The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-20
IT WAS LIVELY.
Committee of Women Call on
Mayor Parker.
Present a Petition ON Joint
Closing Question.
HE MAKES A PROMISE.
Tells Committee Mcfarland May
Be Chief of Police.
Mayor Assures the Ladies He
is Glad They Called.

| Mayor Parker had a new experience
this morning. He was interviewed in
his office by three women, Mrs. J. II.
| Johnston, Mrs. J. r. Silver and Mrs. w.
p Bishop, who officially presented to
him a communication from the Nautilus
club, a woman's club which has existed
for five years in the southwest part of
| town. The communication was as fol-
| lows:
"In behalf of our children and the
young people of our city, we the under
signed committee from the Nautilus
club, club numbering 80 women, de-
sire to present to you a most serious
protest against the way our prohibitory
law is being violated through the leni-
| ency shown by you to all jointiStS and
! saloonkeeperS. We would therefore ap-
| peal to you, as mayor, to do all in your
| power to enforce such laws as will be
necessary to rid our city of the existing
| evils, as your oath of office binds you
| to an administration of all laws, those
governing the moral welfare as well as
| the business interests of the city,.
In addition to the above protest, the
| committee of club women handed out a
| bouquet of rem arkS which didn't cost
! the mayor a cent extra.
| Mayor Parker bravely faced the shot
| and shell, and told the women his side
| of the case. When the meeting was
| over, a reporter for the State Journal
! asked Mrs. Johnston, chairman of the
committee, what She thought of Mayor
| Parker.
| Hes no good for u.s., was Mrs. John
| Ston'S verdict.
Mayor Parker made an important
| promise to the committee. He offered to
| appoint the Rev. j. T. Mcfarland as
! chief of police, in place of Tim Dono-
! van, provided Mr. Mcfarland would
| take the job There were no qualifica-
| tions to the mayors proposition, and
| apparently it is now Mr.. McFarland's
4 MaVOr hates
| Farland with grim cordiality.
! Several times in the course of the
interview. it looked as though the
mayor might try the Carrie Nation
J plan, and order the committee out of
| his office, but the committee had better
| control of itself than Carrie had, and
[ didn't talk so loud.
But for all that, the chairman of the
committee did not hesitate to call the
mayor down pretty hard several times
Once Mayor Parker launched into
picturesque word picture of Mr.. McFar-
land, and Mrs. Johnston interrupted:
Now, mayor, we don't care to listen
to any abuse of anybody We did not
come here to abuse you or any one else,
and we don't want to hear anything of
the kind
mcfarland came here in my office
and abused me-" continued the mayor.
called me all kinds of names, called
me a perjurer, a murderer, said he
would impeach me and put a blister on
me 1 would wear all my life
THAT don't make any difference with
US. We don't want anybody abused
retorted Mrs. Johnston.
A few minutes later the mayor re-
ferred to the manner in which Council
man Snattinger was beaten by the
Third ward women.
1T was a political trick said the
mayor, which would have been dis
grace to the tenderloin district of New
York
Mr.. Parker" said Mrs. Johnston
shortly, Il am from the Third ward and
T dr.. hot 10T-lx n
suit
Mayor Parker defended his position
well. He said that there We're more
Joints in Topeka during Chief StahFs
administrati ton than there are now.
You people who live out there in the
suburbs think that Stahl closed up the
didn't. Nobody ever closd the joints.
They can not be closed in town the
size of Topeka. I am certain of that
1t is only question whether the tax
in liquor cases don't be-
lieve the taxpayers want that sort
of a bill to pay, and I am acting on that
theory If 1 do anything illegal, why
don't you impeach me? You ought TO
be able to do that. Begin right away.
law was sustained by the supreme
court L called in City Attorney Spen-
Ger and told him was glad of it-that
now we knew what we could do.
started IN at once 10 CLOSE the JOlHLS.
But now lawyers say that the decision
of the supreme court does not touch on
the case here in Topeka Chief Dom
ovan can't be expected to assume the
authority to act, as he is held person.
ally liza BILE for damages in case the law
is no good. You never stopped to think
of that did your"
This rather surprised the women, be-
cause they had evidently read nothing
except those newSpa perS which refuse
to print anything detrimental to the
Hurrel law But Mrs. Johnston said:
I'VE realize that it is difficult to en-
force the law. But we say it has been
done The difficulties were there be-
fore ySu took that oath of office to en-
force all laws. Why didn't you think of
the difficulties then? Why don't you
quit now if you are unable to enforce
the law?"
Ladies' am ready to quit anytime
You can get the council to impeach
me-" said the mayor. IF I have done
anything unlawful, / am ready to suf-
fer for it would not give fifteen cents
for the privilege of holding this job.
If you commence Impeachment pro-
ceedings I will not even go to the
me-"
Mayor Parker stated to the commit
tee that he appreciated their kindness
in bringing their protest to him in per-
son.
Il am glad to have had a talk with
his petition, it was sent to me by mes
Senger boy
1--WE are glad to have had a chance
to talk to you, mayor, said Mrs
Johnston I'VE wanted to see what
sort of a/man you are"
And the committee left, leaving their
protest to remind the mayor of pleas
ant (?) half hour.