The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-07
SWAYzE IN CHAIR
Presided at Independent Meet
ing Last Night.
j. W. Gleed and George w.
Clark Spoke.

Oscar K. Swayze, deputy county clerk,
presided at the meeting of the Indepen-
dent forces at the First Christian church
last night The meeting, like the others,
was in the interest of Stahl and Steb
bins, Independent candidates for sheriff
and county attorney. ]. w. Gleed was
the first speaker. He said:
Il see that County Attorney Nichols
is asking for the votes of people who
favor the enforcement of law and Civ
ing as reason that he has prosecuted
all the cases against joints that We're
brought to him..
In the case of any law which the
county attorney approves and desires
to enforce. the moment he has reason
to believe or to suspect that a crime has
been committed, he goees after the evil
dence to prove that crime. The sheriff
does the same. They do not wait for
somebody to prepare the case for them
Such course the county attorney re-
CARDS as his duty, and it is his duty
1t is even more his duty in the case of
the liquor laws, by reason of special
statutes to that effect. The county at
tOrney has reason to believe that the
liquor laws are being violated constant
ly-that sales are being made and nuis-
anceS maintained. The newspapers are
constantly designating the places, his
giving him information and men are
constantly pleading guilty to such
charges and receiving small fines in the
police court. There could not be much
ances are being maintained and crimes
committed
''The law never was and never will be
enforced by county attorneys who wait
Tor private citizens to spend money and
time TO prepare their cases for them.
But over and above all this, Mr..
Nichols's attitude has been such that
any private citizen would have been
1901 to spend time and money preparing
cases for him, expecting that he would
prosecute them in good faith
Mr.. Gleed then related the incidents
of his interview with County Attorney
Nichols as told in his auditorium speech.
Rev. Z. A. Finch, pastor of the First
Christian church, was the next speaker.
He said he felt it to be his duty and the
duty of every decent man to support the
Independent candidates. He said he was
supporting them because they were
pledged to enforce the prohibitorv law.
Mr.. Finch was followed by George w.
Clark. who made the race for county at
torney against Mrs. Nichols two years
ago.
He said he was neither Republican nor
Prohibitionist, but he was as heartily
in favor of the election of Stahl and Steb-
bins as any of the other speakers of the
evening could be. He pointed out that
the primary question was not as to the
wisdom of the prohibitory law, but as to
the duty of public officers to obey their
oath of office, and execute such laws as
the legislature in its wisdom had seen fit
TO enact. He said 1.-TWO years ago many
law abiding citizns believed that any sue
cessful opponent notwithstanding his per
sonal opinions regarding the policy of
prohibition. and the manner of his nom
nation, would endeayor to do his duty
under his oath of office, but were griev-
ously disappointed at his Interpretation of
the meaning Of the statute relating to the
office of county attorney, as set forth in
his open letter to the attorney general and
are now supporting Mr. Stebbins The
chances of success are much greater than
they were two years ago. I am fully con-
f1dent Mr. Stebbins will be elected. No
one acquainted with him can rightfully
question his integrity or his ability to dis
charge the duties incumbent upon the
county attorney, as satisfactory as any
| of his predecessors have DONE Nothing
position that Mr. Stahl occupies in the
| regard of the people of this county. Vote
| for both of them and you will have no
| occasion to regret it
| A reference to Chairman Swayze brought
! that gentleman to his feet with the follow
| ing statement:
Mr.. Clark was surprised to see me here,
and thus left the impression with you tina
was out of place in this meeting 1 do
not feel out of place. I am a Republican.
and have been one all my life and still re-
| fuse to be anything else but Republican.
have simply caught up with my con-
science. and mean to vote as my conscience
| dictates. 7 have quit voting as some COM
mittee demands. There have been no Re
publican nomina tions this year and the
county central committee can not WhiD
Lucas-Nichols-K aczynski-H odgfns crowd
| that are now sc fearful of the Repulli-
can party's welfare, the ones that the
! Republicans had to fight hardest in the
! Kepley campaign, and again in the last
| city election