The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-24
WHITES CASE.
What the Legal Status of 1t
Platt Is Very Angry Beyond a
Doubt.
SATISFACTION SOUGHT
Doesn't Like to Be Called
"Intriguer."
His Athletic Sons May Chip
Into the Game.

There is a possibility that the libel
suit threatened by Senator Platt, OF
New York, against William Allen
White of Enporia, may be tried in a
Kansas court.
If the charge is for criminal libel It
may be brought where the PLAINTIFF
chooses but if it be civil suit for
damages it will have to be brought in
Kansas unless White should happen to
venture outside the state and have pa
pers served on him in some other Juri-
diction. If White owns property some
where besides in Kansas that property
can be attached and then White would
: e forced to go to trial where the pro-
perty might be-
Judge r. r Carver, when asked of
the probabilities of the case being pros
ecuted in Kansas said: I think that
Senator Platt will probably bring the
suit in the east He can bring 1t wher-
ever the magazine is circulated and he
would certainly not come to Kansas TO
try the case
r. B. WEIGH said: IF the suit is
criminal one it can be brought against
the magazine and White and a re
QUESTION for White can be secured
which will necessitate him going to
trial where the case is brought If the
case is a civil suit 1t must be brought
where service can be secured on White
and If he owns no property outside of
Kansas and stays in the state then the
suit viii have to be brought here
If a criminal suit be commenced
against White and a requisition be is
sued by the governor of New York on
the governor of Kansas and Governor
Stanley should refuse to honor the re-
QUESTION then other consultations
might arise for Senator Platt to COM
bat It is certain that it will not be
safe for Mr.. White to venture within
the borders of New York and he may
be nabbed most anywhere east OF the
Mississippi.
The lawyers who will represent Sena-
rn<4fr, 70
prepare the suit are Boardman. Plat
Sr Sloey, of New York The Frank PlatJ
who is a member of the firm is a son of
the senator. Mr.. White has not an
nounced who the attorneys are who will
represent him He does not believe that
necessary as vet.
Senator Plart seems determined. In
an interview printed in the New York
Evening Post ne said
Il intend to use all my money, all my
power, to bring about the punishment
Of this man who has SO maliciously at
tackled me. I intend to see whether
there is any law in the land. 1 have
been held up TO ridicule and contempt
before the entire country. 1 have been
portrayed by means of a mass of false
hoods by a man who does not know me-
TO be sure, I have been criticised before
in my life, severely criticised, but 1
have overlooked those instances. This
one cannot overlook. 1t is not ques-
tion of Senator Platt being a big enough
man to disregard such an assault as
this My character has been assaulted,
and / cannot brook that.
No intend to pursue Mr.. White to
the very end. He had no right to do
what he did. I have no idea where he
got his alleged information about me-
but what he wrote was maliciously un-
truthful No time shall be lost in my
prosecution of him, because feel that
have been wronsed as never before in
my life AS to Mr.. White, all 1 know
of him is that | read his biographical
IL ff1h Of
In what do you consider he has most
scandalously attacked you?" the sem
Rtor was asked.
'-Oh, won't talk of specific instances,
but will say he charges me with being
an intriguer, with having won my way
by intrigue. Now, is this intrigue? In
the Oswego convention of 1872 voted
thousand times for Milo Goodrich for
congress Then l left the hall, designat-
ing friend of the name of Stone as my
alternate / went out to Michigan,
where had some interests. and hardly
had arrived when received a tele
gram stating that I had been nominated.
I promptly declined the nomination and
Mr.. Goodrich was nominated. 1 went
TO him after election and asked him to
appoint friend Of mine postmaster
at Oswego- He hemmed and hawed and
finally declined Immediately I went to
Representative Hotchkiss. who was
succeeded by Goodrich, and said to
him:
" Goodrich has played me false after
Rll have done for him 1 want you to
appoint this man postmaster; and he
did so.
Now I knew nothing whatever of
any suggestion that I was to be nomi-
mated for congress. and when received
ouch notification I promptly declined.
Wa&~-at intriguing?"
Senator Plat was asked whether he
would accept a denomination to the
Senate
II have not decided yet" he said ''but
know that 4 would be elected If did
accept"
by LAW AND oTHERWIsE.n