regard for him and believe him
sincere, but am of the opinion, however.
that he has not been correctly informed
as to the present situation. The ad-
ministration should take one stand or
the other, although infer from Mr..
DreW's remarks the department has
done all it can in that direction; his re-
marks about sending two officers into
a joint in uniform, are no doubt true,
but there is evidently a lack of desire
on his part, or he would have taken
other steps, for he has been connected
with the administration long enough to
know exactly how to proceed, and even
then he does not say whether or not the
officers in question secured any evil
dence.
1t is simply absurd for Mr.. Drew. or
anyone else, to say that the joints OF
Topeka, cannot be closed, and closed
tight if a vigorous campaign against
them is earnestly and honestly prose-
cuted, no matter how much he may re-
fer back to past history (and 1 note
very little in his remarks of the pres
ent state of affairs). attempt to say,
and that without fear of successful con-
tradiction, that the can be closed,
and perhaps he had better refrain from
asking me why they were not closed
during my term of Office as city de-
tective under James Ramsey. I note
very carefully his remarks in regard
=
and he also says that explanations do
not satisfy people who find fault. Now
I do not know of any other charges
having been made, and even though
they had been. would it not be well
that some investigation be had? have
taken the position that something is
wrong, and I mean at the proper time
to show it up, and should Mr. Drew
see fit to ignore an opportunity to bring
to light that which is wrong, under his
administration (and I exonerate him),
Too T,n.
done, and this fight will go on just the
same.
In the Journal of August 1 Lon Town
send is spoken of as the king of joint
lists" Mr.. Townsend may be king,
but the Anheuser-B Busch Brewing COM
pany has a representative here who is
certainly an eligible heir to such a
throne. I had not wished to be per-
sonal unless it becomes an absolute ne
cessity, but I am willing to let the guilty
one come forward, if there be one, and
we shall see whether this administration
is as Mr.. Drew would have US believe,
above reproach. I hope later to have
an opportunity to say something about
trusts and combines, for, as 1 said be-
fore, I expect to see this fight to a fin
ish. And yet, with all this, I do not
pose as a man with wings. And now,
just q word l cannot let be passed with
out notice. Mr.. Drew remarks that 1
was of little service to the force for
some time. He does not inquire where
he should, and it is only justice to me
that he should have done so. What
became of the reports which I made in
accord with my official duty to Chief
of Police James Ramsey, a, majority of
which were burned or smothered? Ger
tainly no man could have credit from
a man who is not in position to know
unless his next superior officer performs
his duty as he should.
J. A MATTHEWS.
Fine Teas, and fresh roasted Conees
a znapia1fu EVhffte1SaV NTRr