The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-28
Candidates for County Attorney
Tell Where They Stand.
Mr.. Nichols Will Do as He Has
Done.
SCHENCK'S FIRM STAND
Would Make Special Effort to
Enforce Pr0hibitOry Law.
MIR. Stebbins Explains Definitely
His Position.

at the request of the State Journal
the three candidates for county attor-
ney have made a written statement OF
what they intend to do should they
be elected at the November election
Galen Nichols is the nominee of the
Republicans and seeks second term.
j. j. Schenck is the nominee of the
Democrats and L. A. Stebbins, Pop
ulist, is the nominee of the independent
forces. Each candidate was asked .set
he intended to do if he is elected to
the office of county attorney
NICHOLS WILL KEEP 1T UP.
Galen Nichols, present county attor-
ney and candidate for reelection on the
Republican ticket, made the following
~eatement: 81 have tried to perform
torney in the past and if reelected VIA
endeavor to do the same in the
future
MR. SCHENCK'S PROMISE.
j. J. Schenck, the Democratic nom1-
nee for county attorney made the 1Ol-
lowing statement:
Il will use every honest means to en-
force generally and particularly every
law on the statute books. will NOT
attempt to decide whether the prohibi-
tory law, or any other law. Is the best
law that could be enacted upon the sub
ject. but if the prohibitory law is vio-
lated, as it is now, more than any
other law, / will make a special effort
to enforce it. 1 believe that law can
be enforced and that it is the sworn
duty of the county attorney to enforce
it
IF elected to the office of county at
torney l will perform all of my duties
as such officer without fear or favor,
and it will not be necessary to appoint
assistant attorney general to per-
form my duties for me-
MR.. STEBBINS IS POSITIVE.
L. A. Stebbins, the nominee of the In
dependent forces for the office of county
attorney, made the following state
ment:
81 cheerfully comply with your re
quest. A public officer should be liter
ally a servant of the people An election
is contract of employment, and no
body of intelligent voters will employ a
man to render a public service, who is
afraid to state fully, pointedly and def
initely, what service he proposes to rem
der If elected.
Il will begin my statement of what
will do, by stating some things that I
will not do.
% II will not interpret my oath of
office to read as follows: I do solemnly
swear that / will support the constitu-
ton of the United States and the con-
Stitution of the state of Kansas and
faithfully discharge the duties of the
office of county attorney, except such
parts of the constitution of the state of
Kansas as I may for reasons which
seem to me sufficient, nullify, set aside
and hold for naught So help me God
(2) Il will not spend any of the time
belonging to the county in inventing
glittering generalities, high sounding
phrases, plausible excuses or ingenious
devices, to evade the performance of
my duty in any respect whatsoever, or
with reference to any law whatsoever,
as such duty is defined by the constitu-
ton and the laws of the state.
90 Il will not be party either direct
1y or indirectly, openly or tacitly to any
plan, shift, device, or scheme to nullify
and set aside the prohibitory liquor law
or any other law to be- found in the
constitution and statutes of the state
"a ST will not by refusing to perform
part of the duties of the office Of
county attorney render it necessary for
the attorney general to appoint an as
sistant attorney general for this county,
thereby compelling the county to pay
$475 for the services of such assistant,
and putting it in danger Of being COM
PEELED to pay thousands of dollars more
for like services of such assistant.
CD Il will not attempt to combine
the legislative and executive functions
of government by determining does
the car, what SHALL and what shall not
be law, while I at the same time
acting under an oath to enforce the laws
as found in the constitution and sta
tutes.
Il deny utterly the right either legal
or moral of any public officer thus to
combine legislative, and executive func-
tiOns. 1t is indefensible whether viewed
from the legal, the etn1caf, or the praC-
teal point of view AS a matter of law,
such conduct constitutes perjury, as be-
ing in violation of ones oath of office.
AS matter of ethics, it may be said
that it violates every rule which by
common consent has come to be the
ethical standard of official action among
right thinking people the world over.
AS matter of policy, it my be said
that it leads to favoritism of the most
pernicious type in the administration OF
the law, and strange admixture OF
despotism and anarchy. Sooner or later
a time arrives in any community thus
governed when favorite class of GRIM
1nalS come to the front as the controlling
factor in public affairs. This favorite
class may operate joints, gambling
houses, houses of prostitution and the
like usually for a consideration paid
whereas others may not. The law be-
comes an engine of oppression, a club